Wildlife research may change deer management on the Kaibab

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials announced they will recommend an amendment to existing hunt guidelines for deer on the Kaibab Plateau as a result of a research study that shows that current methods for monitoring of cliffrose, an important winter food plant for deer, may not be adequate for determining the effects of mule deer abundance on the animals’ winter range.

The department will recommend the amendment at the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s April 17-18 meeting in Phoenix, when hunt recommendations are approved.

The North Kaibab mule deer herd in Game Management Unit 12A is well known for the abundance of deer and the relative commonplace occurrence of large-antlered bucks. The relative health of this herd is affected by many factors, including precipitation, wildfires, habitat quality, and the hunt guidelines that govern hunting season recommendations developed by the department.

Game animals in Arizona are managed according to hunt guidelines adopted by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission once every two years. These guidelines direct how wildlife managers formulate hunt recommendations. The guidelines themselves are developed based on best available science and socially-derived expectations from public input.

In special places like the North Kaibab, alternative deer management guidelines are adopted to allow for abundant older age class animals, and low hunter density during late-season hunts.

Existing hunt guidelines for the North Kaibab include direction that hunting permits should be adjusted to obtain greater than 20 bucks for every 100 does, take advantage of high fawn recruitment years, and reduce hunting pressure in years with below-average fawn recruitment.

In 2004, the Arizona Deer Association (ADA) and other interested sportsmen expressed concerns that cliffrose use monitoring conducted annually by the department on the Kaibab winter range might be inadequate for determining if the number of deer were compatible with the amount of food. Together, the department and the ADA collaborated on a research study to examine the deer herd’s relationship to the winter range.

Although the final analyses have yet to be completed, one thing is clear: The cliffrose monitoring is not adequate to detect effects of mule deer abundance on winter range. A survey conducted this year indicates that population models, recalibrated after a 2004 survey, are right on the money. Hunt recommendations for North Kaibab mule deer hunts for fall 2009 will be made without reference to forage monitoring.

When the research analyses are complete in early summer 2009, hunt guidelines will incorporate suggested changes and will be presented to the Game and Fish Commission for their approval in August 2009.

For more information about the department’s research activities, visit:

www.azgfd.gov/research.

Want to do your part for wildlife conservation? Then try using non-lead ammunition on your next varmint or small game hunt to help reduce lead exposure in condors and other scavengers.

Varmint and small game hunters have had the most difficult time finding loaded non-lead ammunition because it just didn’t exist, until recently. Manufacturers have now answered the demand for a more environmentally friendly varmint bullet.

Starting in the spring of 2009, hunters will be able to purchase loaded non-lead .22 caliber rimfire rounds. Several ammunition manufacturers will also offer non-lead centerfire rifle ammunition for varmint hunters in .204, .222, .223, and .22-250 calibers. These non-lead cartridges will be loaded with either non-fragmenting solid copper bullets or frangible tin-copper composite bullets.

Arizona hunters have continued their proud heritage of wildlife conservation by embracing the use of non-lead ammunition. In the fall of 2008, 90 percent of big game hunters took lead reduction actions during their hunt by using non-lead or by removing gut piles of harvested animals from the field when in core bondaries of the condor range. Thanks to these efforts by hunters, no condors have died of lead poisoning in the last two years. And all this has been accomplished through voluntary measures.

Condors were added to the federal endangered species list in 1967. The condor is the largest flying land bird in North America. The birds can weigh up to 26 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 9 1/2 feet. Condors were first reintroduced into Arizona in 1996, and there are now 67 in the state. Visitors to the Grand Canyon area are often able to observe the birds during the spring and summer, and they can be seen at the Vermilion Cliffs during the winter.

Lead poisoning is the leading cause of death in condors and the main obstacle to a self-sustaining population in Arizona. Studies show that lead shot and bullet fragments found in game carcasses and gut piles are the main source of lead in condors.

Non-lead ammunition is also available for muzzleloaders, handguns, and shotguns.

For more information on non-lead ammunition and a detailed list of manufacturers and retailers, visit the department’s condor web page at:
www.azgfd.gov/condor.

The winners are:

• * Cal Sutton, Peoria – Antelope
• * Dwight Callahan, Gold Canyon Bear
• * Ryan Ashton, Saint Johns – Buffalo
• * Brian Williams, Christiana, Tenn.- Coues Deer
• * Robert Dunn, Yuma – Elk
• * JC Amberlin, Kingman – Javelina
• * Jerry Elliott, Gilbert – Mule Deer
• * Scott Krieg, Glendale- Bighorn Sheep
• * Mark Griffith, Mesa – Turkey
• * Richard Wilson, Phoenix – Swarovski optics

While congratulations are in order for all the fortunate winners, the real news is what happened for all of the residents of Arizona. This year’s raffle generated more than $475,000, which will go directly on the ground to benefit Arizona’s wildlife.

To learn about the raffle, visit:
www.arizonabiggamesuperraffle.com

By Doug Burt, public information officer,

Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department and the National Wild Turkey Federation, along with sportsmen and private citizens, successfully captured and relocated 50 Gould’s wild turkeys from the Huachuca Mountains in early March. The captured birds were relocated to the Santa Rita and Catalina Mountains to help supplement existing populations and continue to expand the range of this unique but once eradicated wild turkey subspecies. The Gould’s turkey is common in Mexico, but only Arizona and New Mexico support populations in the United States.

Six mountain ranges throughout southeastern Arizona now support populations of the Gould’s turkey: the Chiricahua, Pinaleno, Galiuro, Santa Rita, Catalina, and Huachuca Mountains. All of these mountain ranges are part of the Sky Islands. This 70,000-square-mile region extends from southeastern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico and the northwestern part of Mexico. This region encompasses one of the most diverse ecosystems in North America.

The Gould’s reintroduction project began as a joint international effort with Mexico, where the first populations of Gould’s subspecies came from to restore Arizona’s historic populations during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s.

Today, Gould’s populations in the Huachucas are significant and capable of sustaining further range expansion from our own populations. This translocation marks the fourth time that in-state populations have been used to continue the repopulation effort, indicating that the reintroduced Gould’s turkeys to southern Arizona are healthy and adapting well.

Translocation programs are designed to increase diversity of wildlife populations throughout the state and beyond. Turkeys nationwide have expanded from a historic low of less than 100,000 to over 7.4 million birds today. Programs are possible by funding from license sales, concerned sportsmen groups, special auction tags and other concerned conservationists.

To watch an exciting online video of Merriam’s turkeys being captured, click here.

To hear the sound of wild turkey gobbles, click here.

The Cochise Bird Dog Club, in conjunction with the Scholastic Clay Target Association of southern Arizona, held its third annual Youth Quail Hunt at the Empire Ranch in Sonoita on Nov. 17, 2007. This event was the result of the club expanding the circle of participation to include other Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) clubs in the area.

