Dusky (blue) Grouse Range Expanded to Mogollon Rim by Arizona Game and Fish
September 19, 2008
Chicken-sized bird offers upland hunters and bird-watchers a unique opportunity
PHOENIX — The dusky “blue” grouse’s population and range are increasing in Arizona due to recent translocation efforts by the Arizona Game and Fish Department to offer upland hunters, bird watchers, and outdoor recreationists another area to enjoy this unique bird.
Over a two-week-long effort in July, Arizona Game and Fish biologists, wildlife managers and interns worked tirelessly in the field to capture 20 birds near Moab, Utah, and then 12 more from the north Kaibab Plateau in Arizona. Thirty-two blue grouse in total were captured, banded, and some fitted with transmitters, and then released near the Rim Lakes on the Mogollon Rim.
“This first translocation went very well. Many thanks go to the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, who allowed us to capture grouse from their state. Utah has a much more robust dusky grouse population, and we were able to capture a lot of birds in a short time,” states Ron Day, small game, predator and furbearer biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
Dusky grouse, previously referred to as blue grouse, are the second largest of the grouse family. Males can weigh up to 3 pounds. They are a dusky blue-grey color and, like most grouse, exhibit the broad fan-tail with a distinctive band across the feathers. Their habitat consists of subalpine mixed conifer forests of Douglas fir, spruce, aspen and grassland meadow areas for foraging. Before this translocation, blue grouse could only be found on the North Kaibab Plateau, the highest peaks of the White Mountains, and a very limited range atop the San Francisco Peaks.
“Our research determined this area of the Mogollon Rim has a large amount of contiguous mixed conifer habitat that is very suitable for grouse,” says Day. “Our goal is to bring this unique bird into sustainable populations to offer sportsmen and wildlife watchers a closer location to enjoy these birds.”
In the second year of a five-year effort to expand the range of the blue grouse to this region, additional translocations may involve up to four different release sites and, when established, should provide for sustainable populations for years to come.
The project is funded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Wildlife Restoration Program, which generates its funding through excise taxes on firearms, ammunitions, archery equipment and arrow components and then apportions the funding to state wildlife agencies.
However, grouse hunters should note that Unit 4A and 5A are closed hunting areas. There is no hunting allowed in the area of a translocation for five years after the last transplant date. For example, if this were the last translocation, these birds could not be hunted until 2013.
Also, turkey hunters in Units 4A and 5A are cautioned to be certain of their target. Blue grouse look very similar to a young turkey.
For future hunters, the prospect of hunting this challenging bird and then taking in some trout fishing on the Mogollon Rim will be well worth today’s efforts. Science-based translocation programs follow the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation and are designed to increase diversity of wildlife populations throughout the state and beyond to the benefit of all citizens.
For more information about the Arizona Game and Fish Department, visit www.azgfd.gov
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Learn More About Recreating in Arizona’s Great Outdoors
September 19, 2008
Hands-on workshop will teach the core basics of camping, fishing and huntingÂ
Are you new to Arizona or would you like to learn more about how to participate in the exciting outdoor recreational opportunities that the state has to offer? The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a weekend campout at Cataract Lake in the Coconino County Campground near Williams from Oct. 4-5.Â
The workshop is targeted at residents that are new to Arizona, and families and individuals who want to learn hands-on the basics of camping, fishing, hunting, how to prepare fish and game, and other outdoor activities. The workshop will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday with registration, camp information and welcome. Classes will be offered throughout the day on a variety of topics focused on how to enjoy Arizona’s great outdoors. The day will conclude with instruction on how to prepare – and enjoy – a Dutch oven dinner and a campfire. Sunday will include an activity and wrap-up.Â
“We really want to reach those residents who have yet to experience the great Arizona outdoors. It’s a great opportunity for new residents, families or single parents who want to get outdoors, but don’t know how to get started,” says Arizona Game and Fish Public Information Officer Shelly Shepherd. “It will be a non-intimidating environment to learn the basics. We hope that participants will feel comfortable going out on their own after the workshop to enjoy outdoor recreational opportunities.”
The workshop is being hosted in cooperation with the Coconino County Parks and Recreation Department.
