PHOENIX —  Waterfowl hunting season opens Friday, Oct. 3 in the mountain zone. The “liberal” season set by the federal framework and implemented by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is for a full 100 days, closing on Jan. 11 (in the mountain zone). However, duck hunters are reminded that the season is closed for canvasback ducks (pictured at right) and there is a shorter season for scaup ducks for 2008-09.

Canvasbacks and redhead ducks are similar in appearance and are commonly misidentified in the field. To complicate the matter, both of these ducks inhabit the same habitats and hunting grounds.

Mike Rabe, waterfowl biologist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department explains, “In flight, canvasbacks and redheads are very difficult to tell apart. However, up close, the back on the canvasback is bright-white, where the redhead’s back is a dirty-grey.”

“Upon landing, the most notable difference is the shape of the head. The canvasback has a distinctively different head shape than any other duck. It has a dramatic pointy slant with a dark black bill; the redhead has a typical duck head and a grey-colored bill with a black tip.”

However, if you are uncertain, refrain from shooting either species. Hunters are encouraged to focus on pursuing more commonly identifiable ducks like teal, mallard, widgeon, and gadwall ducks to avoid accidently shooting a canvasback out of season.

In addition, there is a shortened season for scaup ducks. The season start date is delayed for both the mountain and desert zones, Oct. 18 and Nov. 1 respectively, with a bag limit of only two scaup permitted.

Regardless of zone, waterfowlers need to be aware of a duck that is slightly similar to scaups – the ring-necked duck. Their coloration is very similar, but there are a few noticeable differences, even in flight.

“Scaup have a solid colored bill, where a ring-neck has two rings around its bill, one at the tip and the other right at the base where it meets the feathers,” says Rabe. “The backs are different too: the scaup is mostly black, while the ring-neck has a white back. The undersides, as shown in flight, are varied, with the scaup having white stripes at the back of the wing, while the ring-neck’s are almost completely dark.”

Hunters are reminded to be sure of their duck identification prior to shooting due to these conditions and to be familiar with the 2008-09 Arizona Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations for other seasons, bag and possession limits.

To improve your duck identification, visit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Web site on “Ducks at a Distance: A Waterfowl Identification Guide” by Bob Hines. The information can be viewed online, downloaded or ordered in a printed pocketbook version.

Or, when you are in the field, you can just look at your 2008-09 Arizona State Waterfowl stamp. The art features a pair of swimming canvasbacks.

See Arizona’s unique wildlife and reconnect with nature

PHOENIX —  Javelina, turkey and sandhill cranes – oh my! It may not be exactly like the famous Wizard of Oz quote, “lions and tigers and bears” – but to many it still invokes a sense of mystery and adventure.

In an effort to get kids into a natural environment and to increase their awareness of the importance of hunting as a wildlife management tool, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has created a number of youth programs to introduce kids to the outdoors. Participating in hunting and fishing is America’s original outdoor challenge.

Starting this fall there are three hunts available to young hunters ages 10-17, including:

• Juniors-only fall javelina big game hunt. There are two hunts to choose from, Oct. 10-16 and Nov. 21-30. There are a number of hunting areas to choose from. However, tags are limited and must be obtained by submitting an application by mail; for details, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw. Javelina are unique to the Southwest, with a wide distribution in Arizona. Javelina offer an excellent introduction to the skills needed for other big game hunting like deer and elk. As for edibility, they make very good chorizo breakfast sausage, Italian and bratwurst sausages, as well as roasts and stews.
• Juniors-only fall turkey big game hunt. There is one hunt Oct. 3-9. Tags are unlimited and can be purchased over-the-counter for $10 at any department office. There are a number of open hunting areas, including some areas around Flagstaff, the White Mountains and the North Kaibab. Wild turkeys inhabit the forested highlands of our state. Wild turkeys are similar to domestic birds, but leaner, so don’t overcook, and you’ll be treated to a Thanksgiving family feast to be proud of.
• Juniors-only sandhill crane hunt. There is one hunt Dec. 12-14 in the southeastern part of the state. Tags are limited and must be obtained by submitting an application by mail; for details, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw. Sandhill cranes are large (5-foot wingspan), spectacular birds, which closely resemble a terradactyl. They migrate to the state and winter in wetland areas. They are very wary birds and are challenging to decoy within shooting range, making for an amazing hunting experience. Most surprising is they provide incredible table fare, often referred to as “the flying rib-eye steak.” The department will have check stations with mentors and guides to offer help.