This year we had 12 participants from the Tucson SCTP as well as four participants from the local Ft. Huachuca SCTP club. Scheduling conflicts with deer and elk hunting seasons impacted the numbers of participants.

SCTP participants are well educated in gun safety and have been introduced to a real hunting situation with bird dogs through this popular Youth Quail Hunt. The association has trained their shooters on safety to the point that the club feels very comfortable with their participation. Safe gun handling and firing is handled in a very responsible manner, with extreme caution exercised around dogs and other participants in the field during the hunt.

The bird dog club’s objectives are to introduce the next generation to upland hunting in a realistic environment and to generate enthusiasm for using well-trained pointing dogs in the pursuit of upland birds. In addition to the youth shooters, numerous parents and association leaders attended. Hamburgers and hot dogs were served to all attendees after the hunt was completed.

Each pair of shooters had 30 minutes in the bird field with a trained dog, and a dog handler/mentor where several bobwhite quail had been introduced. Each hunter had multiple opportunities to harvest a quail, though not all were successful. There was a bit of good-natured ribbing between the individual shooters as well as between the two clubs about their ability with live targets versus clay pigeons. Several of the gunners commented that not knowing where the birds were coming from or going to made it a real challenge.

The distaff side was well represented and they were every bit as capable as their male counterparts. While we did not “keep score” this year, previous youth quail hunts had young ladies as the “top gun”. Parents and association leaders were especially appreciative of the unique opportunity that was offered. Each adult and all the kids thanked the Cochise Bird Dog Club for the chance to put their skills to work in an actual hunting situation. Their exposure to well-trained bird dogs in the field was witnessed and enjoyed by all.

The club looks forward to running a youth quail hunt in future years with hopes that the hunt can be further expanded to include additional SCTP shooters. We plan to hold the event on an annual basis with a best time being selected to maximize participation for interested SCTP clubs within Arizona. For additional information concerning this outreach program, please contact Mr. Chris Orndorff at (520) 458-1584.

The Cochise Bird Dog club is based in Sierra Vista, Ariz., with members primarily from southeastern Arizona. The club promotes activities with pointing breeds to include training, field trials, hunt tests, fun hunts and other events that focus on the pointing dog.

For further information, visit: www.cochisebirddogclub.net

Arizona Game and Fish Department

A major milestone was celebrated at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas recently – manufacturers have contributed $3 billion dollars since 1991 to finance wildlife conservation through the payment of federal excise taxes.

The excise tax is a primary source of wildlife conservation funding in the United States. Since the inception of the excise tax in 1937, more than $5 billion dollars has been collected.

“The firearms industry and sportsmen have been the unsung heroes of wildlife conservation in the United States. Together, they have helped create and fund a working model for wildlife conservation that is unsurpassed anywhere in the world. It is a remarkable achievement that benefits all wildlife enthusiasts,” said Arizona Game and Fish Director Duane Shroufe.

In recognition of the recent funding milestone, a commemorative check for $3 billion dollars was presented to H. Dale Hall, the director of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and Matt Hogan, the executive director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA), from key firearms industry leaders at the annual membership meeting of the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) – the industry’s trade association.

“Our industry is proud of its leading role in financially supporting wildlife conservation and protecting habitat,” said Doug Painter, NSSF president and chief executive officer. “We are especially proud that our industry stepped up to the plate for America’s wildlife and natural resources decades before ‘environmentalism’ became a popular movement.”

The federal excise tax on firearms and ammunition products (11 percent on long guns and ammunition and 10 percent on handguns), is collected by the U.S. Treasury, Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and given to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service where it is deposited into the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund, commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Trust Fund.

“The federal excise taxes paid by manufacturers of firearms and ammunition through the Wildlife Restoration program provide state wildlife agencies this critical funding necessary to help maintain wildlife resources, educate hunters and fund sport shooting ranges nationwide,” said Hall.

In just the past 12 months, the firearms and ammunition industry has contributed more than $280 million to conservation via the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET). This amount of money demonstrates a 41-percent increase over the last five years. The complete amount collected through federal excise tax payments, a number which includes payments from the archery and fishing industries, tops $1 billion a year.

“For over 70 years, state fish and wildlife agencies have used the revenue from the Pittman-Robertson program to build the most successful wildlife conservation model the world has ever known,” said Hogan. “One needs only look at the return of species like the whitetail deer, wild turkey, pronghorn antelope and the wood duck, to name a few, to see that this money has been well spent for the benefit of all Americans.”

Remember, wildlife conservation and management of game animals by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is made possible in large part by funding generated from the sale of hunting licenses, hunt permit-tags, and matching funds from federal excise taxes hunters pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment.

Game and Fish Outdoor Expo 2008

will be packed with outdoor fun

Largest hands-on outdoor exposition in Arizona

By Rory Aikens, public information officer,
Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo 2008 will be jam-packed with outdoor fun and adventure for the whole family on March 29 and 30 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, just west of I-17 on Carefree Highway.

It’s free.

This premier 1,600-acre shooting facility is once again being transformed into the largest hands-on outdoor expo in Arizona that can keep your family enthused and delighted all weekend long. And there are no admission or parking fees, just lots of fun.

This year’s exciting Outdoor Expo runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, visit the Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/expo. Last year, the Expo attracted more than 17,000 people and 100 exhibitors.

“Families raved about how much fun they had at the Game and Fish Expo last year,” said Ty Gray with the Game and Fish Department, “This year, we have made this great hands-on event even better. There’s a little something to delight all outdoor enthusiasts. You won’t want to miss it.”

You can come shoot some of the latest firearms from Sturm, Ruger and Co., Glock, Smith & Wesson, Marlin and Benelli. Or test your skill at shooting Olympic-caliber air rifles or fun .22-caliber rifles. You will even be able to see live wildlife up close and personal from the Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center, or catch-and-release a fish at the ever-popular Family Fishing Tank. There is also an interactive nature trail.

Want to test drive the latest all-terrain vehicles or watch customized rock crawlers do amazing feats? If so, you will want to visit the special Off-Highway Vehicle Area.

Expo visitors can also learn to shoot a bow and arrow or see the latest in archery equipment at the newly-enhanced Archery Area. Or you can come try your hand at shooting trap, skeet or sporting clays at the revamped and modernized Clay Target Center.

Interested in the country’s fastest-growing shooting sport, cowboy action shooting? How about tactical-style pistol shooting? Then you will want to visit the Specialty Shooting Range section of the Expo. You can even try your hand at shooting a Gatling gun.

Throughout the weekend, there will be demonstrations and workshops galore. Plus there are more than 100 exhibitors, outdoor organizations, and other interesting booths to visit, and plenty of good food to purchase at the Food Court.

Last year, one outdoor family said that the Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo was more fun than Disneyland and it only cost them a few dollars for the ammunition they shot.

There is also something new this year – a youth education day on Friday, March 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., where teachers can bring their classes for a host of educational activities, including live wildlife demonstrations, a wilderness safety course, geocaching demonstrations, fishing, and much more.