Cataract Lake and the Coconino County Campground are located on the west side of Williams, off of Interstate 40 at exit #161. From the exit, go north under the railroad tunnel and continue on for another ½ mile. The campground will be on the right hand side of the road, on the west side of the lake. The campground will accommodate trailers, campers or tents.
Workshop participants should pack appropriate clothing, be prepared for one night of camping, and should bring food, water, and snacks for the weekend. Participants that have their own fishing equipment or binoculars are encouraged to bring them. Â
For more information and to register for the workshop, contact the Game and Fish office in Flagstaff at (928) 774-5045. The deadline for registration is Sept. 30. The workshop will be limited to 50 people, and a nominal fee of no more than $10 will be required when participants arrive at camp.
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Endangered Fish Returned to Native Waters in Arizona
September 5, 2008
It’s been a plan long in the making, but yesterday, the first Gila topminnow fish were reestablished in their native Arizona waters as part of a new program aimed at enlisting the help of non-federal landowners to conserve this endangered species.
A couple hundred fish were released into the TimBuckTwo pond near Amado, south of Tucson, on private land. The fish for this inaugural release came from Arizona State University (ASU), where breeding stock is maintained for the species. In addition to ASU, Desert Harbor Elementary School in Peoria also maintains a captive population of Gila topminnow.
“These fish were once common in southern Arizona below 5,200 feet, but populations declined due to habitat loss and competition from non-native species,” says Jeff Sorensen, native fish and invertebrate program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Today’s stocking is particularly important because these fish are of the rare Redrock lineage that only existed in captivity until today. This release will help us increase the numbers of this important lineage.”
While this is not the first reestablishment of Gila topminnow in Arizona, it is the first to occur as part of a new Safe Harbor Agreement. This program greatly increases the opportunities for private and non-federal landowners to participate in conservation and recovery efforts of endangered Gila topminnow, desert pupfish, Yaqui topminnow, and Quitobaquito pupfish by providing refuge sites. Most of the previous releases of Gila topminnow occurred on government or public-owned properties.
“We are pleased to add a third population of the Redrock lineage of Gila topminnow. It’s even more pleasing to accomplish it with conservation-minded landowners using this important tool to recover native fish in Arizona,” says Doug Duncan, a fish biologist for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The reintroduction was carried out through a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Game and Fish and the landowners.
“As professional biologists, we realize the importance of the Gila topminnow as part of the ecosystem and the state’s wildlife resources. We are delighted to be able to participate, as private landowners, in the conservation efforts for this species and to do our part to ensure the continued presence of these fish in Arizona,” say Kathy Groschupf and Frank Baucom, owners of TimBuckTwo.Â
Gila topminnows provide natural vector control, effectively preying on mosquito larvae and helping to control mosquito-borne illnesses. As a native species, they pose fewer threats to other species sharing the same habitat than non-native species that have been introduced in the past.Â
These fish grow to approximately 2 inches long and are the only native fish in Arizona to give birth to live young. They prefer shallow, slow-moving waters, and they were once the most common fish species in the Gila River basin.
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Javelina Hunting Clinics Offered by Arizona Game and Fish
September 5, 2008
PHOENIX — Getting started in something new is always hard, be it a new hobby, skilled trade or other interest. The same holds true for hunting, prompting the Arizona Game and Fish Department to host several hunting workshops to teach the basics of hunting javelina.
These informative workshops are taught by knowledgeable wildlife biologists and fellow javelina hunters. Their goal is to teach new and youth hunters how to get started and increase their odds for success. Those interested are encouraged to attend one of the following free workshops:
Tucson, Sept. 10 from 6:30-8 p.m., International Wildlife Museum, 4800 Gates Pass Road, (520) 628-5376.
Mesa, Sept. 26 from 7-9 p.m., Mesa Regional Game and Fish office, 7200 E. University Drive, (480) 981-9400.
Phoenix, Sept. 26 from 7-9 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, (602) 942-3000.
Each workshop will include a PowerPoint presentation and discussions about the biology and management of the animals, to the nuts and bolts about how to hunt them. Other key areas to be covered include identifying the signs of where they eat and sleep, and how to use binoculars to locate animals.
