Arizona Hunting
Well maybe not all... Arizona hunting is short a few polar bears and moose. But we do have a large variety of game animals. It's a happy fact that very few states can match the variety of wildlife available in Arizona. Elk and deer are the most popular hunts, but the mighty buffalo, majestic desert bighorn sheep, elusive mountain lions, black bears, javalena, quail, waterfowl, and many other species make Arizona hunting popular and rewarding... but not easy. I often see mule deer on Anderson Mesa, on my way in to fish Ashurst Lake.
The Arizona hunting photo of bull elk shown above was taken in August, 2002, near Kachina Village. The elk hang out in the big meadows and pose for photographs. (I go by this meadow often. The mid-meadow fence seen in the above photo is gone... but the elk still come to this same spot each summer.) Elk hang out in many areas South of Flagstaff each summer. There is a large herd of elk cows that stay around Mormon Lake. The bulls seem to prefer populated areas. They walk up and down the streets any time of the day, come into your yard, and eat your wild flowers. If you try to save the flowers... they give you the "evil eye."
Sometimes they sneak into your back yard early in the morning, eat your petunias, and then jump the fence and pretend to ignore you. This 9 x 9 bull elk is guilty of exactly that.
In late August things change. For one, the bulls stop hanging out in open meadows and yards. They begin to think about love... and go looking for those cows. Elk seasons are coming! The beautiful South of Flagstaff area is equally blessed with a variety of game. In our "backyard" we have a large population of elk, deer, turkey, buffalo, antelope, black bears, mountain lions, ducks and geese, tree squirrels, bunnies, and even javelina roam our forests, canyons, and meadows. For those of us who move about South of Flagstaff, scouting and hunting is just a short trip. We're lucky in that respect. Many people must travel a couple of hours to hunt in our backyard. And to be successful they must make one or more scouting trips just before the actual hunt.
Whether we live in the high country or the hot country, Arizona hunting is a great experience. If you're like me, you're always looking for great hunting resources so I'll list a couple of mine here for your convenience... f you're looking for that big bear or moose, try these guys... Alaska Hunting Trips, Hunting Lodge & Bear Hunting. Alaska Adventures has offered Alaska hunting trips since 1976, which include year-round bear hunting with experienced Alaska hunting guides.
Ducks Unlimited is a highly respected
and effective conservation
The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation does important conservation work in Arizona and elsewhere. Arizona hunting has a lot going on these days with hunt permits and the Federal Courts. Check the News Release page for late news. You'll find a wealth of Arizona hunting information at the Arizona Game and Fish Department site. You can sign up for their e-mail updates, apply for permits, view draw results, and much more. The latest issue of Wildlife News presents articles on...
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Here's a short Arizona hunting story... A woman walked into the kitchen to find her husband stalking around with a fly swatter. "What are you doing?" she asked. "Hunting flies" he responded. "Oh, killing any?" she inquired. "Yep, 3 males, 2 females" he stated emphatically. Intrigued, she asked, "How can you tell?" He responded, "3 were on a beer can, and two were on the phone."
A Google search using the keyword phrase arizona hunting supplies or arizona hunting organizations will lead you to several good sites. Be sure to notice the relevant ads... those are especially good resources for this subject. Arizona Hunting News Releases:
~~~~~ ~~~~~ August 20, 2010
Arizona Game and
Arizona Game and Fish Department urges caution in the rush to judgment in the proposal to ban lead ammunition and fishing tackle nationally
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is in the process of reviewing a petition filed Aug. 3 with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by the Center for Biological Diversity, American Bird Conservancy and three other groups seeking to ban the use of lead in ammunition and fishing tackle. The petition requests a national ban under the federal Toxic
Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). TSCA addresses the production,
importation, use and disposal of specific chemicals and/or chemical mixtures.