The Youth Day will also include the state’s Archery in the Schools competition, which is looking very competitive. This year, there are 100 schools participating in the Archery in the Schools Program conducted by the Game and Fish Department.

For more information on the Youth Day or the Outdoor Expo, visit:
www.azgfd.gov/expo

Program restores bighorn sheep to their historic habitats
By Doug Burt, public information officer,

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona’s bighorn sheep population received a boost in November when the Arizona Game and Fish Department, along with vital assistance from the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Yuma Proving Ground, and Bureau of Land Management, conducted its 100th capture-translocation.

The translocation program, celebrating its 50th year, aims to restore or enhance bighorn sheep populations in their historic habitats. The result of this logistically challenging and laborious process is to secure a valuable natural resource that benefits all Arizonans.

Thirteen desert bighorn sheep, 11 ewes (females) and two rams (males), were captured on the Yuma Proving Ground near Martinez Lake, north of Yuma, on Friday and were released in the Big Horn Mountains, about 90 miles west of Phoenix, on Saturday.

“These captures and releases are part of a long effort to bring these magnificent animals back from the brink of extirpation and restore them to their historic habitats,” says Brian Wakeling, big game supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

In the late 1800s, bighorn sheep were eliminated from a large portion of their range as a result of exposure to disease and unregulated hunting. In 1893, the Territorial Legislature passed a five-year moratorium banning all hunting of bighorn sheep, yet populations continued to decline. By the 1950s, bighorn populations in Arizona had dwindled significantly, and some feared they might be lost forever.

In 1953, Arizona established regulated hunting of bighorn rams as a way to raise awareness and generate funding for research and management efforts needed to fully recover desert bighorn sheep populations. Special interests groups, hunters, biologists and conservationists rallied together in this effort – an effort that continues today.

The department conducted its first translocation in 1957. Since that first event, the department has moved close to 1,800 animals within Arizona. Today, mostly due to translocation efforts, Arizona’s bighorn sheep population is just over 6,000. Additionally, through the program, two species of bighorn sheep call Arizona home – the desert bighorn and Rocky Mountain bighorn.

The department’s program has also supported other western states, sheep restoration efforts by transplanting 81 sheep to Colorado, 58 to New Mexico, 36 to Texas and 46 to Utah.

“The endeavor to restore the populations of these superb animals over the decades has been a classic cooperative effort between many partners and volunteers,” says Wakeling.

To assure the health of the animals, retired veterinarian, Clancy Gansberg, volunteered his time, much like he has done for over 20 years. Personnel from Liberty Wildlife were also on hand to assist in the safe processing of animals. Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters was contracted for the highly technical process of locating, capturing and transporting sheep from mountainous and rugged terrain.

Restoration efforts have involved enhanced land use planning, interagency cooperation, water developments, conservation hunt strategies, translocations, habitat studies and mitigation, and many hours of volunteer support.

Additional Arizona desert bighorn sheep information is available at the Department’s Web site at http://www.azgfd.gov/h_f/game_bighorn.shtml

By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Nestled in the shadow of Escudilla Mountain a few miles south of the eastern Arizona town of Eagar, the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area is a special high-country destination that can be enjoyed by hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers and others who love the outdoors.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department acquired the 1,362-acre property in 1993 when it purchased the White Mountain Hereford Ranch. The area was renamed the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area two years later.

The area boasts a combination of grassland, pinyon-juniper woodland, and riparian habitat, making it home to a diversity of wildlife species. Elk are found here throughout the year, with fall and winter the best times to see them. Waterfowl are readily seen during fall and spring migration periods. The area is used by a variety of raptors, including ospreys, hawks and golden eagles, and nesting birds such as rufous and broad-tailed hummingbirds, Lewis’ and acorn woodpeckers, and mountain bluebirds. Other wildlife to look for are gray fox, striped skunks, badgers, coyotes, mule deer, Merriam’s turkey, pronghorn antelope, and a variety of ground squirrels, chipmunks and bats.

“Since acquiring the property, the department has steadily enhanced its habitat values and attractions for visitors,” says Bruce Sitko, information and education program manager for the Game and Fish Pinetop region.

A small visitor center, a series of hiking trails complete with interpretive signage and wildlife viewing sites, and a day-use picnic area offer the public the opportunity to learn more about Arizona’s unique wildlife and their habitat needs.

The public is welcome to hike, bicycle or horseback ride on the property. The four hiking trails range from easy to moderate in difficulty and take visitors to wetlands, meadows, old homesteads and scenic vistas. The longest is a 2.5-mile loop. Several wildlife viewing points are located on the trails, including one on the High Point Trail Overlook, which has a 20x spotting scope for locating wildlife in the surrounding forest and meadows.

The visitor center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week, from mid-May until the beginning of October. Even when the visitor center is closed (as it is now), visitors can explore the grounds.

Hunting is allowed on the property in season.

To get to the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, take U.S. Highway 180/191 south from Eagar towards Alpine. At the signs on top of a mesa two miles from Eagar, turn off on an improved dirt road and drive five miles to the property. Park your car at one of two designated areas.

For more information, visit http://www.azgfd.gov/outdoor_recreation/wildlife_area_sipe.shtml

By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is again asking for hunter assistance this season in monitoring for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a wildlife neurological disease that is fatal to deer and elk.

The disease has not yet been found in Arizona, but it is in three neighboring states—Colorado, Utah and New Mexico. The department needs 1,800 deer and elk heads this hunting season to test for presence of the disease.

You can assist by bringing in the head of your recently harvested deer or elk to any Game and Fish Department office between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Place the head in a heavy plastic garbage bag for delivery, and keep it cool and out of the sun. If the weather is warm, it is best to either bring in the head within a day of harvest or keep it on ice in a cooler before delivery.

To better assist the surveillance efforts, you will be asked to fill out a form with your drop-off. Please include the following information: county, game management unit in which the animal was harvested, hunt and permit number, and an address and phone number where you can be reached. If this information is not provided, the department will be unable to test the sample.

You will be notified of the test results by postcard within six to eight weeks. There is no charge for the testing and notification.

Currently, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk for humans.

The department has been conducting surveillance using hunter-harvested deer and elk since 1998. Test samples from more than 8,300 animals during that time have found no evidence of CWD.

The department also has had rules in place since 2002 restricting the movement of captive deer and elk into or within the state, and subjecting those animals to marking and reporting requirements.

Here are some guidelines for hunters when out in the field:

• Don’t harvest any animal that appears to be sick or behaves oddly. Call the Arizona Game and Fish Department at 1-800-352-0700 if you see an animal that is very thin, has a rough coat, drooping ears and is unafraid of humans.

• When field-dressing game, wear rubber gloves and minimize the use of a bone saw to cut through the brain or spinal cord (backbone). Bone out the meat. Minimize contact with and do not consume brain or spinal cord tissues, eyes, spleen, or lymph nodes.

