Arizona Game & Fish Department’s
WILDLIFE NEWS
Dec. 15, 2002 Vol. 50 No. 49
Public Information Officers: Rory Aikens at (602) 789-3214, raikens@gf.state.az.us, Marijke Van Fleet at (602) 789-3377, mvanfleet@gf.state.az.us., Eric Boardley at (602) 789-3223, eboardley@gf.state.az.us. or Tom McMahon (602) 789-3216, tmcmahon@gf.state.az.us.
THIS WEEK'S STORIES
(Hot Linked)
Tucson Urban Fishing is on the City Cutting Board
Big Cats Cannot be Kept As Pets In Arizona
Note: The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes they have been discriminated against in any Game and Fish program or activity, including its employment practices, the individual may file a complaint alleging discrimination directly with the Game and Fish Deputy Director, 2221 W. Greenway Rd., Phx., AZ 85023, (602) 942-3000 or U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr., Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. If you require this document in an alternative format, please contact the Game and Fish Deputy Director as listed above or by calling TTY at 1-800 367-8939.
The Urban Fishing Program is on the City of Tucson’s cutting board.
The City of Tucson is facing a $35 million budget shortfall. The Tucson Parks and Recreation is proposing more than a million dollars in cuts, including the $27,000 cost share agreement with the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the Urban Fishing Program.
The cost share between the City of Tucson and the Arizona Game and Fish Department pays for the stocking of trout, catfish and hybrid sunfish into the three urban waters, which include Lakeside, Kennedy and Silverbell lakes.
“Such a budget cut would effectively shut down the Urban Fishing Program in Tucson in mid 2003,” says Eric Swanson, the Urban Fishing Program manager for Arizona Game and Fish.
Nearly 13,000 Tucsonans participate in the Urban Fishing Program each year, generating almost 150,000 recreational fishing days per year. Department records indicate that youth comprise 20 percent and seniors 13 percent of the urban anglers in Tucson. The three Tucson lakes rank in the top four most popular lakes for the entire urban program, which covers 18 fisheries in the state.
“The City of Tucson gets $6 worth of healthy, catchable fish for every $1 it pays to participate in the Urban Fishing Program,” Swanson says.
Swanson points out that urban fishing includes not only catching and eating fish, but also quality time with family and friends, space to enjoy nature, and stress-reducing enjoyment. “The Urban Fishing Program is a great quality of life benefit providing close, convenient and affordable fishing recreation – one of our country’s favorite pastimes,” Swanson says.
The City of Tucson is conducting community round-table sessions at the following times and dates:
· Clements Center, 8123 E. Poinciana Dr., 7-8:30 p.m. Dec. 17;
· Ward 3 Community Room, 1510 E. Grant Road, 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 8;
· Eastside City Hall, 7575 E. Speedway Blvd., 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 14;
· El Rio Center, 1390 Speedway Blvd., 5:30-7 p.m. Jan. 16.
For more information, call the Tucson Parks and Recreation at (520) 791-5909.
Big Cats as Household Pets Still a No-No in Arizona
Tigers, lions, leopards and other big cats are “restricted live wildlife” in Arizona and cannot be kept as pets, according to Arizona Game and Fish Commission Rules and Orders, R12-4-406.
A Dec. 8 article reprinted in The Arizona Republic was inaccurate when it stated, “Only 19 states restrict or ban private possession of big cats. In other states, such as Arizona, restrictions vary from community to community, with many rural towns allowing exotic pets.”
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” says Leonard Ordway, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s law enforcement branch chief. “Arizona restricts the possession of these animals, and there is no specific allowance to keep any of these animals as pets.”
The rule is clear. “Restricted live wildlife” means that wildlife which has been determined by the commission to be an actual or potentially significant threat to indigenous wildlife by competition, disease or parasites, habitat degradation, predation, or impact on population management; or an actual or potentially significant threat to public safety by disease, physical threat, property damage or nuisance.
The article, published by USA Today and reprinted in The Arizona Republic stated that an estimated 5,000 tigers are kept as pets in American homes, according to the Humane Society of the United States. The Humane Society also reports that there have been three-dozen attacks by captive wildcats on humans, many of them children, during the past 12 years.
