Duck season is set to begin Friday, Oct. 7 and it should be a good one this year. The opener is typically local birds, but counts indicate more ducks than seen in decades. A good cold winter in the states north of Ariz. could be the makings of a great season, so dust off those [...]

Mid-season 2010-11 Small Game Forecast By Johnathan O’Dell, small game biologist, Arizona Game and Fish SQUIRRELS: My preseason scouting run in June proved to show a mix of good and bad. Mogollon Rim The Mogollon Rim had a deeper than normal snow pack which lasted longer than normal. This led to losses in the Abert’s [...]

Applications accepted for limited crane hunts between Aug. 3 and Sept. 1 PHOENIX — Hunters hibernating during the sizzling summer can now go online and get the 2009-10 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon Regulations, as well as the 2009 Arizona Sandhill Crane Regulations, at www.azgfd.gov. Printed copies should be in Arizona Game and Fish Department [...]

By Doug Burt, public information officer, AGFD Deer and elk hunters: Your assistance is needed again this season to continue the monitoring efforts in Arizona for chronic wasting disease (CWD), a wildlife disease that is fatal to deer and elk. Currently, there is no evidence that CWD poses a risk to humans. Although CWD has [...]

It looks like the early reports from Monday’s opening day are either that of boom or bust. My particular hunt was a bust – despite the prescouting we did prior to the opener. Leaving one to wonder, “did the heavy storms of last week play a role?” I got with one the Arizona Game and [...]

Governor signs off-highway vehicle bill By Jim Harken, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department Long-awaited legislation that will help better manage off-highway vehicle (OHV) recreation and protect wildlife habitat passed the Arizona Senate on June 23 and has been signed by the Governor. Senate Bill 1167, also known as the “Off-Highway Vehicle Bill,” [...]

Ride responsibly when using OHV’s By Jim Harken, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department The Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds all hunters to be cautious and courteous when using off-highway vehicles out on a hunt. The best advice for OHV users is simply: “Walk while you stalk.” Get out to your location [...]

Junior hunters: Samantha Parrish, successful elk hunter By Larry Parrish, father The following is yet another great success story sent by a proud father. Larry Parrish wanted to thank Samanatha’s hunter education instructor, Cliff Saylor, for teaching her how to be a true steward of the land. Cliff, you are doing an outstanding job with [...]

Volunteer opportunities for hunters By Les Bell, volunteer coordinator, Arizona Game and Fish Department The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s volunteer program provides opportunities for volunteers to participate firsthand in managing Arizona’s wildlife resources. Our goal is to provide you with a congenial and cooperative atmosphere where you can build relationships with staff and other [...]

Arizona wildlife wins in Big Game Super Raffle By Tom Cadden, public information officer, Arizona Game and Fish Department There were several winners at the July 7 drawing of the Arizona Big Game Super Raffle in Flagstaff, and biggest among them was Arizona’s wildlife. Sportsmen once again stepped up to the plate and raised more [...]