• Always wash hands thoroughly after dressing and processing game meat.

• If you hunt in another state, don’t bring back the brain, intact skull or spinal column. It’s OK to bring back hides and skull plates that have been cleaned of all tissue and washed in bleach.

• Taxidermied heads, sawed-off antlers and ivory teeth are OK to bring home.

• If you intend to hunt out of state, contact the wildlife agency in the area you intend to hunt. Several states have regulations on carcass movement.

Learn more about chronic wasting disease at these Web sites:

Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

By Pat Barber, law enforcement program manager, Arizona Game and Fish Department

There has been some recent discussion and confusion in some corners of the state in response to recent changes to the Game and Fish statutes relating to civil assessments imposed by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

Arizona Revised Statutes Title 17-314 allows the commission to bring civil action against an individual for unlawfully taking, wounding, killing, or unlawfully in possession of wildlife, and to recover minimum sums of money for damages. These actions are taken during public commission meetings, and this is the process by which wildlife violators are compelled to reimburse the state for the loss of wildlife associated with their unlawful activities.

New poaching penalties legislation
The statute was revised during the 2006 legislative session to increase the minimum sums that can be sought by the commission. This new legislation, which also increased the length of time a wildlife violator could have his or her license revoked, was called the “Anti-Poaching Bill”, and enjoyed support of many Arizonans.

Under the old statute the minimum sums ranged from $10 for each nongame bird or game fish to $750 for each buffalo, elk, bighorn sheep, eagle or endangered species. The ranges under the new statute are $50 for each small game or aquatic animal to $8,000 for each “trophy” animal or endangered species (see comparison chart below).

What is a “trophy” animal?
What some people have taken exception to is how we define a trophy animal worthy of an $8,000 civil assessment. Some have complained that we use the term “trophy” to describe animals that are nowhere near the trophy books (Boone and Crockett or Pope & Young), or they comment that a certain rack would never get $8,000 at an auction and that we are being unfair. This confusion is partly a result of the differences between a “plain language” definition and a “statutory” definition.

A “plain language” definition is a definition that is generally accepted by most people and is similar to a dictionary definition. When dealing in the legal world (statutes and rules), the statutory definitions take precedence and are often different then the “plain language” version of like phrases.

A good example of these differences is the use of the term “take” in the Game and Fish statutes. The dictionary definition of the word “take”, much like the plain language definition is, “To get into one’s possession by force, skill, or artifice” (American Heritage Dictionary). The statutory definition of “take” in A.R.S. 17-101 is, “’Take’ means pursuing, shooting, hunting, fishing, trapping, killing, capturing, snaring or netting wildlife or the placing or using of any net or other device or trap in a manner that may result in the capturing or killing of wildlife.” The statutory definition of “take” has been explained to quite a few individuals who wondered why they were cited for unlawful “take” of wildlife when they never actually killed anything. The statutory definitions allow legislators to clarify their intent when they pass laws.

As it relates to civil assessments and “trophy” animals, the Legislature clearly defined what is considered a “trophy” animal in statute. In A.R.S. 17-101, the statutory definition of a trophy animal is established as:

• A mule deer buck with at least four points on one antler, not including the eye guard point.
• A whitetail deer buck with at least three points on one antler, not including the eye guard point.
• A bull elk with at least six points on one antler, including the eye guard point and the brow tine point.
• A pronghorn (antelope) buck with at least one horn exceeding or equal to fourteen inches in total length.
• Any bighorn sheep.
• Any bison (buffalo).

The statute is not saying a small 6×6 set of elk antlers scoring 200 inches should be included in the trophy books, and it is not asserting this animal’s antlers would raise a lot at an antler auction. What the statute is saying is that the loss of this animal is worth at least $8,000 to the State of Arizona.

Antlers or horns can have value and are often sold. They have medicinal value in some parts of the world and can be sold for this purpose. They are often collected, sold, and then used to create artwork that is sold again. Their greatest value, however, is achieved through the sale of large or unique antlers or horns to “trophy” collectors (this use of “trophy” is the plain language definition).

Examples from the Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Assets Program include a mount of a 6×6, 400 class bull elk that sold for $17,000 in 2005, and a 12×13, 245-inch mule deer skull that sold for $22,000 in the spring of 2007.

While some antlers and horns can be sold for a lot of money, antlers that generate this much money are the exceptions rather then the rule. The 200-inch elk antlers mentioned above would typically sell for less then $500 at a typical assets auction. So, how can an animal be worth more then the value of its antlers or horns?

Other aspects of “value”
The Arizona Legislature, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission, and many members of the public understand that the value of a set of antlers or horns is just one small part of an animal’s total value. When the new civil assessment statute went into effect and it became clear that there was some confusion regarding the value of wildlife, I was asked to do some research to explain more fully what an animal is worth.

Antlers and horns are tangible parts of wildlife that have value and can be reduced to possession by an individual. Another tangible component of wildlife that has value is meat that a person could possess had they legally harvested an animal. It is possible to determine some minimum level of value for an animal. Game meat is sold in some markets, but the value based on these market prices may be misleading because what are usually sold are the prime cuts, and the per-pound prices include the cost of processing the meat.

If we look in the available literature and determine the average size of a given animal (the 6×6 bull elk, for example), and subtract the weight that would be lost after the animal is field dressed, we could establish the typical field-dressed weight of an animal. If we then multiply that by the prices for wholesale beef, we would get an approximate value of around $750. This would likely be a conservative estimate, as most people would assert that wild elk meat is worth more then beef.

The value of wildlife-related activities
Additional values can be assigned based on data developed through surveys administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that evaluate what people typically spend during wildlife-related activities. This is a legitimate aspect of value to the state, in that these expenses represent what is put into local economies as a result of wildlife-related recreational activities.

For instance, using the bull elk example, the survey indicates that hunters in Arizona spent an average of $142.50 per day while hunting (adjusted for inflation from 2001, when that particular survey was conducted). Multiply this by the number of days the average bull elk hunter spends in the field (4.9 days) and we determine a legal hunter would have put about $700 dollars into the state economy if this bull was still alive and available for hunting.

This survey also gathered information on what people spend while viewing wildlife. The average person spent $88 per day (adjusted for inflation) viewing wildlife. If the 6×6 bull resulted in 15 days of viewing, it would represent approximately $1,315 that would go into the state’s economy.

In addition to the tangible, quantifiable values, there are other “intrinsic” values that are real but difficult to put a dollar figure on. Is there additional value if the animal is taken from an area where there is a very high demand for hunt opportunities? What about the value to the health of the population and its future reproductive potential? Was the animal from a population that resulted from a transplant or served as a source for a transplant to another area? What about the impact to property values in the area, the animal’s importance to the ecosystem, the importance of the population’s genetic diversity, the cultural/religious value?