The EPA is required to respond to the petition within 90 days. The department believes that voluntary, state-level approaches, where the science shows them to be necessary, are the best approaches to address lead-wildlife concerns. Science, not sweeping regulatory change, is the foundation for the conservation and management of healthy wildlife populations. Arizona Game and Fish has been actively working on lead and wildlife concerns as part of working groups of experts from the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (representing wildlife agencies and professionals of all 50 states and other entities) and the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (representing wildlife agencies of 23 western states and Canadian provinces). The department has been proactively engaged in reducing the scientifically known impacts of lead to wildlife since the 1980s. When lead toxicity was identified as a concern for waterfowl in 1985, the department implemented a non-lead shot zone for waterfowl hunting in Coconino County prior to a national ban instituted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service six years later. In 2003, after incidents of lead poisoning were identified in California condors, Arizona Game and Fish initiated a successful, hunter-supported voluntary program to reduce the amount of spent lead ammunition available in northern Arizona. This is one more instance in which hunters and anglers have stepped up to conserve Arizona’s natural resources. The department is currently following the direction provided by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission in 2009 to work with the public to increase discussions on the impacts of lead on wildlife and possible voluntary strategies to minimize those impacts in the near future and long-term. The department and commission believe that meaningful progress on this wildlife challenge will occur with full public participation and cooperation. The department has demonstrated that successful voluntary or incentive-based programs developed in cooperation with the conservation community, the sporting goods industry, and state wildlife agencies can be effective. The department will continue to provide updates to its constituents at www.azgfd.gov/lead. Related links:
~~~~~ ~~~~~ August 17, 2010
Arizona Game and
Arizona Game and Fish acquires 160-acre site for long-awaited Northern Arizona Shooting Range
PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Commission finalized the purchase of the 160-acre Foster Ranch property in Coconino County for the future site of the Northern Arizona Shooting Range. “This is a historic moment for a project that has spanned nearly 15 years,” said Game and Fish Commission Chair Jennifer Martin. “After evaluating nearly 50 properties, Foster Ranch was the best choice that meets our objectives for a public shooting range in the Flagstaff area.” A pubic survey was used to shape the objectives of the shooting range, the top three concerns were 1.) to be located within 30 minutes from downtown Flagstaff; 2.) sized for a local range with potential to expand to regional range; 3.) and the ability to be operational by 2013 (3-5 years). Northern Arizona residents have been without a rifle and pistol shooting range since 1968. In 1994, closures of the local shotgun and archery ranges resulted in one of Arizona’s largest communities being without a designated place for recreational shooting. Surrounded by the Coconino National Forest, the property is located approximately 15 miles east of Flagstaff and 5 miles south of the Town of Winona. The property is in the mid 6000 foot elevation, consisting of pinion-juniper and high country ground cover. “The Coconino National Forest is looking forward to a safe, designated area for recreational shooting – especially one that offers youth development and hunter education programs,” said Coconino National Forest Supervisor Earl Stewart. “We are prepared to work cooperatively with Game and Fish in the development of this long-needed range.” The $1.1 million property purchase came at no expense to taxpayers, state or local. Because the Game and Fish receives no tax dollars from the state’s general fund and operates under a user-pay, user-benefit model, the property was purchased and will be developed through the sale of licenses to hunters and anglers. A $3 surcharge is imposed on hunting and fishing licenses to acquire, construct, renovate, or improve Game and Fish facilities. The fund for the development of the Northern Arizona Shooting Range was established beginning in 2001. Developing the range Before any development of the property can take place, there is a multitude of logistical planning required, including an environmental compliance checklist; coordination with the Coconino National Forest and Coconino County; developing a scope of work and timelines; and providing the public opportunities to give input to assist in the development of this local range. Other factors such as funding, process time for of environmental compliances, resources, and weather will dictate a phased-in development approach of the Northern Arizona Shooting Range over the next three years and beyond. The public is invited to an informal open house to provide input on the range development plan on Thursday, Sept. 23 from 3-8 p.m. at the Game and Fish Flagstaff regional office at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road. For those who are unable to attend the open house, the same materials and a way to submit your comments will be made available online at the same time at www.azgfd.gov/nazsr. On display will be a very early conceptual site design, preliminary timelines for development, and an opportunity to provide comments. While no formal presentation will be made, key Game and Fish personnel and representatives from the Coconino National Forest will be available to provide information and answer questions. “Given all the supportive comments from residents, shooting clubs, past commissioners, along with the Coconino National Forest supervisor at the May public meeting, I’m confident that we are on the right track to meeting the needs of the shooting community and reduce wildcat shooting around Flagstaff,” added Martin. History and information Game and Fish has spent the last 15 years seeking to establish a shooting range in northern Arizona. Some of the past key events include:
Interested parties can get the latest information on the Northern Arizona Shooting Range by e-mail www.azgfd.gov/signup by selecting “shooting sports news” or by visiting www.azgfd.gov/nazsr.
~~~~~ ~~~~~ The News Release reproduced below is of critical importance to Arizona hunters...
December 12, 2008
Arizona Game and
Recent incidents involving thoughtless and even destructive acts by some outdoor recreationists have Arizona Game and Fish Department officials and responsible outdoor users concerned about retaining continued public access to vast tracts of public and private land. "We work cooperatively with landowners, especially ranchers, to keep access for recreation open," said Sal Palazzolo, the Game and Fish Department�s Landowner Relations Program manager, "but it is a daunting task because senseless acts by a few thoughtless outdoor recreationists can jeopardize relations and result in large tracts of land being closed to us all." Palazzolo said some of the lands in question happen to be premier hunting areas where outfitters are sometimes willing to pay landowners thousands of dollars for exclusive access.