If you have questions regarding restricted live wildlife in Arizona, contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department at (602) 942-3000. Back to Index
Three California Condors Released
Arizona now has 33 condors in the wild following the release of three additional birds on Dec. 9 from atop the Vermilion Cliffs near the Grand Canyon, in Northern Arizona.
This is the 12th release in the historic effort to restore North America’s largest bird to the Grand Canyon area.
All three condors hatched at The Peregrine Fund's World Center for Birds of Prey during the spring of 2001. They were transported to the release site in November of 2001. Two are males and one is a female.
"The recovery of the California Condor continues to make steady progress,” says Bill Burnham, Ph.D., President of The Peregrine Fund. "We continue to look forward to the time when a California Condor chick hatches in the wild in Arizona,” finished Burnham.
Arizona Game and Fish Department Director Duane Shroufe says that reintroducing an endangered species back into its historic range is always a high point for a wildlife management program. “This is another one of those remarkable efforts among a host of cooperators. We are delighted to increase the population of condors in Arizona by 10 percent with this latest release effort,” Shroufe says.
"The continued success of the California Condor program reflects the hard work and cooperation among a number of private and governmental partners," says Roger Taylor, BLM Arizona Strip Field Manager. "We're proud that the BLM's Vermilion Cliffs National Monument can play an important role in this historic reintroduction."
“Visitors to Grand Canyon National Park continue to be delighted by the sight of condors soaring near the rim," says Joseph Alston, superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park. Alston added that condors from previous releases have nested three times in northern Arizona at the Grand Canyon, which has provided an exceptional opportunity for expanding public awareness regarding conservation of rare species, while adding to the overall experience for visitors.
“Although the condors have not yet fledged any young, we hope that as the adults become more experienced they will become more successful at raising young and establishing a self-sustaining population," says Alston.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Southwest Regional Director Dale Hall says, "These releases bring us closer to the condor’s self-sustaining recovery in the wild. The partnership for condor recovery represents a collaborative community working toward the successful conservation of an impressive species.”
Since their arrival from Idaho, the condors have been maturing and acclimating to their new surroundings in a large release facility on top of the cliff. The released birds are expected to stay close to the release site and slowly explore their new home. Regular updates are being provided on The Peregrine Fund’s home page: peregrinefund.org.
The historic Arizona reintroduction is a joint project between The Peregrine Fund, the Arizona Game and Fish Department U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management,, National Park Service, Southern Utah's Coalition of Resources and Economics, and numerous other partners.
Investigation of Recent Condor Deaths
A $22,000 reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for two of the recent deaths of California Condors in Arizona. The reward is being offered by three of the principal cooperators in the project. The Peregrine Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are offering rewards of up to $10,000 each and the Arizona Game and Fish Department and Grand Canyon National Park are offering rewards of up to $1,000 each.
Condor #258 was found dead in the Kaibab National Forest in northwestern Arizona. The carcass was found along Forest Road 22 near mile post 27 north of Big Springs. The young male hatched on May 25, 2001 at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho and was released into the wild on Feb. 16, 2002 along with seven other birds. He was killed between Oct. 23-25, 2002.
Media Contacts: Jeff Cilek, The Peregrine Fund, (208)362-3811, cell (208) 890-6685; Andi Rogers, condor biologist, Arizona Game and Fish Department, (928) 774-5045; Jeff Humphrey, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, (602) 242-0210; Mike Small, Bureau of Land Management, (435) 688-3224; and Maureen Oltrogge, Grand Canyon National Park, (928) 638-7779.
(From the Arizona Game and Fish Department)
Winter Wildlife Watching Tips
Winter is a great time to be afield in desert areas to see a wide range of interesting wild animals. This is an especially good time to see migrating waterfowl, shorebirds and hawks. For waterfowl and shorebirds, just about any lake will do, even those close to home like the urban lakes.
For those looking for an excellent field trip, a great place to try is the Bill Williams Delta National Wildlife Refuge adjacent to Lake Havasu. You might see a wide range of animals from geese to snowy egrets. This area is also home to desert bighorn sheep. Early morning and late evening is best.
The parking area north of the bridge on U.S. 95 provides a good viewing point.
Another excellent wildlife viewing area in winter is the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge in western Arizona off U.S. 95 between Yuma and Quartzite. An early morning visit to popular Palm Canyon and Horse Tank offers the best chance to view animals such as desert bighorn sheep.