Some surveys have indicated that citizens who do not even participate in wildlife-related recreation assign a lot of value to simply knowing a wild animal is there. All of this is lost by the state and its citizens when an animal is unlawfully taken.

Special tags: Another indicator of value
One final indicator of what an animal might be worth, based on very real market data, can be found in the Special Big Game Tag program. Each year as many as three Arizona permits for most species of big game are auctioned or raffled. Money generated from this program must be used to benefit wildlife, and this surely influences what people are willing to pay, but it is also a clear indication of what an individual is willing to pay for an opportunity to hunt big game animals in Arizona.

In the case of bull elk, this figure has ranged from $100,000 to $137,500 over the last five years. In all cases where special tags have been issued, this data indicates people are willing to spend significantly more for the opportunity than the $8,000 minimum civil assessment established by A.R.S. 17-314 for “trophy” animals (see table below).

In conclusion, when someone looks at a set of antlers and says they are not worth the amount of the civil assessment imposed on an individual, they are probably right. But the Arizona Game and Fish Commission is not seeking damages for the loss of the antlers; the commission is seeking damages for the loss of the animal from the state and its citizens. In Arizona, wildlife is highly valued, and the commission is seeking recovery for that value.

By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is offering two exciting new grant programs to provide financial assistance to groups undertaking projects in support of hunter/angler recruitment and retention and wildlife conservation. Funds for both programs will be awarded through a competitive application process.

One of the new funding mechanisms is the Local Sportsmen’s Group Grant Program, which provides financial assistance to local sportsmen’s groups for projects within a particular focus established each year by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. For the 2007-08 grant year, the focus will be projects promoting or facilitating hunter/angler/shooter/trapper recruitment and retention.

There is $50,000 available through this program. Multiple awards may be made. To be eligible, a group must: (1) be a local Arizona-based sportsmen’s group with a focus on hunting, fishing, shooting or trapping, (2) propose a project that fits the eligibility criteria, and (3) complete the project by June 30, 2008.

Examples of eligible projects include small game camps, fishing clinics, beginning shooter programs, and educational outreach. Grant dollars cannot be awarded or used for activities such as group banquets, raffle prizes, trophy hunting competitions, for-profit projects, or for the purchase of hunting or fishing licenses, tags or stamps.

To apply, download an application packet from azgfd.gov and follow all instructions. Packets can also be obtained by calling Grant Coordinator Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530. The deadline to submit applications for Local Sportsmen’s Group grants is Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007 at 5 p.m. (MST).

The other new program is the Wildlife Conservation Fund (WCF) Grant Program, which supports projects that help conserve, enhance and restore Arizona’s diverse wildlife resources and habitats for present and future generations.

The program is funded through the Arizona Wildlife Conservation Fund, which was established after Arizona voters in 2002 approved Proposition 202 to continue limited and regulated gaming on Arizona tribal lands.

There is $300,000 available for Wildlife Conservation Fund Grant Program awards for Fiscal Year 2008 (2007-08). Multiple awards may be made. Eligible applicants include any agency of the state or any political subdivision, Indian tribe, or nonprofit organization exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code for the purpose of conservation of wildlife or wildlife habitat, or acquisition of real property that is wildlife habitat.

Project proposals will only be accepted for the following types of projects for 2007-08: (1) habitat improvement, including aquatic; (2) shooting sports; (3) access to wildlife-related recreation; (4) hunter and angler recruitment and retention; (5) wildlife health and disease; (6) new watchable wildlife opportunities; (7) information and education on nuisance wildlife; (8) wildlife population research. Descriptions of these project types can be found in Appendix A (page 11) of the Wildlife Conservation Fund Grant Application Packet.

To apply, download an application packet from azgfd.gov and follow all instructions. Packets can also be obtained by calling Grant Coordinator Robyn Beck at (623) 236-7530. The deadline to submit applications for Wildlife Conservation Fund grants is Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007 at 5 p.m. (MST).

By Rory Aikens, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

		The future of not just hunting and fishing but also wildlife conservation may depend on successfully addressing the continuing declines in hunter and angler participation. That was a common message from a panel of experts discussing hunter and angler recruitment and retention during the annual conference for the Western
Association of Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) in Flagstaff on July 7-12.

“This year’s WAFWA conference theme, hunter and angler recruitment and retention, comes at a crucial time in our history,” said Arizona Game and Fish Director Duane Shroufe, current president of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

As the Western states urbanize, Shroufe said, participation in outdoor recreation in general, and hunting and angling in particular, is falling. “Whether we call it a crisis or an opportunity, what wildlife managers do in response will shape the future of conservation in North America.”

The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, which represents 23 states and Canadian provinces, also discussed a wide range of other issues and topics during its annual conference. WAFWA members represent an area covering nearly 3.7 million square miles of some of North America’s most wild and scenic country that is inhabited by over 1,500 premier wildlife species.

The panelists for the plenary session included:

• Shane Mahoney, an internationally acclaimed biologist and writer who is renowned for chronicling the history of North American conservation.
• Rob Keck, the chief executive officer for the National Wild Turkey Federation.
• Rob Sexton, the legislative liaison for the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance.
• Steve Williams, the president of the Wildlife Management Institute, a non-profit conservation organization headquartered in Wash., D. C.
• Dr. Delwin E. Benson, a professor of wildlife biology at Colorado State University.
• Gordon Batcheller, a wildlife biologist for the New York State Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources.

The panel of experts shared a common thread in their talks — hunters and anglers are the core of wildlife conservation, but society as a whole is mostly unaware of the role that hunters and anglers play.

“Hunters are really the unsung heroes of conservation,” Rob Keck said. “At best, the contributions we as hunters have made to conservation are ignored.”

Keck said hunters and state agencies “need to sell the sizzle” of conservation. “We need to put a light on hunters and what they do. It’s time to raise the posture of you the hunter in local communities.”

Shane Mahoney said that most people are unaware of the fact that the United Nations and the World Wildlife Fund have identified hunting as one of the great conservation tools open to mankind.

“Hunting is finally being recognized as not just one, but the only conservation tool that is working,” Mahoney said, adding that there is a need to establish a context in society where hunting is viewed positively.

“It’s all about relevance. It’s not whether hunting is right, it is whether it is politically and socially relevant,” Mahoney said.

Steve Williams, the former director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, also warned that after a 40-year decline in participation, hunters and anglers are on the verge of becoming politically irrelevant.

Rob Sexton provided a sobering observation. “Hunting won’t die because there aren’t any of us, it will die because we don’t matter any more,” he said. “Politics is a game of numbers, and we are recruiting hunters at the lowest rate in 30 years. We are at the edge of a demographic cliff.”

Sexton said that agencies need to resist the urge to over-regulate and create barriers to participation, such as having age limits on hunting big game. Sexton said it’s not enough to allow youth to hunt small game, because 86 percent of all hunters are big game hunters. “If you are going to empower folks to hunt, why just empower rabbit hunters?”