To hunt javelina, youth must be at least 10 years old and have passed a certified hunter education course. Youth over 14 are encouraged to take a hunter safety course, but it is not mandatory. Regardless of age, a general hunting license is required, as well as a javelina hunt permit-tag.
Currently, there are plenty of juniors-only fall javelina hunt permit-tags available on a first-come, first-serve basis by submitting an application via U.S. Mail. The majority of the hunts are in beautiful southern Arizona. The season dates are either Oct. 10-16 or Nov. 21-27, depending on choice of hunting area. For details on applying for a tag and a list of hunting area choices, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.
Javelina resource links:
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5-stand Now Available at Ben Avery Clay Target Center
September 5, 2008
Variety is the Spice of Life For Target Shooters in Arizona
PHOENIX — Recreational clay target shooters can now enjoy the challenge of 5-stand at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility’s Clay Target Center in Phoenix. The center has added 5-stand to augment its current offerings of trap, skeet and sporting clays.
Likened to an abbreviated version of sporting clays, 5-stand offers shooters a variety of target presentations to simulate the random flight paths of upland and waterfowl hunting. For those that typically shoot trap or skeet, this game will prove to be challenging and exciting.
 “5-stand is a very popular game. Our regular customers are happy to see us offering it again,” says Range Master Bill Kelsey. “The other day I pulled about 60 rounds non-stop. That’s 1,500 targets. They love it. I had to beg the shooters to give me a 5-minute water break.”
5-stand is set up on one of the center’s lighted trap/skeet fields and offers both daytime and nighttime shooting. Each station offers five targets chosen from seven different throwing positions and trajectories. At each station there is a menu of what targets will be presented. For example, station one might consist of the following: “single 7, report pair 1 and 5, true pair 3 and 4.” Each station is different, and the menus may change.
A round of 5-stand consists of 25 targets, five from each station, and the cost is only $6.50 per round. Hunters of dove and quail will find that 5-stand is a great way to get your shotgunning skills honed before going afield.
Summer hours for the Ben Avery Clay Target Center continue until Oct. 15. For more information about hours, location and games offered, visit www.azgfd.gov/ctc.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department took over the operations of the Clay Target Center in 2006. Since that time the department has put in extensive repairs and improvements to bring the center to today’s standards. Improvements include lighting, shade awnings, all new throwers, voice-activated releases, new skeet houses, updated sporting clays course with electronic play card readers, and - currently under construction - a new visitor’s center.
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Open House to Discuss Proposed Management Strategy for New Wildlife Area in the Cibola Valley
August 19, 2008
Project to restore 1300-acre site back to native riparian habitat
PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the Bureau of Reclamation will host a public open house from 6-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2, to discuss the draft cooperative management plan for restoring native riparian habitat in the newly acquired wildlife area in the Cibola Valley.
The open house will be held at the main office of the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge in Cibola, Ariz., which is about 90 miles north of Yuma and 25 miles south of Blythe, Calif.
The presentation will begin at 6 p.m. with a brief PowerPoint of the plan, project history and management objectives. Following the presentation, representatives from both agencies will be on site to answer questions to close out the meeting.
 “This wildlife area will play a significant role in the even-larger Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program,” says Troy Smith, habitat specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The first week in September is a great time to share this with the public, as we typically have a lot of visitors in our region at that time.”
The Bureau of Reclamation is the implementing agency for the multi-stakeholder Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP), a 50-year effort to conserve threatened, endangered, and sensitive wildlife and habitats native to the lower Colorado River.
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Smith adds, “Key proposed enhancements for the wildlife area are to replace existing agricultural fields with native riparian cottonwood, willow, and mesquite land cover types which would be managed as habitat for LCR MSCP-covered species and other wildlife.”
Native riparian habitats along the lower Colorado River will provide critical feeding, cover, and nesting resources for many avian species, including federally- and state-listed and sensitive species, neotropical migrants, raptors and game birds, as well as important habitat components for mammals, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
To learn more about the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, visit www.lcrmscp.gov.
Directions:
From Blythe, go approximately three miles west on I-10 to Neighbours Boulevard, exit 78. Go south on Neighbours for 12 miles to the Cibola Bridge. After crossing the bridge, continue south for 3.5 miles to the refuge headquarters. For more information call the refuge at (928) 857-3253 or visit www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/CibolaNWR.
