Havasu NWR Draft Hunting CD
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COMPATIBILITY DETERMINATION USE: Hunting (Migratory Birds, Upland and Big Game) REFUGE NAME: Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (NWR/refuge) ESTABLISHING AND ACQUISITION AUTHORITIES: Havasu NWR, originally known as Havasu Lake NWR, was established by Executive Order 8647 on January 22, 1941, by President Franklin Roosevelt. REFUGE PURPOSE(S): For lands acquired under Executive Order 8647 "...as a refuge and breeding grounds for migratory birds and other wildlife...” For lands acquired under the Refuge Recreation Act “...suitable for (1) incidental fish and wildlife-oriented recreational development, (2) the protection of natural resources, (3) the conservation of endangered species or threatened species..." For lands acquired under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act "...for the development, advancement, management, conservation, and protection of fish and wildlife resources...for the benefit of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service [Service], in performing its activities and services. Such acceptance may be subject to the terms of any restrictive or affirmative covenant, or condition of servitude...” Additional lands totaling 2,757 acres were subsequently added on February 11, 1949, per Public Land Order 559. The purpose of these additional acres was the same as the purpose set out in Executive Order 8647. The Lower Colorado River Land Use Plan (USDOI 1964) describes the high wildlife values of Topock Marsh, Topock Gorge, and the Bill Williams River. The document describes their “prime wildlife values” and expresses a need to “improve their management and production and preserve their scenic qualities”. In 1994, the Service developed a Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP) for the lower Colorado River refuges (USFWS 1994). The CMP describes the desired future conditions of the refuge and provides long-range guidance and management direction to achieve refuge purposes; help fulfill the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) mission; maintain, and where appropriate, restore the ecological integrity of each refuge and the Refuge System; help achieve the goals of the National Wilderness Preservation System; and meet other mandates. NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM MISSION: “The mission of the System is to administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans” (National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act of 1997, Public Law 105-57). Draft Compatibility Determination for Hunting on Havasu NWR 1 DESCRIPTION OF USE: What is the use? The refuge allows hunting opportunities for mourning dove (Zenaida macroura), white-winged dove (Zenaida asiatica), Eurasian collared-dove (Streptopelia decaocto), African collared-dove (Streptopelia roseogrisea), duck species permitted by the State of Arizona, American coot (Fulica americana), common gallinule (Gallinula galeata), dark geese, light geese, Wilson’s snipe (Gallinago delicata), Gambel’s quail(Callipepla gambelii), desert cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus audubonii), black-tailed jackrabbit (Lepus californicus), desert bighorn sheep, bobcat (Lynx rufus), coyote (Canis latrans), gray fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus), kit fox (Vulpes macrotis), and feral swine (Sus scrofa). Where is the use conducted? There are seven management units on Havasu NWR, five of which are available for hunting. Not all species may be hunted in all units and varying State and refuge regulations apply. Upland game, migratory bird hunting, big game hunting, is allowed in the Topock Marsh East Management Unit (7,240 acres). The Pintail Slough Management Unit (443 acres) is open to upland game and migratory bird hunting. The Topock Marsh West Management Unit (6,065 acres) is open to upland game hunting. Big game hunting is open in the Pintail Slough and Topock West management units with the incidental take of feral swine by hunters participating in other hunting opportunities. The Havasu Wilderness Management Unit (15,021 acres) is open to upland game and big game hunting but will close to all waterfowl hunting to serve as a waterfowl sanctuary. The Lake Havasu Management Unit (3,870 acres) is open to migratory bird, upland game, and big game hunting south of Blankenship Bend to the boundary of the Lake Havasu City limits. All units are accessible by foot and most are accessible by boat. Big game hunting at Havasu NWR includes the incidental take of feral swine by hunters participating in established hunt opportunities and the AZGFD managed desert bighorn sheep hunts within the Topock Marsh East and Havasu Wilderness management units. These areas are within AZGFD game management units 15D and 16B. Lottery sheep hunt permits are issued by