Wildlife News Related Information - Archive Search Oct. 8, 2010 - Public Advisories - Arizona Outdoor Calendar - Call for Comments * Fishing regulation proposals coming before commission * Deadline to apply for Arizona spring hunts looms * Anticipated release of Mexican wolves delayed until 2011 * Injured warriors use fly fishing for therapy during Silver Creek opening * Black-tailed prairie dogs gaining foothold in historical range of southern Arizona * Public meetings, open houses on elk and pronghorn hunt recommendations * Volunteers still needed for October ferret spotlighting effort * Information on Proposition 109 – “right to hunt and fish” constitutional amendment * 2010 Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup set for Oct. 16-26 * Public’s assistance sought to solve two elk poachings in northern Arizona * U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service seeks input on red squirrel captive breeding and ocelot recovery programs * Adobe Mountain Wildlife Center Open House is Nov. 20-21 Fishing regulation proposals coming before commission Becker Lake could be turned into a blue ribbon fishery Turning Becker Lake into a blue ribbon fishery and tweaking the slot limit at Lees Ferry (photo below) are two of the proposed fishing regulation changes for 2011-12 being considered by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission during the Saturday, Oct. 9 portion of its Oct. 8-9 meeting in Phoenix. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters located on 5000 W. Carefree Highway (1.5 miles west of Interstate 17). You can also view the meeting via the Internet at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. The Game and Fish Department is proposing to change Becker Lake to catch-and-release- only year round with artificial lure and fly only with a single barbless hook. “Becker Lake has the best potential in the White Mountains for becoming a catch-and- release blue ribbon trout fishery. This productive lake has the potential to grow over 18-inch rainbow trout consistently if no harvest occurs,” said Fisheries Chief Kirk Young. Young pointed out that Becker is typically one of the few lakes in the White Mountains that can be ice-free for most of the winter. “Becker doesn’t winter or summer kill, it is accessible year around, and water levels are fairly stable,” Young said. There are eight trout lakes, and the Little Colorado River, within a one-hour drive that allow bait fishing and have no special regulations, providing ample opportunity for anglers desiring to harvest trout and not use restrictive gear. “The development of a true blue ribbon trout fishery at Becker Lake will provide an economic benefit to the local communities by attracting anglers from throughout the southwest as well as expand the diversity of angling opportunities in the White Mountain area,” Young said. The commission is also considering a proposal to modify the slot limit at Lees Ferry from 12-inch maximum to a 14-inch maximum to allow greater harvest of the smaller trout and hopefully avoid or limit population crashes when food resources are limited, for whatever reason. The current regulation for Lees Ferry is trout over 12 inches may not be possessed. The limit is four trout per day and eight trout in possession; artificial fly and lure only; barbless hooks only. Since 1991, Lees Ferry has experienced a dramatic increase and then a collapse in trout abundance at times. “The cyclic nature of rainbow trout abundance indicates that rainbow trout in this reach of the Colorado River naturally over recruit and are food limited,” Young said. Population modeling shows that an increase in legal harvest will not harm the fishery. “In addition, anglers have stated that it is virtually impossible to capture fish less than 12 inches,” Young said. “Department biologists can see no biological reason to limit the harvest of rainbow trout by imposing a legal length shorter than the vulnerable trout that anglers are capturing in this popular sport fishery.” The proposal would also allow the unlimited harvest of sport-fish other than rainbow trout (such as brown trout) and redefining river stretches below the Paria Riffle to assist with native fish recovery efforts. Other proposed regulation changes before the commission include: * Reducing the daily bag and possession limit of catfish to four at Redondo Pond (aka Yuma Lakes) and reducing the trout limit to four as well. * Changing the daily bag and possession limit on Pena Blanca Lake near Nogales to no harvest of largemouth bass until Dec. 31, 2012. The lake was completely drained this past year and is on the comeback trail. * Closing Ash Creek along with Marijillda Creek and its tributaries (Mt. Graham) to fishing until a fishable population of native Gila trout is established. * Closing approximately 13 miles of Bonita Creek in Graham County to fishing as part of an effort to re-establish native fish populations in this remote creek that receives minimal angling pressure. * Opening Snake Creek in the White Mountains to angling. A full discussion of these proposed