The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission is this Friday, Dec. 5 and Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Francisco Grande Hotel, 26000 W. Gila Bend Highway in Casa Grande.

Friday’s portion of the meeting begins with an executive session at 8 a.m., followed by the public meeting. Items on Friday’s agenda include:

• Request for the commission to approve a Notice of Docket Opening and Notice of Proposed Rulemakings to amend Article 3 rules (and additional affected rules in other articles), addressing the taking and handling of wildlife.
• Request for the commission to approve a Notice of Final Rulemaking and Economic Impact Statement establishing a new Article 10 addressing off-highway vehicles, in response to legislative amendments contained in Senate Bill 1167.
• Request for the commission to approve a draft Notice of Exempt Rulemaking to amend rules in Article 8 addressing wildlife areas and department property.
• Request for commission approval for the department to acquire Buck Springs Ranch in Coconino County, Arizona, for recovery of the threatened Little Colorado spinedace.
• Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife.

Saturday’s portion of the meeting begins at 8 a.m. Items on Saturday’s agenda include:

• Request for the commission to approve Commission Orders 3 (pronghorn antelope), 4 (elk), and 26 (population management) establishing seasons and season dates, bag and possession limits, permit numbers or authorized limits, and open areas for the respective 2009 fall hunting season.
• Request for the commission to approve the hunt permit-tag application schedule for 2009 antelope and elk hunts.
• A department briefing to the commission on public access history and issues in southeastern Arizona.
• A department update to the commission on the Tucson Rod and Gun Club’s efforts to build a nonprofit public shooting range in the Tucson area.

The commission may vote to take action on, or provide the department direction on, the above items and other items on the agenda.

For a complete meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the “commission agenda” link.