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 volunteers, as well as gain knowledge about Arizona wildlife and wildlife management. We recognize that your time is important and strive to provide rewarding and educational volunteer experiences.

We’ve listed some opportunities in which you may have an interest. To learn about other opportunities or to submit information about a project that would benefit from our volunteers, check our volunteer page at www.azgfd.gov/volunteer.

Canyon Lake Fish Habitat Enhancement Project
This project involves the construction of fish habitat to benefit largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, catfish, crappie, as well as provide fishing “hotspots” for the angling public. The work will utilize wooden pallets, cement blocks and juniper trees to build “pisces pyramids” during a scheduled 50-foot drawdown of the lake. Volunteers will help load and transport materials to work sites around the lake via boats and construct habitat units on the dry lakebed at pre-selected sites. Work hours will be from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. during the work dates. Volunteers are asked to bring their own gloves, beverages, meals and appropriate clothing to suit the winter weather and must schedule work dates by calling the habitat project coordinator. Dates are Nov. 17 – Dec. 16, (Friday-Sunday weekend days) at Canyon Lake, Palo Verde Recreation Site, located 32 miles east of Mesa on Highway 88 (Apache Trail). Contact Habitat Project Coordinator Natalie Robb at (480) 324-3541 or by e-mail at nrobb@azgfd.gov. Or contact Arizona Game and Fish Department volunteer coordinator Les Bell at (623) 236-7680.

Black-footed ferret spring spotlighing project

The Black-footed Ferret Project is planning another large spotlighting effort for the nights of March 20-24, 2008. Please sign up early, as space is limited and people had to be turned away last event.

Requirements for spotlighting:

• stay attentive from sunset to sunrise.
• carry up to 30-pound backpack for two-hour durations
• use or learn how to use a GPS unit

What is involved?
Spotlighting involves the use of high-powered lights to locate and identify black-footed ferrets. Once a ferret is located, a trap is set in the burrow. When the animal is caught the ferret is delivered to a process trailer. This will allow the team a once in a lifetime opportunity to view a ferret up close while the biologists processes the animal. The animal’s health will be assessed and a passive integrated transponder (PIT) tag inserted subcutaneously. PIT tags allow us to individually identify animals upon recapture. The ferret is then released into the same burrow where it was trapped.

Gear can be a limiting factor for the number of people that may attend, if you have any of the following, please bring it for your use:

• Headlamp or flashlight (these will not be provided)
• GPS unit
• Pen (to record data)
• Compass (to record direction that trap is set)
• Binoculars
• Appropriate clothing **
• High clearance vehicle, 4×4 (mileage is tax deductible)

** Multiple layers are best, as March nights can be cold, but you will warm up while backpack spotlighting. Raingear is highly recommended. Also, be sure to bring plenty of snacks and water. Snacking throughout the night will help you to stay awake.

To sign up for the spotlighting event or if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact azferret@azgfd.gov.

Volunteer shotgun instructors and range safety officers for women’s shotgun shooting program
Volunteers will instruct women of all ages in the shotgun shooting sports as prescribed by the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Coaches will assist beginners in shotgun shooting form and skill. Range safety officers will watch over the range and ensure safety among all participants. Instructors will teach, and assist in teaching, or proctor the hour-long introductory class. Applicants must be at least 21 years old and participate in a free-of-charge Shotgun Instructor Certification process (two-day class). It is desirable, but not necessary, that instructors have shooting experience, basic knowledge of firearms and firearms safety, and some teaching/public speaking experience. Benefits to volunteers include free shooting at the main range and discounts at local sporting goods locations. The women’s shotgun shooting program will be held the first and third Thursday of each month from approximately 7-9:30 p.m. The program is held at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility main range (range time is held at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center). Entrance is just west of I-17 (Exit 223) on Carefree Highway. For more information, contact (623) 582-8313.

Range safety officers needed at Ben Avery Shooting Facility
Responsibilities include checking the safe condition of customer firearms, observing participants while they are shooting on the range, maintaining safe operation of the shooting line, and providing superior customer service by answering customer questions about firearms. Volunteers shoot for free at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, located just west of I-17 and Carefree Highway in north Phoenix. Contact Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Coordinator Les Bell at (623) 236-7680.