changes can be viewed at www.azgfd.gov/fishregscomments. Deadline to apply for Arizona spring hunts looms Paper applications due by 7 p.m. Oct. 12; No online application system available Sportsmen, women and children with visions of hunting a strutting turkey, a javelina unique to the southwest, a secretive black bear, or that once-in-a-lifetime buffalo have until Tuesday, Oct. 12 by 7 p.m. (MST) to submit a paper application to the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the annual spring drawing. To apply, applicants will need the 2011 Spring Turkey, Javelina, Buffalo and Bear Hunt Draw Information booklet and application form that are available at more than 300 license dealers statewide, at Game and Fish offices, or by downloading them from www.azgfd.gov/draw. Remember, postmarks don’t count, so if you haven’t yet mailed your application, Game and Fish officials recommend hand-delivering it to any of the seven department offices (Phoenix, Mesa, Flagstaff, Pinetop, Kingman, Tucson and Yuma) prior to the 7 p. m. Oct. 12 deadline. As a reminder, Monday, Oct. 11 is Columbus Day, and all department offices are closed. Keep in mind that there is no online application system available. Tips for an error-free application * License – a 2011 hunting license is required to apply for 2011 spring hunts * Hunt choice(s) – use the four-digit hunt numbers to apply (first column on the left of the regulations) * Signature – each applicant (A through D) must sign the application * Payment – check, money order or cashier’s check (no credit card or cash) * Youth – youth rates only apply to juniors-only hunts (higher rate applies if putting in for general hunts or a combination of juniors-only and general on the same application) Youth hunters Javelina, turkey, buffalo and bear are all big game species. Young hunters 10-13 are required to complete an Arizona-certified hunter education course before the hunt. For details, visit www.azgfd.gov/education and select the hunter education link for information on classroom and online programs. Also for new hunters are two mentored javelina camps and three turkey camps. These free camps, hosted by experienced sportsmen, offer field assistance, hunting instruction and food, providing a great place for families to start learning about hunting. Visit www.azgfd.gov/draw under the “Mentored Hunting & Juniors-only Events 2010-11 Season” information box on the right side of the page for more information. Other season dates and calendar reminders * Commission meetings – Oct. 8-9 (fishing regulations), Dec. 3-4 (elk/pronghorn regulations) * Mountain zone general waterfowl season – Oct. 8 to Jan. 16, 2011 (restrictions apply) * Hunt recommendations – public meetings begin Oct. 13, open houses start Nov. 23 (elk/ pronghorn regulations – see article in this newsletter) * Late season dove – Nov. 19 through Jan. 2, 2011 * State furlough – Nov. 26 (all Game and Fish offices closed) * Mearns’ quail season – Nov. 26 through Feb. 6, 2011 * Elk and pronghorn application deadline – anticipated second Tuesday, February 2011 For more information about hunting and the big game draw process, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw. The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any of the state’s general funds to operate. Wildlife conservation and management of the state’s game animals, which also benefits many non-game species, is made possible through a user-pay, user-benefit system. Funding from the direct sale of hunting licenses, fishing licenses, big game tags and matching funds from the Pittman-Robertson Act, a federal excise tax that sportsmen pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment, remain the primary funding source for managing Arizona’s wildlife. Anticipated release of Mexican wolves delayed until 2011 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), along with the Arizona Game and Fish Department announced on Oct. 7 that the planned release of Mexican wolves into the Apache National Forest of the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area will be postponed until sometime in 2011. The Service, after coordinating with its partners in the Mexican wolf recovery program in Arizona and New Mexico, determined that a release at this time would not be possible. After concerns were expressed by some of the partners the Service decided to step back and assess those considerations. The Service determined that additional time to plan and prepare for the release is needed to ensure the best possible outcome. “We were hoping that a release this fall would signal our continued commitment to a successful recovery program, but the timing must be right for the wolves to have the very best chance for survival,” said Dr. Benjamin Tuggle, regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Southwest Region. “Although we have been working with our partners, we haven’t completed all of the necessary coordination and work, and in keeping faith with our commitments to our partners, and especially to the wolves, it became clear that the time isn’t right.” “I believe that Dr.