Bird lovers: Forget the turkey—the Mearns’ quail season opened Nov. 28, the day after Thanksgiving.
“This will probably be one of the best Mearns’ seasons in my lifetime,” Randy Babb, an ardent quail hunter and the Information and Education Program Manager for the Game and Fish Department’s Mesa regional office.
This season might be [...]

Every year many people face the same holiday season challenge: what to buy for that family member or friend who seems to have it all?
This year, make it affordable and rewarding by considering one of the many unique gift ideas the Arizona Game and Fish Department has to offer.
“If you’re looking for an [...]

The Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to remind archery-only deer hunters with over-the-counter permits there are a number of Game Management Units that are not open hunting areas for the 2008 December hunt, as in past years.
Game Management Units 17A, 20A, 22, 23, 37A, and 42 are not included in the [...]

There are plenty of leftover hunt permit-tags for spring javelina, turkey and bear available now by mail application on a first-come, first-served basis from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
More than 9,000 javelina tags, 250 turkey tags, and 70 bear tags remained after the spring big game draw process was completed. [...]

Mourning doves are everywhere it seems.
By all indications, this should be one of the better late dove seasons. So be sure to pick up plenty of extra shotgun shells and mark your calendar for Friday, Nov. 21 for the return of dove hunting.
There is nothing better than hitting a water tank a [...]

If you haven’t yet had a chance to see if you were drawn for the spring 2009 hunts, draw results are available by visiting the Arizona game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw.
Applicants can obtain draw results for spring turkey, javelina, buffalo and bear hunt tags by providing a department ID [...]

Quail hunters are finding plenty of young birds in their harvest, according to Arizona Game and Fish biologists. Nearly 80 percent of the birds checked by hunters over the Oct. 4-5 opening weekend were juveniles.
Gambel’s quail harvest results, collected at two of the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s check stations, reflect improved [...]

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will host a public meeting at its Mesa office, 7200 E. University Drive, from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, to discuss the department’s hunt recommendations and planned management for elk and antelope in central Arizona (Region VI).
Topics will include elk and antelope population trends, sex [...]

Trapper education classes are being offered by the Arizona Trappers Association at Arizona Game and Fish Department regional offices, the Phoenix headquarters of the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and in southern Arizona.
In addition, classes are available on a request basis in Pima, Safford and the surrounding areas, as well as [...]

Hunters can assist CWD monitoring
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 for humans.
Although CWD has [...]

It’s best to hand-deliver your application
Hunters getting ready to mail their spring hunt-permit application might want to save the stamp and deliver it themselves – the hunt application deadline day is Tuesday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. Postmarks don’t count.
Don’t forget that Monday, Oct. 13 is a state holiday, Columbus [...]

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conduct a free small game hunting camp on Oct. 10 and 11 in the White Mountains to provide Arizona youth and others with the basic skills they need to successfully pursue tree squirrels. The program will also provide an overview of hunting opportunities for other [...]

The next time you shop at Sportsman’s Warehouse, Cabela’s or Bass Pro stores in Arizona, look for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s new non-lead ammunition displays.
The new displays, supported by partners like the Arizona Deer Association, Arizona Elk Society, Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Arizona Chapter [...]

Information needed to solve bull elk poaching near Williams
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is asking for the public’s help in finding a poacher that killed a large bull elk sometime during the weekend of Sept. 6. The poaching occurred near Scholz Lake and Garland Prairie along Forest Road 141, just [...]

See Arizona’s unique wildlife and reconnect with nature
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 [...]

Small Game, Big Fun: 2008-09 small game hunting outlooks
This is the year! Set your calendar for a week earlier than past years. Small game season for quail, squirrel, ducks and more opens Friday, Oct. 3.
Abundant snow and rainfall has occurred since the end of 2007. Much of the precipitation fell at [...]

Enjoy National Hunting and Fishing Day events
Arizona outdoor enthusiasts have the opportunity to participate in several events this weekend in celebration of National Hunting and Fishing Day on Sept. 27.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is partnering with the Tucson Sportsman’s Warehouse store, 3945 W. Costco Drive, on the following [...]

The spring hunt application deadline is Oct. 14
Hunters, it’s time to spring into action – the deadline to apply for spring hunts is headed your way on Tuesday, Oct. 14 (the day after Columbus Day). Don’t procrastinate any longer.
The spring hunt application process is for javelina, bearded turkey, bear and buffalo. [...]

Javelina hunting clinics offered by Game and Fish
Getting started in something new is always hard, be it a new hobby, skilled trade or other interest. The same holds true for hunting, prompting the Arizona Game and Fish Department to host a two hunting workshops to teach the basics of hunting javelina.
These [...]

Dove hunters can extend their wingshooting by heading to the mountains
The early dove season closes Monday, Sept. 15, but dove hunters can extend their wingshooting opportunities by heading to the high country and pursuing band-tailed pigeons, blue grouse and chukar partridge beginning this Friday, Sept. 12
After hunting dove in unseasonably hot [...]