For instructions on applying for javelina or sandhill crane tags, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw and find the hunt number of the area you wish to hunt from the list of left-over fall hunts and/or the left-over list for sandhill cranes. Fill out the “Hunt Permit/Tag Application Form” per the instructions and mail it to: Arizona Game and Fish Department, P.O. Box 52002, Phoenix, AZ 85072-2002.

Young hunters ages 10-13 are required to have completed a certified hunter education course to hunt big game (javelina and turkey). All youth hunting big game are also required to have a general hunting license.

There is no hunter education requirement to hunt sandhill cranes, although it is encouraged. Additionally, youth hunters 10-13 do not need a general hunting license when accompanied by a licensed adult when hunting sandhill cranes.

Many families that have relocated to Arizona came from rural families who used to hunt. But now in Arizona, they are in unfamiliar country and not sure how to – nor do they have the network of friends and other family members they did in their hometowns. To change that, the department is reaching out to the public to introduce them to hunting in the Southwest through workshops, clinics, check stations and online information.

For more information about hunter education, licenses and hunting in Arizona, visit the Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov

Although ill-advised, some folks like to take their day-old-bread to the park and feed them, however, there is a better way you can support waterfowl – buy a state duck stamp.

The 2008 Arizona Waterfowl stamp is on sale now. This year’s stamp features a majestic pair of swimming canvasbacks. The art was created by the 2006-2007 Federal Duck Stamp winner Sherrie Russell Meline.

The Arizona duck stamp is a conservation stamp for raising funds to benefit Arizona’s waterfowl and waterfowl habitat, similar to the Federal Duck Stamp Program. Now in its 21st year, some of the investments from the program have resulted in amazing resting grounds for wintering sandhill cranes, geese and waterfowl.

On a larger scale, a portion of the funding is sent to Canada with a bonus. For every dollar the state donates, it increases by four, and in some cases, even eight times the value, due to matching funds from Ducks Unlimited, Canada, and the North American Wetland Conservation Act.

Although these matching dollars are great, unfortunately, increased urbanization and modernization have caused a significant decrease in stamp revenues over the last few years. Nearly 90 percent of duck stamps are purchased by hunters, and Arizona has fewer duck hunters today than it had a decade ago. If this downward trend continues, a primary funding source for restoring, enhancing, and acquiring wetland habitat in Arizona will dry up.

Oddly, the misconception is that duck stamps, both state and federal, are only for waterfowl hunters. While it is true hunters are required to have the state duck stamp, the truth is, all citizens benefit from the increase in wildlife and habitat purchased by this conservation effort. Wetland habitats are important for lots of birds in Arizona, not just waterfowl. Rails, shorebirds, herons, Ibis, and many other spectacular birds depend on wetland habitats. The state duck stamp benefits them all.

If you enjoy wildlife watching, birding or just beautiful wetland landscapes – show your support and buy an Arizona State Duck Stamp – the cost is only $8.75.

Then, take a youngster out to learn about waterfowl, wetlands, migration, and the Arizona outdoors.

AZ waterfowlers are getting 107 hunt days

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

Arizona hunters are getting a “liberalized” waterfowl season of 107 hunt days for 2007-08 thanks to a decent overall waterfowl breeding season in North America, despite the fact that much of this state’s waterfowl habitats continue to be affected by long-term drought.

New this year is a liberalization of the canvasback bag limit. The limit on canvasbacks has increased from one to two birds per day for the 2007-2008 season.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Aug. 11 approved the waterfowl hunting package recommended by department biologists. Once again this year, the seasons in Arizona will be split between a mountain zone and a desert zone.

Waterfowl biologist Mike Rabe explained that ducks and geese arrive earlier in the mountain areas of the state and leave as the waters freeze, but typically don’t come to the lower elevations until later in the fall when the temperatures are more temperate. Therefore, he said, utilizing mountain and desert zones offers hunters the opportunity to hunt when the birds are in those respective areas.

For general ducks and geese, the mountain zone will open Oct. 5, 2007 and continue to Jan. 13, 2008. In the desert zone, the season will open Oct. 19 and close Jan. 27.

Juniors-only hunters get a slight increase in opportunity this coming season. For the mountain zone, the juniors-only hunt is set for Sept. 29-30, and in the desert zone, for Feb. 2-3, 2008 (before and after the general seasons respectively).

