Arizona Game & Fish Department’s
WILDLIFE NEWS
Nov. 18, 2002
Vol. 50 No. 45
EDITOR: Rory Aikens, (602) 789-3214, raikens@gf.state.az.us, or Marijke Van Fleet at (602) 789-3377, mvanfleet@gf.state.az.us.
THIS WEEK'S STORIES
Man Killed During Elk Hunting Accident
G&F is Capturing Bighorn Sheep
Valley of Sun Getting Rainbows
Anglers can Help Save Wildlife
Media Advisory:
We are stocking the urban lakes with trout on Thursday, Nov. 21. If you want footage/stills, contact Rory Aikens at (602) 789-3214 or Tom McMahon at (602) 789-3216.
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.
FLAGSTAFF – Todd Halfast, age 38, from Flagstaff was killed during an elk hunting accident Friday morning, Nov. 15, in Game Management Unit 9 near U.S. Forest Service Road 328 approximately 21 miles west of Tusayan.
This is the first fatal hunting accident in Arizona since 1998. The Coconino County Sheriff's Department is currently investigating the fatal hunting accident. The Arizona Game and Fish Department participated in the investigation.
According to official reports, four individuals, who were all members of the same family, were out in the hunt area Friday morning and encountered a herd of elk. Upon trying to pursue the elk, the hunters lost track of each other. Shots were taken as the elk were running. Later in the day, after being separated, the members of the hunting party returned to their camp and discovered one person had not yet returned. They initiated a search. They found the victim later that day.
Game and Fish reports that the state’s previous fatal hunting accident in 1998 was also during a rifle elk hunt. Arizona also had a hunting fatality in 1995.
Don Winslow, conservation education program manager with Game and Fish said, "Hunting accidents, especially fatalities, are rare. It is a safe activity. Just like any other recreational activity, injuries and fatalities can occur."
Through hunter education courses, brochures and other media, Game and Fish promotes safe and ethical hunting. Target identification is one of many topics discussed during the classes. "Hunters should always know their target and what is beyond," Winslow said.
Hunter education students are instructed to clearly identify what they are shooting at and to be aware of their surroundings. It is recommended that people out hunting or accompanying hunters wear hunter orange.
Media Contacts: Shelly Shepherd, I&E Program Manager Region II Flagstaff, (928) 774-5045 ext.201, or Detective Mike Rice or Chief Bill Pribil, Coconino County Sheriff's Department (928) 774-4523.
Game and Fish biologists are capturing Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep in east-central Arizona near Morenci on Tuesday. The bighorn release site is south of Alpine. The other capture is in the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge near Yuma. The desert bighorns from that capture will be sent to New Mexico.
The Rocky Mountain sheep capture and transplant in eastern Arizona is significant. Although Rocky Mountain sheep have been transplanted into various locations, the captured sheep have always come from out-of-state sources. This is Arizona's first-ever, in-state capture and relocation of this bighorn subspecies.
Biologists are capturing 20 animals in the lower Eagle Creek drainage and an additional 10 animals in the vicinity of the Phelps-Dodge Mine outside of Morenci. The captured sheep will be transported to the Bear Canyon area south of Alpine near the Blue River for release. The released animals will bolster a small, existing population of about 10 Rocky Mountain sheep in Bear Canyon.
Hawkins and Powers, a wildlife-capture company based in Wyoming, is using a helicopter to capture the bighorns in the Eagle Creek area. At the same time the helicopter capture is occurring, other Game and Fish personnel are using net guns and tranquilizer darts to capture animals at the mine. The sheep in this area have become habituated to people and are causing traffic problems along Highway 191.
Media Note: We will have video footage and stills of the eastern Arizona sheep capture available on Thursday. Contact Rory Aikens at (602) 789-3214 or raikens@gf.state.az.us.
Valley of the Sun Getting Urban Rainbows
The Valley of the Sun is getting a lot of rainbows this week – rainbow trout that is.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is stocking rainbow trout into the 11 participating urban lakes on Thursday, Nov. 21. The urban lakes will be stocked with trout every two weeks throughout the winter season.
