Hunters: Put a little spring in your step
Spring hunting regulations are now posted online

Summer is ending, fall is about to begin, it’s time to put a little spring in your step – spring hunting that is.

Arizona’s spring 2009 hunt draw regulations are now available online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw, which means you can now start applying for the spring turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear hunts.

Keep in mind that the online draw application service is NOT available; hunters must apply using paper applications that must be submitted via mail or hand delivered to the Game and Fish Department. The application forms are available at all Game and Fish offices and have been distributed to all license dealers. There is also a downloadable PDF application form available at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

You can fill out the downloadable application form using a computer and keyboard, but the application must be printed out, signed and submitted (along with the correct fees by check or money order) by mail, or by delivery to any department office. The downloadable form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.

The printed spring regulation booklets should be available at license dealers statewide by Sept. 15.

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. MST – postmarks do not count.

You might want to practice your quick draw: apply early to take advantage of the grace period. Here’s how it works: if your application has a mistake and is received by Sept. 25, the department will attempt to call you three times in a 24-hour period and give you the opportunity to correct the mistake. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.

A quick draw early can always beat a slow rejection later.

Remember, you must purchase a 2009 license (your 2008 license number won’t work) to enter the spring draw. Licenses available through the draw include General Hunting, Adult Combination Hunting and Fishing, and Youth Combination Hunting and Fishing. License information can be found on pages 4-5 of the spring regulations booklet. Keep in mind that there are some super license deals available and even family license packages as well.

Some changes for the 2009 spring season include:

Juniors-only spring turkey. Tags for the juniors-only spring turkey hunts are now nonpermit-tags and can be purchased over-the-counter at any department office orlicense dealer. If not filled during the spring hunts, these nonpermit-tags may be used during the fall if the Arizona Game and Fish Commission authorizes a juniors-only nonpermit-tag fall turkey season. By the way, don’t forget that juniors can also get fall over-the-counter turkey tags.

Archery javelina. Tags for the archery javelina hunt in Units 11M, 25M, 26M, 38M and 47M are now nonpermit-tags and can be purchased over the counter at any department office or license dealer. There are also plenty of first-come, first-served fall javelina tags remaining.

General spring bear. Tags for the general spring bear hunts in all open units (except 6B and Fort Huachuca) are now nonpermit-tags and can be purchased over-the-counter at any department office or license dealer. Tags for the archery spring bear hunts in Units 3B/3C and 33 (season dates March 20-April 30) are also nonpermit-tags and can be purchased over-the-counter at any department office or license dealer. A bear nonpermit-tag purchased in the spring and not filled is valid for any authorized fall bear nonpermit-tag season.

Hunters operating off-highway vehicles. Please be aware that new regulations affecting off-highway vehicle use will go into effect Jan. 1, 2009. See page 16 of the spring regulation booklet for more information.

The 2008-09 waterfowl and snipe regulations have also been posted to the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw (click on the link under the “downloads” column).