For more field trip tips, try the Arizona Wildlife Viewing Guide published by Falcon Press that is available at many bookstores and at all seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices located throughout the state.
Winter Hunting Opportunities
Arizona’s mild winters make this an excellent time of year to be afield for small game, or large game if you have tags for javelina or deer.
There is also a bow-hunting bonus, especially for those with javelina tags: over-the-counter archery non-permit tags for deer are available (the season closes Jan. 31). For all hunters, there are great opportunities right now.
The quail season is open until Feb. 10 and the General Waterfowl Season is open until Jan. 26.
Off-Highway Adventure Tip
If you are looking for an interesting off-highway adventure, a great place to try is the Gila Box area of southeastern Arizona. The 21-mile-long Black Hills Back Country Byway is unpaved, but is accessible to high clearance vehicles during dry weather. The byway crosses the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation Area between mileposts 17 and 18.
The Black Hills Back Country Byway is located between Safford and Clifton in southeastern Arizona, about three hours northeast of Tucson or 3½ hours east of Phoenix. Both ends of the byway are accessed from U.S. Highway 191. The southern end is at milepost 139, the northern end at milepost 160.
Portions of the byway have narrow drop-offs or are confined by steep cliffs. Do not attempt the byway if you have a travel trailer or any vehicle more than 20 feet long. Allow at least two hours driving time one way to travel the byway, not including stops. If you choose to be more adventurous and travel some of the side routes, remember all of these single lane roads require a four-wheel-drive vehicle. These roads are not maintained and portions can be steep, rough, and rocky
Rafting, backpacking, hiking, birding, horseback riding, photography, and camping are just a few of the popular activities in the area. For more information, call (928) 348-4400.
Winter Fishing
Trout, crappie, and smallmouth bass are Arizona’s winter trilogy for good fishing, but this is also a good time of year for huge largemouth bass and monster stripers.
The premier winter trout fishery is Lees Ferry where wild rainbow trout are in the spawning mode. However, winter trout-fishing opportunities abound.
Although crappies were once considered to be a springtime-only angling target, modern electronics have made them a popular winter delicacy as well. Winter fishing conditions are often great for smallmouth bass, especially during the leading and trailing edges of weather fronts moving through the state.
Don’t forget about largemouth bass and striped bass, especially at those lakes stocked with trout. Lunker largemouths and monster stripers will often feed on stocked trout in warm water lakes, creating fun angling opportunities for trophy-size fish.
Trout Winter trout fishing opportunities abound. Try Tempe Town Lake, Parker Canyon Lake, Saguaro Lake, Canyon Lake, Lower Salt River, Verde River (between Cottonwood and Camp Verde), Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Lynx Lake, Fain Lake, Patagonia Lake, Oak Creek, Fortuna Pond, or Pena Blanca. Feisty rainbow trout are also stocked in the participating urban lakes. If you want to eat right and exercise, go catch and eat some delicious trout.
Smallmouth Bass Smallmouth action can really get going, especially when storm fronts blast through the state. The premier smallmouth winter fishery in Arizona is Apache Lake on the Salt River chain. The other lakes in the chain—Roosevelt, Canyon, and Saguaro—also have smallies. A great winter fishing sport for smallies is Lake Moovalya, more commonly known as the Parker Strip. Try fishing the rip-rap below Parker Dam.
Largemouth Bass Many anglers have discovered a great winter fishing opportunity for huge largemouth bass — using large trout-like “swim” baits in Canyon and Saguaro lakes, which are both stocked with rainbow trout. These giant bass feed on the stocked trout. In most lakes, expect largemouth bass to be deep. Spoons and jigs can be effective, especially when used in conjunction with good fish finders. But don’t ignore the shallows — a previous state record largemouth bass was caught in the shallows on a spinnerbait at Canyon Lake on a lazy December day.
Striped Bass Try using huge, trout-imitating lures at the Colorado River lakes where trout are stocked, primarily Mead and Mohave. Many anglers at Mohave fish from shore the evening after fish are stocked and use huge (12- to 14-feet-long) surfcasting outfits for the giant stripers ranging from 10 to 50 pounds. It’s a hoot.