Sexton said some states are looking at creating an apprentice hunting license where a young hunter may hunt big game such as deer under the supervision of an adult prior to taking a hunter education course.

“Most minimum age laws came about 30 years ago. We wanted to assure America our sport is safe. Those laws are no longer relevant,” Sexton said.

Rob Keck said too many states are letting age restrictions create barriers to participation. “Now we are looking at trying to tear those walls down,” he said. “Who knows better when a child is ready to hunt, the government or the parent? It’s time we wake up and let the kids smell the gunpowder.”

Statistics show that age is not the factor in hunting accidents. “The swimming pool next door is more of a safety issue. Supervised young hunters have a tremendous safety record,” Sexton said.

The panelists stressed that so many interests compete for the time and attention of today’s youth that waiting until they are older to recruit them means they might not get recruited at all.

Gordon Batcheller, a wildlife biologist in New York, said his state has a minimum age of 16 to hunt big game, which means a parent might get to hunt deer with a son or a daughter for just a couple of years before they leave home.

Batcheller said the opposition to changing the laws in his state didn’t come from the media or from anti-hunters, it came from hunters themselves, and the bottom line was that the adult hunters didn’t want to lose their hunting opportunity to the younger hunters. Batcheller said adult hunters need to ask themselves what they are willing to sacrifice to secure the future of hunting for their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and beyond.

Dr. Delwin Benson said it is necessary to recruit youth into hunting at a young age, but there are a lot of activities competing for their time, and the time of the parent. “What happens when a kid’s time gets taken up? What affects our children affects us too.”

Habitat Fund

By Sal Palazzolo, landowner relations program manager, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Sportsmen are given the opportunity on their big game hunt applications to make a donation to the Big Game Habitat Fund. The generous sportsmen who contribute to this fund help support wildlife habitat improvement projects for all of Arizona’s big game species.

You can contribute to Arizona’s conservation success story by donating a portion of your refund (if you are eligible for a refund) to big game habitat projects. These projects are implemented on federal, state trust and deeded property.

Some of the projects accomplished with these funds during 2006-2007 are:

• Utilized $10,000 in Big Game Habitat donation funds to match against a $90,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, to install a water delivery system in Game Management Unit 32. This project will benefit mule deer, pronghorn antelope, javelina and upland game birds.

• Matched $10,000 in Big Game Habitat donation funds against a $140,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to conduct mesquite clearing on historic grasslands and add two new water sources in Game Management Unit 30A. This project will benefit mule deer, javelina and upland game birds, notably scaled quail.

• Installed a wildlife drinker in Game Management Unit 3C. This project will benefit elk, mule deer and various nongame species.

• Cleaned out and repaired a dirt tank in Game Management Unit 19A. This tank is an important watering area for pronghorn antelope.

• Matched $5,000 of Big Game Habitat donation funds against $55,000 of outside funding sources to install covers on water storage tanks in Game Management Unit 13B. This project will greatly reduce the evaporation of water for drinkers that supply water for mule deer and bighorn sheep.

• Provided $5,000 of Big Game Habitat donation funds to match against a $92,000 Arizona Department of Agriculture grant to clear 1,920 acres of juniper off of former grassland habitats in Game Management Unit 10. This project will benefit elk, mule deer and pronghorn antelope.

• Cleaned out and repaired a dirt tank in Game Management Unit 4B. This tank is an important watering area for elk, mule deer and numerous nongame species.

• Purchased and installed a solar pumping station for a well in Game Management Unit 5A. This project will primarily benefit elk and mule deer.

• Purchased and installed a solar pumping station for a well in Game Management Unit 35A. This project will primarily benefit mule deer and pronghorn antelope.
  

Sportsmen interested in contributing toward projects like this are asked to consider making a donation during this big game hunt application period. For more information about the Big Game Habitat Fund, visit azgfd.gov/landowner.

What happens to turkeys after Thanksgiving?
Relocation programs help turkey populations

By Brian Wakeling, big game program supervisor,
Arizona Game and Fish Department

Click Here For the July 2007 Issue

Many sportsmen think about turkeys maybe two or three times a year. Generally speaking, the “hunter-turkey cycle” goes like this. Hunters apply for fall hunts right after the spring season is over. Turkeys are gobbling during the spring hunts while hens sit on nests. The hens raise their broods during the summer. Then hunters apply for spring hunts about the time that they hunt turkeys in the fall. Oh yeah, hunters think about turkeys on Thanksgiving. But what happens to turkeys after Thanksgiving?

Well, biologically, there are a lot of things that happen. They feed on mast crops like acorns and pine seed and typically move to lower-elevation winter range. They spend the winter losing weight, avoiding deep snow and avoiding predation. The Arizona Game and Fish Department is actively involved in relocation programs to help restore and expand the range of turkey populations, and winter is prime time to capture and relocate turkeys.

History of translocation efforts

Historically, turkeys were among the first wildlife species to benefit from trap and translocation endeavors. According to the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), this species has increased from about 30,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to well over 7 million in North America today, as a direct result of management activities like trap and transplant actions. Arizona got into the program in the 1930s, and our efforts are still ongoing today.

Gould’s turkeys

The Arizona Game and Fish Department, with the help of NWTF, volunteers, other governmental and private cooperators, and the Mexican government, has reestablished the Gould’s turkey in Arizona. This subspecies of turkey historically occupied the southeastern river corridors and mountain ranges in Arizona, but was extirpated by 1920. Arizona currently supports about 800 of these birds in historic habitat and offers limited hunting opportunity annually, due to the translocation efforts from Mexico. To date, about 230 individual birds have been relocated from Mexico to Arizona. An additional 100 turkeys have been moved from an established population in the Huachucas. Currently, Gould’s turkeys inhabit the Huachuca, Chiricahua, Pinaleno, Catalina, Santa Rita, and Galiuro Mountains.

Merriam’s turkeys

Merriam’s turkeys (the other subspecies of turkey native to Arizona) have also benefited from translocations, although their numbers were never eliminated from the state. Arizona currently boasts about 20,000 of these birds, which range throughout the ponderosa pine belt of Arizona. Within the past two years, the department, again with NWTF and volunteer assistance, has moved about 150 turkeys into Pine Mountain in Game Management Unit 21, Big Bug Mesa in Unit 20A, and Mingus Mountain in Unit 19A. Their numbers are doing so well statewide that 6,246 permits were authorized this spring (a new record high), and 5,870 were authorized for next fall.

The trap and transplant program has served hunters, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, NWTF, and the turkey well. The enjoyment you get from hearing a spring turkey gobble or watching a brood chase bugs along a meadow roadway in summer can be attributed to the active management exercised by wildlife managers. Should you be fortunate enough to draw a tag, your next Thanksgiving meal may be attributed, in part, to these management activities as well.

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
By David McCasland, 2007 vice president

How did your group get started?