From Yuma, go approximately 10 miles west on I-8 to Ogilby Road, exit 159. Go north on Ogilby for approximately 30 miles to route 78 and go north (right) for approximately 31 miles to 35th Ave., go east (right) follow to Neighbours Boulevard, go south to Cibola Bridge. After crossing the bridge, head south for 3.5 miles to the refuge headquarters. For more information call the refuge at (928) 857-3253 or visit www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/CibolaNWR.
If you have questions, please contact Troy Smith trsmith [at] azgfd [dot] gov.
A PDF map of the wildlife area can be downloaded by clicking here.
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Arizona’s Online Hunter Safety Course Celebrates First Year
August 14, 2008
Participation indicates program accommodates future hunters
PHOENIX – Time constraints and a reliance on technology have impacted all aspects of society, and the educational arena is no exception. Internet-based education programs—including hunter education—have evolved to better accommodate students’ schedules and learning needs in today’s fast-paced world.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department introduced its online hunter education program one year ago to provide a convenient option for students unable to take the traditional classroom program.
Since its introduction last August, 940 students have successfully completed the self-paced study portion of the online course. However, to become fully certified, students must also successfully pass a mandatory “hands-on field day” within 90 days of completing the online course work. To date, 532 people have done so and have become fully certified. That number is expected to increase as temperatures cool for the outdoor field days.
“We are extremely happy with the early success of the online course,” says Assistant Director of Information and Education Ty Gray. “We feel this is a great tool to teach residents and nonresidents about hunting safely in Arizona.”
While the online course is new, hunter education in Arizona has been around for more than 50 years and is considered one of the best in the nation. The traditional classroom course continues to certify approximately 4,000 students each year.
“The testimonials we have gotten indicate that this is what the public needed to accommodate their schedules and still learn about hunting safely in this fast-paced, technology driven society,” states Ed Huntsman, conservation education program manager. “The good news is we were able to do this and maintain safety as the number one priority. We still require students to attend a mandatory hands-on field day to demonstrate safe firearm handling skills and their understanding of the course material to certified instructors.”
“Our hunter education program also provides useful information for non-hunters as well. Many of the skills taught will enhance anyone’s ability to observe the beauty of Arizona’s wildlife,” Huntsman adds. “The curriculum includes wildlife identification, survival skills, the importance of habitat, and the history of early conservationists like President Theodore Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold.”
Due to the success of the program, starting Sept. 20 there will be an online field day taking place the third Saturday of each month at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in the conservation education building.
Arizona has an excellent hunter safety record. Even though hunter education is only required for youths age 10, 11, 12 and 13 that want to hunt big game, there are only an average of three hunting accidents per year, and fatalities from hunting accidents are even rarer.
Moreover, nearly every accident recorded could have been avoided by observing the fundamental lessons taught in hunter education, which include wearing hunter orange clothing and following the “tab plus one” (T.A.B. +1) rule: T=Treat every gun as if it were loaded; A=Always keep your muzzle pointed in a safe direction; B=Be sure of your target and beyond; +1=Keep your finger outside the trigger guard until ready to shoot.
Arizona offers several options for taking hunter education courses. In addition to the new online course, there is a 7- to 10-hour introductory classroom course, the traditional 20-hour basic course, and the 28-hour combination course which includes bowhunting education, all of which require successfully completing the mandatory hands-on field day. For a list of available classes, visit www.azgfd.gov/education, and then click on the “hunter education” link.
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New Wildlife Viewing Website Includes “How To’s” and “Places To Go” In Arizona
August 5, 2008
What better way to spend a weekend than to get out and explore Arizona’s scenic beauty and natural treasures? Arizona is home to more than 900 animal species and 50 million public acres of natural land, making it an ideal destination. Now there is a Web site that provides wildlife enthusiasts and casual viewers with everything they need to hone their technique and find the perfect spot.
 The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s new wildlife viewing site offers tips for watching wildlife; how to observe wildlife responsibly; where to go in Arizona; a comprehensive list of watchable wildlife events in the state; and, news and features. From how to watch to when to watch, the site helps novice wildlife watchers get started and reminds seasoned viewers of the finer points of catching a glimpse of their favorite species. Information on how to select the right optics, including binoculars, is also included.