Crappie Winter crappies congregate in large schools that appear on your fish finder as inverted pyramids (or Christmas trees). Depth is critical. Crappies feed upward. Use micro jigs or live minnows. Or, wait for the huge flotillas to start at Roosevelt and Alamo (late December or early January), and join the slow-moving crappie boat ballet. Bartlett is an outside bet for these speckled beauties.
Yellow Bass Yellow bass can be found in Saguaro, Canyon and Apache lakes. They can typically be found in small coves. Look for schools of small fish on your fish finder. They can also be caught from shore, especially from fishing piers such as those found at Canyon and Saguaro lakes. Saguaro has the most fishing piers. Use mealworms or night crawlers. Small spoons (like KastMasters and Nealies) and in-line spinners such as Mepps can also work. Hard-fighting yellow bass (called stripies in the Midwest) are a blast to catch on light tackle. They are also excellent to eat.
Dec. 17* Tres Rios Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 19* Salt-Verde Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 21* Hassayampa Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 27* Gila River Christmas Bird Count
Dec. 30* Carefree Christmas Bird Count
*For more information on the bird counts, call the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Mesa regional office at (480) 981-9309 or maricopaaudubon.org
Jan. 1–31 Archery-Only Javelina Season, Archery-Only Deer Season (non-permit tag).
Jan. 5 Late Dove Season closes.
Jan. 9–12 Arizona National Boat Show at the Phoenix Civic Plaza (come visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s booth), (602) 262-6225.
Jan. 14 Fredonia hunt guideline meeting, North Kaibab Ranger District Office on Highway 89A
Jan. 15 Flagstaff hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.
Jan. 17-19 Tenth Annual Wings Over Willcox Sandhill Crane Celebration, 1-800-200-2272; or wingsoverwillcox.com.
Jan. 17 Arizona Game and Fish Commission meets in the Arizona State Fairgrounds Wildlife Building.
Jan. 18 Meet the Arizona Game and Fish Commission event starting 1 p.m. in Phoenix at the Four Points Sheraton near Metro Center, followed by the commission awards dinner that evening starting at 5:30 p.m. for the social hour. Contact Dana Yost, (602) 789-3281.
Jan. 21 Prescott hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m., Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Room, 1015 Fair Street.
Jan. 22 Kingman hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.
Jan. 23 Yuma hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m. Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th Street.
Jan. 25–26 Bass Fishing University at Glendale Community College, (623) 845-3333.
Jan. 25 Agua Fria River Cleanup organized by the Phoenix Four Wheelers, starting at 9 a.m. on the west side of Interstate 17 beyond the end of the pavement. Contact: Ron Karlinisky at (623) 374-9443.
Jan. 25-Feb. 3 Winter Range, the national event for the Cowboy Action Shooters, at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, (623) 582-8313. This is more than a shooting event, it’s a trip down nostalgia road back to the Wild Wild West.
Jan. 26 General Waterfowl Season and Snipe Season closes.
Jan. 28 Pinetop hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
Jan. 29 Payson hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m., Payson Police Department conference room, 303 N. Beeline Highway.
Jan. 30 Mesa hunt guideline meeting, 7-9 p.m., Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University.
Jan. 31 Sahuarita hunt guideline meeting, Sahuarita High School Auditorium, 350 W. Sahhuarita Rd.
Feb. 1 Juniors-Only Waterfowl Season.
Feb. 1 Cleanup project starting at 8 a.m. for Lower Sycamore Creek in Unit 22 just east of Fountain Hills off the Beeline Highway. Call the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Mesa regional office: (480) 981-9309.
Feb. 3 Tucson hunt recommendation meeting, 7-9 p.m., Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road.
Feb. 4 Sierra Vista hunt recommendation meeting, 7-9 p.m., the Windemere Hotel and Conference Center, 2047 S. Highway 92.
Feb. 5 Safford hunt recommendation meeting, 7-9 p.m., Phelps Dodge Meeting Room, 808 7th Ave.
Feb. 7–13 Juniors-Only Javelina Season in selected units.
Feb. 7-9 The Arizona Game and Fish Department will have a Junior hunter camp set up in Hunt Unit 23. Drop by and see us.
Feb. 7, 8, & 9 Blue Water Resort and Casino Parker “425” off-road race. Call (602) 457-5775 or bitd@worldnet.att.net.
Feb. 14–20 Handgun, Archery, and Muzzleloader Javelina Season in selected units.
Feb. 21–22 Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting in Phoenix at the Arizona State Fairgrounds Wildlife Building.