AZGFD. No hunting is permitted within the Mesquite Bay Management Unit (232 acres) which is located within the Lake Havasu City limits. No hunting is permitted in the Topock Gorge Management Unit (4,644 acres), which is comprised of all the waters of the Colorado River and those refuge lands within 1/4 mile (.4 kilometer) of the waters of the Colorado River from Blankenship Bend northward through the Topock Gorge to Interstate 40 bridge. The refuge is unable to support safe hunting activities in these areas because of high-density visitation by millions of recreational boaters. Both of these management units combined provide a one-fifth of the total waterfowl sanctuary acres. When is the use conducted? Regulations follow the respective State’s rules and seasons (table 1) with additional refuge restrictions for some species on hunting hours, methods of take, and/or season length. A permit system is employed within the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area and hunting may only occur Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 1/2 hour before legal sunrise until 2 p.m. MST during waterfowl season. Night hunting is not allowed for any species. Draft Compatibility Determination for Hunting on Havasu NWR 2 Table 1.—Havasu NWR established hunts: Species and hunting dates. Species Approximate dates based on AZ State season Mourning dove September 1–September 15 (early AZ season) November 20–January 3 (late* AZ season) White-winged dove September 1–September 15 (early AZ season) Eurasian collared-dove, African collared-dove September 1–March 15 (Havasu NWR season) Duck, American coot, common gallinule, dark October 23–February 7 (AZ State season*) geese, light geese, Wilson’s snipe Gambel’s quail October 17–February 7 (AZ State season*) Desert cottontail rabbit September 1–March 15 (Havasu NWR season) Black-tailed jackrabbit September 1–March 15 (Havasu NWR season) Desert bighorn sheep December 1–December 31 (AZ State season*) Bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox September 1–March 15 (Havasu NWR season) Feral swine September 1–March 15 (incidental take only) * Some hunt dates change annually in AZGFD regulations, please refer to AZGFD regulations for species seasons and hunt dates. How is the use conducted? Hunting of mourning dove, white-winged dove, duck, American coot common gallinule, dark geese, light geese, and Wilson’s snipe hunt dates align with state regulations for the above species in all permitted hunt areas with the exception of Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area. A permit system is employed within the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area. Methods of take for these species on the refuge are federally approved non-toxic shot only and include shotgun, crossbow, and archery. The use of dogs is permitted. The refuge provides approximately 60 hunt days for mourning and white-winged dove. Methods of take permitted on the refuge are federally approved non-toxic shot only and include shotgun, archery, and crossbow. Hunting of Eurasian and African collared-dove is permitted following the above regulations for mourning and white-winged dove approximately 196 hunt days and muzzleloader, handgun, and pneumatic weapons are allowed as additional methods of take. Gambel’s quail hunt dates align with State regulations for the aforementioned species in all permitted hunt areas with the exception of Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area. A permit system is employed in the Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area. Methods of take permitted on the refuge are federally approved non-toxic ammunition only and include shotgun, handgun, pneumatic weapons, archery, and crossbow. The harvest of desert cottontail rabbit, black-tailed jackrabbit, bobcat, coyote, gray fox, and kit fox is permitted within Pintail Slough, Topock Marsh East, Topock Marsh West, Havasu Wilderness, and Lake Havasu management units. Incidental take of upland game species within Pintail Slough Quota Hunt Area may only occur by permitted hunters. Methods of take permitted on the refuge are federally approved non-toxic ammunition only and include shotgun, handgun, muzzleloaders, pneumatic weapons, archery, and crossbow. The incidental take of feral swine by Draft Compatibility Determination for Hunting on Havasu NWR 3 individuals participating in established hunt opportunities on the refuge follows the above listed regulations for upland game species like desert cottontail rabbit. Desert bighorn sheep hunting consists of the AZGFD managed hunt within the Topock Marsh East and Havasu Wilderness management units. Methods of take for desert bighorn sheep are in full alignment with the State of Arizona and include rifle, handgun, muzzleloader, shotgun, archery, crossbow, and pneumatic weapons. These areas are encompassed within AZGFD game management