News from the Arizona Game and Fish Commission

Off-highway vehicle bill would contribute to wildlife, habitat management
Ask your senator to protect Arizona's natural resources by passing House Bill 2443

For more than 80 years, sportsmen in Arizona have provided funding for wildlife and habitat management through the purchase of hunting and fishing licenses and tags. To date, off-highway vehicle (OHV) enthusiasts have not had the ability to pay for OHV recreational opportunities and the impacts associated with their sport. Now, House Bill 2443 – Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation User Fee, provides an opportunity for OHV users to ensure the future of their sport and help protect the state’s diverse natural resources.

This bill is the result of a two-year collaborative effort that involved sportsmen, OHV users, industry, law enforcement and other interested stakeholders.

HB 2443 would:

• Require OHV users to pay for dedicated, long-term funding for increased law enforcement for about the cost of a fishing license.
• Create stronger laws to protect our natural resources from OHV damage.
• Bridge the gap between the dramatic rise in OHV use, more than 350 percent since 1998, and the money available for management.
• Create rider education and safety programs, trail and facility development programs, and habitat mitigation and restoration.

Contact your senator today and ask them to support HB 2443. To find the phone number of your senator, visit the Arizona State Legislature Web site at azleg.gov/MemberRoster.

To read the full text of House Bill 2443, visit the Arizona State Legislature Web site at azleg.gov.

Also, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site, azgfd.gov/ohv, for more information on the bill.