Arizona waterfowl hunters this coming season will have available the following daily bag limit: sevens ducks (including mergansers), with no more than two female mallards, two redheads, one pintail, three scaup, and two canvasback.

For geese, the limits are four white geese (snow, including blue and Ross’ geese) and three dark geese (Canada and white-fronted).

Rabe said the state’s wetlands, which includes lakes, rivers, marshes and stock tanks, is still being affected by drought when the waterfowl season commences; it will not only affect the availability of waterfowl habitat during migration, but will directly influence waterfowl abundance and hunter participation.

“It’s a wait-and-see proposition each year in Arizona when it comes to waterfowl,” Rabe said. “Who knows what kind of waterfowl hand Mother Nature will deal us this year.”

Winter waterfowl hunting opportunities

Arizona is not a high-profile duck and goose magnet like Chesapeake Bay, Klamath Valley or the Mississippi Delta. However, golden opportunities are available across the state for those few waterfowl hunters who do their homework, put forth some effort and are at the right places at the right times. On average, about 5,000 Arizona hunters pursue waterfowl annually, compared to 50,000 quail hunters. Here is a brief description of where and how one might find a golden duck-hunting opportunity in the remaining weeks of this waterfowl season or future seasons:

Arizona has two seasons: one for each of its habitat areas. The mountain zone opened Oct. 6, 2006 and runs through Jan. 14, 2007; the desert zone opened Oct. 20, 2006 and runs through Jan. 28, 2007. Limits are generous this year, with a total of seven ducks and seven geese allowed daily. Check the current waterfowl regulations for more details on species restrictions.

Higher-elevation areas

In the White Mountains area, the higher-elevation waters and created wetlands around Show Low were brimming with duck hunters on opening weekend. Now, as the mountain zone season nears its end, many of those waters are locked up in thick ice, and birds have either moved south or to lower elevations. Depending upon weather conditions, local concentrations of birds can still be found in late season. The Pintail Lake, Redhead Marsh and Jacques Marsh wildlife areas, located near Show Low, often attract ducks throughout the winter. These wetlands were created with treated wastewater effluent originating from the cities of Show Low and Pinetop/Lakeside. The water entering the wildlife areas often provides some open-water situations, even during cold snaps, and ducks can flock to these limited resting and feeding areas.

Other areas to try include Lyman Lake and the numerous stock tanks and natural basins that catch water during previous summer monsoon periods. Above-average precipitation last summer filled many tanks from Show Low north and east toward Holbrook and St. Johns. Ducks can be pursued utilizing decoys on larger bodies of water, or try spot-and-stalk techniques on stock tanks.

Lakes in the Flagstaff area have not fared as well, with Mormon Lake almost dry and many tanks either dry or frozen. Upper Lake Mary is probably the last body of water to freeze in this area, and it can provide waterfowl hunting opportunities throughout the season. Warm periods can also melt portions of other waters, which in turn, bring in wintering birds. Those opportunities can be short-lived, but may yield memorable hunt outings.

Lower-elevation areas

Lees Ferry is a consistent winter waterfowl destination, but requires the use of a motorboat to navigate the Colorado River. This portion of the river attracts many species of puddle and diving ducks. Those hunters interested in a mixed-species bag can end up with seven different species in their seven-duck daily limit. Some species, such as common goldeneye, winter here in large numbers, but are rare or absent in other parts of Arizona. Lees Ferry also provides a unique “cast and blast” opportunity for those pursuing both waterfowl and rainbow trout. Boaters need to be regularly aware of the bottom and rocks when negotiating the river. Water levels fluctuate daily, exposing hazards that were not there a few hours ago.

The western boundary of Arizona along the Colorado River can offer numerous duck and goose hunting opportunities. The bulk of Arizona’s geese spend the winter months on the river. The Cibola, Havasu, Bill Williams River and Imperial National Wildlife Refuges are administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and are located along the river or its tributaries. The primary management objective of these refuges is to provide habitat for wintering waterfowl. To obtain specific hunting regulations and possibly recent waterfowl numbers, call (928) 857-3253 for Cibola, (760) 326-3853 for Havasu, (928) 667-4144 for Bill Williams River, and (928) 783-3371 for Imperial.

Additional spots to pursue waterfowl include the areas downstream from Martinez Lake south to Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, and Mittry Lake Wildlife Area adjacent to the river. The Gila River, from its confluence with the Colorado River upstream past Tacna, offers good jump-shooting opportunities. Large portions of the river, which is really an intermittent stream here, are accessible by foot, and good numbers of mallard, American wigeon and other puddle duck species can be found in small bodies of open water. The Quigley Wildlife Area, just north of Tacna, allows hunting in the ponds by the bluff, but the food plots are closed to entry to provide resting and feeding habitat for the birds.

