This came from AZG&F...Good luck to anyone with a 1 or 27 tag. I don't have a tag but I've waited a long time for one...sad, sad, sad !!
Hunting:
The Game Management Units affected by the Wallow Fire on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests are Units 1 and 27. Popular hunts in these units include elk, antelope, deer, turkey and bear.
The Game Management Units affected by the Horseshoe Two Fire on the Coronado National Forest are primarily Unit 29 and portions of Unit 30A. Popular hunts in these areas include mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina, and small game.
The Game Management Units affected by the Murphy Fire on the Coronado National Forest are Units 36A, 36B and 36C. Popular hunts in these areas include mule deer, white-tailed deer, javelina and small game.
Many hunters might immediately come to the conclusion that their hunts in the fire areas are now ruined due to the fires, out of the perceptions that there will be reduced numbers of game, limited or no access, that the forest is completely burned, or that the overall hunting experience is compromised. Although some hunts will undoubtedly be affected, they might not necessarily be as severe as perceived. Here is what we found in Game Management Unit 3C in the aftermath of the Rodeo-Chediski Fire in 2002:
Of the Unit 3C habitat on the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests impacted by the fire, 28 percent was determined to be severely burned, 19 percent moderately burned, 26 percent low impact, and 27 percent was unburned.
There was no significant reduction in the availability of big game animals in the fall hunts.
After the Rodeo-Chediski Fire, Game and Fish personnel conducted two aerial surveys and several ground surveys in the unit. There was no evidence of any large migration of elk or deer out of the burn area. With the onset of the monsoon, it is anticipated that a significant portion of Units 1 and 27 will have adequate forage, and that elk will be well distributed prior to the hunts.
The elk/antelope draw was held in the spring and permits have been issued. The department has received some questions about whether there is a contingency for refunds on a hunt permit or for a hunter to turn down the permit to retain his or her bonus points. There is currently no provision in state law or commission rule for refunds on a permit, or for a hunter to turn down the permit to retain his or her bonus points. As is stated on page 16 of the 2011-12 Arizona Hunting Regulations booklet:
The issuance of any big game permit has no express or implied guarantee or warranty of hunter success. Any person holding a valid permit assumes the risk that circumstances beyond the control of Arizona Game and Fish may prevent the permit holder from using the permit. In such situations, Arizona Game and Fish disclaims any responsibility to reissue or replace a permit, to reinstate bonus points or to refund any fees.
The department and commission may analyze this situation further once the fires are under control and it is possible to truly assess the fire’s actual impacts.
Hunters who have not yet applied for the fall hunts for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo and pheasant will want to consider the different variables if applying for hunts in the affected fire areas. Until the fires are put out, there is no certainty what the conditions will be, but they could range from area closures to near-normal hunting conditions come hunting season.