In 1967, a group of 46 concerned sportsman and conservationists got together for a single purpose dedicated to increasing the desert bighorn sheep population within Arizona. Out of these humble beginnings the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society was formed. This year we celebrate 40 years of working to improve bighorn sheep habitat and numbers within the state of Arizona. We have evolved into an organization that is now working to increase both desert bighorn sheep and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep populations in the state.

What is the purpose of the ADBSS?

Since 1967, the purpose and mission of the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society has been guided by eight goals:

• Develop water resources for bighorn sheep.
• Reintroduce bighorn sheep into suitable historic ranges.
• Prevent human encroachment onto bighorn sheep habitat.
• Assist government agencies with bighorn sheep population surveys.
• Support the reduction of feral burro populations in bighorn sheep habitat.
• Educate the public about bighorn sheep and their survival needs.
• Promote research needed for better management of bighorn sheep.
• Support efforts to reduce competition with domestic livestock and predators where necessary.

The first two goals, waterhole development and bighorn sheep transplants, have been the primary focus of our organization.

How many members do you have?

At the present time we have approximately 1100 members.

What does the ADBSS do?

The ADBSS holds five to seven waterhole development and habitat restoration projects annually. These occur between January and May. In late February to mid-March, the Sheep Society holds a fundraiser. This year’s event is scheduled for March 17. In September, the ADBSS hosts a Sheep Hunter’s Clinic. This clinic provides an opportunity for those successful in drawing a sheep tag to learn how to recognize, age and score bighorn sheep prior to going hunting. In November, we are often assisting the Arizona Game and Fish Department with transplants. We also have board meetings, which anyone may attend, that occur the second Wednesday of each month from January thru November. Since we started back in 1967, the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society has built and restored more than 160 waterhole developments. We’ve assisted in transplanting more than 500 desert bighorn sheep in 40 years, and in the last two years have assisted with transplanting 60 Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep into the West Clear Creek area, north and east of Camp Verde.

While the conservation spotlight is shining on ADBSS, what would you like to say?

The drought, and in some areas predator populations, have negatively impacted bighorn sheep in the state. We are working with state and federal agencies to address the impacts these issues have on bighorn sheep populations. New homes sprouting up across the state sometimes threaten important travel corridors for bighorn sheep. The Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society works with the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other agencies to help identify these important corridors. Where necessary, we are willing to spend money to keep these important corridors open. We work to raise money year-round that can be used to help pay for the costs of the water developments, transplants and habitat restoration.

We are always looking for new members that want to take an active part in bighorn sheep conservation. Anyone interested in helping is welcome.

This year, we have started a new program that takes our conservation story into the public schools. To date, we have made presentations to two schools in Chandler. We hope this program can grow. If anyone is interested in hearing about this new program, please contact us.

Come join us on a project or two and learn what is meant by “Cine Aqua Mortis,” which means “Without Water, Death.” Once you have a chance to explore the fascinating world of the bighorn sheep, you too, may want to join our organization, helping to “put sheep on the mountain.”

How can people reach you?

You can learn a great deal about us by visiting our Web site at www.adbss.org or by contacting us directly at (480) 854-8950. Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 21705, Mesa, AZ 85277.

By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Outdoor enthusiasts: You won’t want to miss the FREE Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo on March 31 and April 1 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in Phoenix.

Want to try your hand at target archery? Learn firearm safety and test your skill at target shooting on the shooting range? Participate in activities on our hunter education field course? View live wildlife and learn about wildlife conservation?

You can do all this and more at this year’s Expo. You’ll have a chance to visit with more than 100 exhibitors–sportsmen’s/conservation groups, shooting organizations, OHV groups, government agencies, and vendors of outdoor products and services–involved in every aspect of outdoor recreation. The family friendly event offers hands-on opportunities, demonstrations and exhibits on a wide range of outdoor activities, including hunting, archery, fishing, recreational target shooting, off-highway vehicle recreation, boating recreation, camping, wildlife conservation and more.

Here are some of the activities you can experience:

• Try out the latest firearms, in a safe, supervised environment on the shooting range, from manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson, Sturm, Ruger & Co., and Glock.

• Learn and develop your skills at international-style target archery.

• View horse and hunting dog demonstrations and attend workshops on hunting with bird dogs.

• See live wildlife such as birds and reptiles, and attend wildlife workshops by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

• Learn about map reading, GPS and orienteering.

• View off-highway vehicle demonstrations, take a test drive in our OHV area, and find out about OHV recreation opportunities.

• Learn fishing techniques at our fishing workshops and test your skill on our fishing simulator.

• Try out specialty shooting disciplines, such as cowboy action, rifle and pistol silhouette, black powder and other disciplines, at venues hosted by local shooting organizations.

• Attend the Scholastic Clay Target Program (SCTP) Commissioner’s Cup sporting clays state championships, the Arizona Archery in Schools (AAIS) state championships, and Arizona State University collegiate archery competitions.

• Learn about Dutch oven cooking.

• Attend workshops on predator calling, falconry, and how to improve your draw odds.

• Become educated on watercraft recreation opportunities and boating safety.

• Test your rock-climbing skills on a climbing wall.

• Have your child audition to be a “guest host for a day” for a future episode of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Emmy Award-winning Arizona Wildlife Views television show (limited to children ages 7-18).

• Visit with representatives from more than 100 exhibitors.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 1. Admission and parking are free. Free trolley transportation within the 1,690-acre Ben Avery complex will enable you to explore all of the action. To get to the Expo, take I-17 to Carefree Highway (exit 223) and go west 1/2 mile on Carefree Highway to the entrance at Long Shot Lane. For more information and to see a list of exhibitors, visit azgfd.gov/expo.

By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Outdoor enthusiasts: Mark your calendars! You won’t want to miss this year’s Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo, being held Saturday, March 31 and Sunday, April 1 at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility in north Phoenix.

Formerly known as the Shooting Showcase, this year’s event is expanding to include a wide range of outdoor activities, including hunting, fishing, archery, off-highway vehicle recreation, boating safety, camping, live wildlife exhibits and more.

You can attend educational workshops, view demonstrations, and visit with sportsmen’s/conservation groups and commercial vendors in our exhibitors’ tent.

You’ll still have the same opportunity to experience hands-on recreational shooting on the range as in past years, including the chance to try out various specialty shooting disciplines (cowboy action, black powder, rifle and pistol silhouette, and more) hosted by local shooting organizations.

The Scholastic Clay Target Program Sporting Clays State Championships will be held at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center on Saturday. The Archery in the Schools  Program State Championships will be held at the Ben Avery archery ranges.

Vendors and sportsmen’s/conservation groups interested in exhibiting at the Outdoor Expo can obtain more information by clicking here or by calling Tristanna Bickford at (623) 236-7241.