Wildlife viewing is the activity of watching and enjoying wildlife species in their natural environment. This recreational activity is growing in popularity as it offers a relaxing, low-cost adventure that can be done close to home and is fun for the whole family. It can be as simple as observing birds on a backyard feeder or as adventurous as a moonlit hike through a canyon to watch nocturnal animals scurry about under the cover of dark. Watching wildlife can be done by anyone, anytime, anyplace and at virtually any age.
Watching wildlife provides significant economic benefit to the state with more $825 million spent in 2006 in Arizona and its communities. It also leaves a lasting impression on participants and imparts an increased awareness of the benefits of conserving the state’s irreplaceable resources.
The Web site is part of the department’s Watchable Wildlife Program that strives to manage wildlife while providing for the responsible recreational use of the resource. Much of the support for the program comes from the Heritage Fund, a fund started in 1990 by Arizona voters to further conservation efforts in the state. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales.
To start planning your next wildlife adventure, visit www.azgfd.gov/wildlife.
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5,000 Arizona Hunting Tags Available By Ffirst-come, First-serve
August 5, 2008
Sportsmen and sportswomen wishing to hunt big game in Arizona this fall can start applying for leftover hunt permit-tags beginning at 8 a.m. (MST) Monday, Aug. 11. For those who either missed the fall drawing or were unsuccessful in the draw, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has tags for deer, turkey and juniors-only javelina hunts, to be allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Parents, grandparents, relatives, and friends of the family can take advantage of the many available juniors-only permits. There are more than 2,000 fall juniors-only javelina tags and 106 juniors-only deer tags leftover from the draw. This is a great opportunity to take a youngster outdoors and introduce him or her to the American tradition of wildlife conservation through hunting. These juniors’ hunts are structured to assure a fun, safe and satisfying family hunting experience.
Also remaining are more than 2,500 tags for general deer, 27 tags for muzzleloader deer, and more than 700 tags for archery-only deer. The majority of these tags are for Coues whitetail deer in southern Arizona.
Turkey hunters also have a chance at 354 remaining permits for a fall hunt on the Kaibab. These tags will go very quickly.
To apply for a tag, a paper hunt permit-tag application must be submitted by U.S. mail only, for delivery no earlier than August 11 at 8 a.m. (MST), to the Arizona Game and Fish Department, Drawing Section, P.O. Box 52002, Phoenix, Ariz., 85072-2002.
Hunters with bonus points who are awarded a tag through the first-come, first-serve process will not lose their bonus points for the genus for which the tag is allocated. Conversely, an unsuccessful applicant for a leftover tag is not awarded a bonus point.
Applicants must include their 2008 license number on the application request. However, a 2008 license may be purchased through the application request if needed. Additionally, junior hunters ages 10, 11, 12 and 13 are required to complete a certified hunter education class to participate in a big game hunt.
 For a detailed listing of leftover permits, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw or call (623) 236-7702. For those who qualify, there are military hunts available for Fort Huachuca. Call (520) 533-2549 for additional information.
For more information about the department’s hunter education course, visit www.azgfd.gov/education and click on “hunter education.”
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Urban Fishing Bulletin: weeks of July 28 - Aug 30
July 29, 2008
Catfish stocking to resume in Fall
There are no scheduled fish stockings at Urban Fishing Program waters from July 1 through Sept. 15. Once lake temperatures begin to decrease, entering the fall season, then catfish stockings can resume again. This fall, a total of four catfish stockings are planned at two week intervals before fish stockings switch over to rainbow trout in mid November. Fishing at Urban Program waters will remain slow throughout the summer. Catfish can still be caught, especially from the larger lakes, with bluegill, bass and carp still providing some fun for persistent anglers.
New interactive fishing map on the Web
Ever wish you could use a computerized map of Arizona to reveal all the places to go fishing, the types of fish you can find, and maybe even something about the facilities at each lake, river or stream? Well, just wave a magic wand over your computer because your wish has been granted – thanks to a little computer magic from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The department now has an interactive fishing hole map of Arizona on its Web site at www.azgfd.gov/fishing