Here are some examples of what is happening. Recently, a rancher in northern Arizona had closed a section of road across a stream because the road crossing had become washed out. "One one day this autumn, an elk hunter ignored the closure sign and promptly got his truck stuck in the creek," Palazzolo said, "The rancher took it in stride and helped the individual contact a tow truck to haul the vehicle out." The following day, another person also ignored the closure sign and got stuck in the creek, but nobody was home at the remote ranch house. There was a bulldozer parked near the private residence that a contractor was going to use to repair the road crossing. "Without any permission, the person who had gotten his vehicle stuck got into the bulldozer, fired it up, and pulled his truck out of the creek, causing damage to the fragile riparian area," Palazzolo said. "We are still waiting to hear if the bulldozer was damaged in any way." That isn't all. On another ranch, a ranch hand had collected and displayed lots of deer and elk antlers over the years, and had actually made a fence of the antlers around his ranch house. While the cowboy was out working the range, someone stole all the prized antlers. On yet another ranch, three men wearing camouflage clothing and riding all-terrain vehicles were seen shooting at a herd of grazing horses. Fortunately, these illegal road hunters didn't hit anything. Fences have been cut, windmills shot up and signs shot to doll rags. Trash and litter have been left to despoil the land. Vehicles have torn up cattle tanks and earthen dams. These senseless acts and others are putting continued access for hunters, off-roaders, campers and other recreationists in danger - for many reasons. For instance, one rancher in the area said it costs him about $5,000 annually to repair damage or address other issues associated with recreationists. "Fortunately, this conscientious rancher still keeps working with us despite the fact he has been offered thousands of dollars by outfitters for exclusive hunting rights to his property," Palazzolo said. Incidents such as these concern the responsible majority of outdoor recreationists. "I spend a lot of time working with ranchers and land managers on projects, and it�s appalling to see some of the damage," says longtime sportsman John Koleszar. "Some people do it willfully, but others just don�t know any better and need to be educated on outdoor ethics. Remember, ethics is what you do when no one is watching." Koleszar has seen a great deal of good behavior by outdoor users, but some bad behavior as well. Good behavior, he says, is respecting other people and the land, helping others out, asking permission to use private property. Bad behavior is ignoring posted signs, causing damage to habitat and property, cutting fences, among others. These recent incidents also highlight a much broader issue facing outdoor recreationists. Palazzolo pointed out that Arizona consists of about 72.6 million acres, of which 18 percent is privately owned. These lands represent important recreational opportunities as well as access corridors into other publicly owned lands. Public access restrictions in Arizona have increased substantially over the last decade as more landowners exercise their right to deny access to or through their private lands. In many cases, access is prevented to State Trust and public lands as a result of these closures. The seven most common reasons for landowners denying access are:
"We can't be everywhere. Recreationists, especially hunters, need to be our eyes and ears out there, and also be ambassadors for conscientious recreational ethics on the land," Palazzolo said. If you see someone doing one of these senseless acts, contact local law enforcement or call our Operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700. "The thing that worries me is that some people seem unaware of the potential consequences of their bad behavior," says Koleszar. "If you don�t exercise good outdoor ethics and educate others to do the same, land management agencies and private property owners could close off access. It's in the hands of the users to demonstrate they're responsible - or they could lose it forever." Palazzolo adds, "The tract of public land you help keep open might just be your favorite hunting ground or maybe one of your favorite places to ride your quad. These lands belong to all of us, so help us help others to treat them that way."
~~~~~ ~~~~~ January 29, 2009
Arizona Game and
If you have visions of elk steaks on the grill or sending those trophy horns of a 70-class pronghorn to the taxidermist, don�t forget the most important step � applying for a hunt permit-tag before the deadline. The final deadline to submit paper-only applications for a 2009 hunt permit-tag for pronghorn antelope and elk hunts through the draw process is Tuesday, Feb. 10 by 7 p.m. (MST). Applications must be received by mail or hand delivered to a department office before the deadline; postmarks don�t count. Remember, there is NO online application process for the draw. To help hunters navigate the application process, the Arizona Game and Fish Department offers these tips:
For some other great tips and additional insights on how to get drawn, check out the article in the Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine at www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/ElkHunting.shtml. The award-winning bi-monthly publication is a great resource for wildlife enthusiasts and a steal at $8.50 for a one-year subscription. Staff will be on hand at each department office on deadline day to assist hunters with the application process. If this is your first-time applying, or you are new to the process, feel free to stop by and ask for assistance. However, license sales at department offices end at 5 p.m. The 2009 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information regulations booklet, application forms and the 2008 Hunt Arizona are all available online for downloading from the Arizona Game and Fish Department�s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Hard copies of the 2008 Hunt Arizona publication are also available for sale at all department offices. To learn more about big game hunting, wildlife management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, visit www.azgfd.gov/hunting.
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Arizona hunting is closely associated with sighting in your firearms. You can track development of the Northern Arizona Regional Shooting Facility here.
Go to the News Releases page This page often carries hunting related press releases... usually from the Forest Service and AZGFD. About This Site Have you read this page lately?
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