Other portions of the Gila River in the Gila Bend area can be accessed, but large sections have been closed by landowners. Taking time to find legal access points is necessary and can be worth the effort, as duck numbers can be locally high along remote sections of the river.

The Salt and Verde rivers and associated reservoirs are other great places to try your luck. Roosevelt Lake annually attracts large numbers of ducks and Canada geese. If birds are moving and your decoys are in the right spot, you can have a tremendous shoot. The Verde River at and above Horseshoe Reservoir winters ducks and a fair number of Canada geese.

Across the desert regions, late-winter duck numbers can soar in areas where one would not think of finding any webbed-footed wildlife. Stock tanks got a boost this summer with the above-average rain that fell across the central, eastern and southeastern portions of the state, and many of those tanks are still holding water. These tanks can attract a large number of birds, especially after winter storms push new migrants into these desert areas. Scouting to find water is essential to be successful. I wore mud on my face during one particular outing after I spent more than 30 minutes stalking up to a tank that the prior year had held water and ducks, only to find no water or birds when I peeked over the dam. This type of stock tank jump-hunting is perfect during a quail outing. Remember, you can only have steel shot in your possession when waterfowl hunting. You can keep lead shot in your vehicle when jumping tanks, or carry number 6 or 7½ steel shot with you to take quail and dove.

The southeastern portion of Arizona also offers localized duck hunting opportunities. The Gila River north and east of Safford can provide high numbers of ducks and possibly geese. Jumping tanks is another productive method to add ducks to the bag.

A good spot to try your hunting luck is the Arizona Game and Fish Commission-owned Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area. This area is widely known for its large number of sandhill cranes, but it is also holding good duck numbers this winter. The wildlife area can be reached by going south from Elfrida about 11 miles on Central Road, turning right (west) on Lee Road, and proceeding about one mile to the wildlife area. Portions of the area are closed to entry to provide crane and waterfowl resting and feeding areas, but hunting is allowed in some locations. Above-average water levels are providing extensive habitat and excellent duck hunting opportunities in the 200-acre “open hunt area” located in the northern portion of the wildlife area. In addition, good dove numbers have been reported in the southeast corner. As a bonus, about 150 snow geese were residing on the wildlife area in mid-December, with a few having been taken by lucky hunters.

An additional duck species you may encounter down here is the Mexican duck, which looks like a dark version of a mallard hen. It’s a rare visitor further north, but is a common resident to southeastern Arizona. If you need more information about Whitewater Draw, contact the wildlife area manager at (520) 642-3763.

Late-season waterfowl hunting is the perfect time to try a new hunting method, scout new areas, take out the bass boat to new waters and adventures, or combine waterfowl with your quail trips. If the hunting gods are on your side and you experience one of those days where everything falls in place, you will have joined the small but dedicated group known as the “Arizona duck guys … or gals.”

Some waterfowl and sandhill crane hunters may find a new type of monitoring at several check stations this year, including at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, Havasu National Wildlife Refuge and Willcox Playa Wildlife Area. Arizona Game and Fish Department and federal officials will be taking samples to test for Avian Influenza, also known as bird flu.

The media has recently focused on one particular strain of bird flu called the Asian strain of highly pathogenic H5N1 Avian Influenza. This strain has not been detected in the United States or anywhere else in the entire Western Hemisphere. Human cases of this type of Avian Influenza have occurred in countries where people have daily close contact with domestic poultry and poultry excrement. However, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, in coordination with other state and federal agencies, is monitoring the status of the virus in the world.

Hunters and those who handle birds and other wildlife should continue to follow reasonable safety recommendations for this virus, as well as other diseases. These include:

1. Don’t harvest or handle birds that are obviously sick, abnormally tame or found dead.
2. Wear rubber gloves when cleaning game or bird feeders.
3. Do not eat, drink or smoke when cleaning game or bird feeders.
4. Wash hands carefully with soap and water or alcohol wipes immediately after handling game. Then disinfect tools and work surfaces with a 10% chlorine bleach solution.
5. Cook birds thoroughly.

The most current information about this type of Avian Influenza is available at the federal government’s Web site at pandemicflu.gov and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web site at cdc.gov/flu/avian.