Feb. 21–27 General Javelina Season in selected units.
Feb. 22 Flagstaff watchable bald eagle workshop, time to be announced, starting at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road. Call (928) 774-5045.
Feb. 22–23 The 20th Anniversary Open House at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at Adobe Mountain, I-17 and Pinnacle Peak Road, (623) 582-9806. This is one of the best wildlife and environmental education opportunities of the year.
Feb. 23–March 3 National Muzzleloader Rifle Association’s Winter Nationals at Ben Avery Shooting Facility, (623) 582-8313.
Feb. 27–March 1 International Sportsmen’s Expo at the Arizona State Fairgrounds (come see us there), (602) 252-6771.
March 21&22 Arizona Game and Fish Commission meets in Tucson at the Best Western Inn Suites, 6201 N. Oracle Drive.
April 9-13 Yuma Birding & Nature Festival. This is the only festival on Arizona’s West Coast and attracts 500 or so participants each year. Call 1-800-293-0071.
April 11&12 Arizona Game and Fish Commission meets to set the 2003-2004 Hunt Seasons in Phoenix at the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 2 at 12851 N. 19th Ave.
April 25-27 Verde Valley Birding & Nature Festival at the Dead Horse Ranch State Park in Cottonwood. For more information, call (928) 634-8437 or birdyverde.org.
May 3-4 Camp Carp (fishing clinic), Roosevelt Lake, call (480) 981-9309, ext. 213.
May 10 Payson Wildlife Fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Green Valley Lake. Free fishing wildlife booths, displays, games and prizes.
June 7 Free Fishing Day.
Note: We will routinely update the Outdoors Calendar as we gather more information. This calendar is being posted on the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at azgfd.com.
(Or for a Man Buying a Gun for that Special Woman in his Life)
Women are increasingly interested in shooting – for safety, sport, hunting and competition – but many guns are designed for men. So, how do you go about finding the perfect firearm for a woman? The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Ben Avery Shooting Facility has some tips.
“One of the things we stress to anyone buying a firearm is that they pick it up and handle it in the store,” says Don Turner, Ben Avery Shooting Facility chief rangemaster. “You need to select a firearm that fits you – one that you’re comfortable with and can handle well. Remember, the salesperson may not be as knowledgeable as you are.”
Another important factor when selecting a firearm is what you will be using it for. For instance there are many different types of competition pistols – and these pistols are different from the type of firearm used to hunt.
Turner also suggests that women attend the Annie Oakley Sure Shots program at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility. This unique program allows women to get comfortable with firearms and to try out several different types. The following checklist is compiled from expert information and is designed to provide helpful tips for first-time lady gun buyers who are interested in recreational shooting.
All Models: .22-caliber long rifle, blue or stainless steel finish (more expensive), adjustable sights, 5.5-inch barrel, and three magazines.
PISTOLS / REVOLVER
.22-caliber long rifle, bolt action, with adjustable metallic sights
20-gauge, pump action, ventilated rib, with a changeable choke
Note: all shotguns should have stock checked for proper “fit” and shortened if necessary to fit the shooter.
When it comes to ammunition, there are a number of factors to consider. Turner says, “Ammunition is offered in as many varieties as there are firearms – and different ammunition is designed for different purposes.”
He says that what often makes this area even more confusing to new gun users is the technical terminology. “For recreational shooting, we advise that you purchase practice-type ammunition for general use.”
He adds an additional word of warning to be careful because “target” ammunition is specially designed for maximum accuracy and thus it can be very expensive. “Generally, if you are shooting a .22-caliber rifle or pistol, we recommend you purchase .22 long rifle ammunition as standard velocity,” he says.
If all you can find is “high” velocity ammunition, that is fine. However, you don’t need super velocity, stinger, hornet, or other .22 long rifle ammunition marketed for higher velocities.
The Annie Oakley Sure Shots women’s shooting program meets every Thursday night from 7 to 9 p.m. Women from all experience levels are welcome – from those who have never touched a firearm to expert shooters. You are free to come-and-go as you please, so if you have to leave before 9 p.m. or if you cannot get there before 8 p.m., you are still welcome. For information on this program or on the Ben Avery Shooting Facility, call (623) 582-8313 or visit their Web site: basfaz.com. Back to Index