The Outdoor Expo is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Admission and parking are free. Trolley transportation is provided throughout the 1,690-acre complex for all activities. The Expo entrance at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility is located off Carefree Highway, on Long Shot Lane, about 1/2 mile west of I-17. For more information, visit azgfd.gov/expo or call (623) 236-7241.

Hunt Of A Lifetime
By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department

Many young people would love the chance to go on a hunting trip in Arizona, and many fine sportsmen’s and other organizations help provide that opportunity. But for a special group of youngsters—those diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses—that dream has a heightened sense of importance and urgency. A unique organization called Hunt Of A Lifetime helps them realize their dream.

The organization’s founding
Hunt Of A Lifetime is a national nonprofit organization that provides hunting and fishing adventures to children who have been diagnosed with life-threatening medical conditions. It was founded by Tina and Chester Pattison, a Pennsylvania couple whose 19-year-old son Matthew died of cancer in 1999.

Matt’s wish before he died was to hunt moose in Canada. The Pattisons contacted the national Make-A-Wish Foundation, but they were told the organization was no longer granting requests for hunting trips. A local outfitter in a small town in Alberta, Canada heard about the young man’s situation. The outfitter offered to provide the hunt for free, and a number of other people pitched in to provide transportation and provisions. Matt got to go on his hunt, and he harvested a moose. He died the following spring.

After Matt’s passing, Tina spread the word about how everyone’s efforts had positively affected her son. The anticipation and enjoyment associated with the hunt had done wonders for his spirit. She knew that other families might have the same needs. Through her efforts and the donated services and financial assistance of many other individuals and organizations, the nonprofit Hunt Of A Lifetime Foundation was founded.

Arizona’s “compassionate transfer” law
Arizona had a Hunt Of A Lifetime chapter, but it was limited in what it could do because the state had no provision to transfer donated tags. This changed last year due to the efforts of a sportsman named Terry Petko, who was the catalyst for changing Arizona law so a donated tag could be used by a youngster with a life-threatening medical condition.

“About five years ago, a friend of mine called to see if I could help take a terminally ill youth on a hunt in Arizona,” says Petko. “I contacted Tice Supplee, then the game chief at the Arizona Game and Fish Department, to see if we could get a donated tag. Tice told me there wasn’t a way to do that type of transfer at that time, and it would require a legislative change.”

Despite no experience in the legislative process, Petko began researching how to introduce and lobby a bill. He found a sponsor in Rep. Andy Biggs of District 22. The proposed legislation, known as the “compassionate transfer” bill, would allow an individual to donate his/her big game hunt tag to a qualified 501(c)(3) organization for use by a minor child with a life-threatening medical condition. The transfer would be facilitated by the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The bill made it part-way through the legislative process two years ago but stalled. It was reintroduced last year, was passed by the Legislature, and was signed into law in April 2005 by Gov. Janet Napolitano.

Dedicated contributors
Petko’s efforts led to his being offered the position of “ambassador,” or local representative, of Arizona’s Hunt Of A Lifetime chapter. He says Arizona’s program last year put seven kids on different hunts for elk, mule deer and even bighorn sheep.

Petko gives credit for the program’s success to the efforts of many people. “A lot of dedicated sportsmen and women donate their time and services to this program,” he says. “We have guides and outfitters who offer to lead or help out with the hunts. Other sportsmen donate money and equipment.”

Petko also says success wouldn’t be possible without the efforts of the “Team Arizona” members of the Arizona chapter: Stephanie Rainey (videography/photography); Don Martin (guide and outfitter coordinator); Terry Herndon (public information officer); Chris Denham (field editor); Dick King (regulatory liaison); Carla Denham (medical liaison); and Debra Petko (secretary/treasurer).

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission recently voted to honor Petko and the Arizona chapter of Hunt Of A Lifetime with an Award of Excellence. The award will be presented at the annual Meet the Commission awards in January.

Petko feels the program has enriched the volunteers’ lives in many ways. “When you see the amazing courage these kids have in dealing with adversity, it is truly inspirational,” he says. “Seeing the smiles on those young faces when they go on their hunts touches everyone involved. We live for those smiles.”

To find out more information about Hunt Of A Lifetime, visit hoalarizona.org or contact Terry Petko at (602) 689-9524. If you have a big game tag you will be unable to use and wish to donate, you can do that through the Web site. The site also includes photos and stories from past hunts.

Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club
By Jonny Fugate, legislative liaison

How did your group get started?
About 70 years ago, it is said that a group of local farmers in Yuma County got together to have a “Big Bass Fishing Derby” and a “Big Deer Contest” amongst themselves. From those beginnings, the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club (YVRGC) became incorporated in 1939 and began expanding its activities, both for the membership and the community. The club added a fishing derby for fathers and their kids and a river cruise for physically challenged children, and those events, along with the big bass derby and big deer contest, have occurred annually for more than half a century.

What is the purpose of the YVRGC?
Since 1936, the purpose and mission of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club has been:

• The conservation of wildlife, habitat and natural resources.
• Education of the public to include conservation issues and firearm safety.
• Support of the second amendment of the United States Constitution.
• Provide recreation and organized activities to members and the public and participate in charitable and other community services activities, especially those related to conservation and sportsmanship.

What does the YVRGC do?
The YVRGC now holds over 28 events annually. Along with our events, the YVRGC has become a very dedicated conservation partner with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, working to ensure that wildlife, wildlife habitat and wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation remain as the department’s major management focus. The YVRGC has aggressively assisted the department with many wildlife conservation activities, especially providing water for wildlife. In southwestern Arizona, our goal is to assist and support the department in redevelopment of more than 100 existing water catchments over the next decade to ensure that wildlife, particularly mule deer, has water to drink. Since 1995, the YVRGC has assisted the department in construction of over 30 new catchments in Region IV, which have operated basically maintenance-free and required very minimal water hauling, if any. Due to these efforts, the YVRGC is now honored to be an affiliate member of the Arizona Deer Association and looks forward to assisting ADA in accomplishing their mission of enhancing habitat for deer in Arizona.

The YVRGC is also very involved in the hunter education program, holding at least five classes per year. The class size is 30 students per class and free to all participants.

While the conservation spotlight is shining on YVRGC, what would you like to say?
In support of wildlife conservation in Arizona, the YVRGC has always been very politically involved at the local, state and national levels. Because of attempts by some groups to reduce and/or eliminate wildlife management and wildlife-dependent outdoor recreation, the YVRGC continues to aggressively protect this heritage for all children and their children. We have become a strong voice for the sporting community, ensuring that sportsmen and women across Arizona have the right to enjoy the outdoors. The YVRGC is well respected by the federal land managing agencies, as well as the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

How many members do you have?
Today the YVRGC is over 500 members strong.

How can people reach you?
You can contact the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club via e-mail at jau@underhilltransfer.com or by U.S mail at P.O. Box 6500, Yuma, AZ 85366. Our monthly meetings are the first Wednesday of every month at the American Legion Post 19, 2575 W. Virginia Dr., Yuma.