A Class U, Urban Fishing license is necessary to fish these specially designated park lakes. The Urban Fishing license covers all species,S so no additional trout stamp is needed. Licenses are $16 for both residents and non-residents.
“We will be stocking fat, 10 to 12-inch rainbow trout from Colorado in our Urban Program lakes during the winter stocking period,” said Eric Swanson, Urban Fishing Program manager.
The scheduled dates for fish stockings are only shared with urban anglers twice each year – at the beginning of trout season (November) and at the beginning of catfish season (March). After these first announced trout stockings, trout will be stocked every other week anytime from Monday through Saturday on stocking weeks.
Don’t forget that Green Valley Lake in Payson is part of the Urban Fishing Program. It is stocked at three-week intervals from October through May. Anglers are reporting excellent fishing for trout. So, if you want a high country trout experience this winter (that doesn’t involve drilling a hole through the ice), give this picturesque high country urban lake a try.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department is implementing a new Monofilament Recovery Program (MRP) to help reduce wildlife losses.
Based on a similar project in Florida, the MRP is dedicated to helping clean up Arizona’s recreation areas to reduce wildlife losses. Arizona’s program will consist of on-the-ground monofilament recovery bins strategically placed at all fishable waters, license dealers, and fishing tackle shops throughout the state. However, this program needs help from the public.
“If not properly disposed of, monofilament line may entangle or be consumed by many different animals – including ducks and fish,” said James Driscoll, MRP coordinator for Game and Fish. “It can also be hazardous to people swimming and to boat motors.”
The goal of the Arizona MRP is to provide easy and local incentive programs with the placement of hand-made monofilament recovery bins at all fishable waters and fishing shops. Fish tackle manufacturing companies (such as Strenã and Berkleyã) can then convert this recovered monofilament into tackle boxes, lures and artificial fish habitats.
This statewide program needs your assistance to get the MRP moving. Game and Fish is looking for organizations like scouting groups, angler clubs, environmental organizations and other civic clubs to assist in the construction, placement, and maintenance of the on-site recovery bins.
Game and Fish will supply the expertise on placement and plans for constructing these recovery bins; the public is needed to assist in the purchase, building and maintenance of the recovery bins. This is a great opportunity to help clean up our angling recreation areas throughout Arizona.
Look for recovery bins and information about the MRP at your local Arizona Game and Fish Department office. For further information on how to assist with this program, please call the department at 602-942-3000.
Media Contacts: James Driscoll, (602) 789-3581, JDriscoll@gf.state.az.us or Tom McMahon, (602) 789-3216, Fax: (602) 789-3776, TMcMahon@gf.state.az.us
The late dove season is no sweat.
Although the early dove season the first two weeks of September draws out hunters by the droves into the sweltering late summer heat, the late dove season by comparison is no sweat – literally.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department wants to remind hunters that the late dove season opens Friday, Nov. 22.
“This is a great time of year to get out. The weather is just about perfect – slightly chilly in the mornings followed by shirtsleeve afternoons. You don’t even have to get up early if you don’t want to – I like hunting the late afternoon dove flights,” said Public Information Officer Rory Aikens.
Doves distribution will likely be spotty in the desert areas. Expect doves to concentrated in the agricultural areas or around water sources. For instance, one individual on a crane hunt noted lots of doves concentrated in the corn and grain fields around Wilcox recently.
Hunters should scout for harvested grain fields and flight paths to and from water holes and roosting areas. Be sure to get landowner permission if you plan to hunt places such as dairies or feed lots.
Remember that all dove hunters must have a $3 Arizona Migratory Bird Stamp to hunt dove (stamps are available for $3 at your local license dealer and all Game and Fish offices).
“The late season dove hunt has become more popular each year, in part because many hunters recognize the opportunities to have mixed-bag hunts for doves, quail, waterfowl and rabbits. Small game hunting also provides an excellent opportunity for youth to get afield and learn,” said Information Branch Chief Joe Janisch, an avid multi-species hunter.