Red Rabbit Report post Posted June 4, 2009 http://azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/...uidelines.shtml http://www.azgfd.gov/pdfs/h_f/guidelines/H...ftJune22009.pdf Public input requested to guide Arizona’s hunt guidelines Game and Fish Department to host public meetings across the state this month PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a series of nine public meetings to solicit input on the proposed revisions under consideration for the hunt guidelines used for setting the 2010-11 and 2011-12 hunting seasons dates, structures, permit levels, and more. The proposed revisions under consideration for the hunt guidelines were developed based on agency and constituent input since 2007, when hunt guidelines were last revised. Additionally, the department formally solicited and received more than 100 suggestions during the public comment period in May. Moreover, dozens of ideas, field notes, biological considerations, social aspects and more went into improving the hunt guidelines during a multitude of work sessions by a diverse representation of department employees. “This draft revision of the hunt guidelines is the result of a collaborative and transparent effort between the department and its constituents,” said Game and Fish Director Larry Voyles. “We want to continue this relationship by encouraging sportsmen and sportswomen to find the time, in their already busy schedules, to attend a public meeting and share their thoughts and concerns. By doing so, together we can shape these guidelines to foster and perpetuate our hunting heritage for the next generation of hunters.” The draft hunt guidelines are now available on the department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines on the right side of the page under the “what’s new” heading, or by clicking here [pdf, 59kb]. The public meetings are at the following locations, dates and times: Kingman, Wednesday, June 10, 6–8 p.m. at the Kingman Game and Fish regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road Prescott, Thursday, June 11, 6–8 p.m. at the Yavapai County Board Chambers, 1015 Fair Street, Prescott, 86305 Flagstaff, Monday, June 15, 6–8 p.m. at the Flagstaff Game and Fish regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road Flagstaff, 86001 Mesa, Tuesday, June 16 , 6–8 p.m. at the Mesa Game and Fish regional office , 7200 E. University Drive, Mesa, 85207 Payson, Wednesday, June 17, 6–8 p.m. at the Best Western Payson Inn, 801 N. Beeline Highway 87, 85547 Pinetop, Thursday, June 18, 6–8 p.m. at the Pinetop Game and Fish regional office 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., 85935 Yuma, Tuesday, June 23, 6–8 p.m. at the Yuma Game and Fish regional office, 9140 E. 28th St., Yuma, 85365 Sierra Vista, Thursday, June 18, 6–8 p.m. at the Buena High School, 5225 E. Buena School Blvd. Sierra Vista, 85635 Tucson, Thursday, June 25, 6–8 p.m. at the Tucson Game and Fish regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road, Tucson, 85745 Each public meeting will consist of a brief presentation of the proposed draft guidelines, which in many cases offers of a number of available options for the public to comment on. Some examples include: How do you feel about moving the early Kaibab deer hunt two weeks earlier? Should a juniors-only muzzleloader hunt during the rut be offered? What percentage of juniors-only hunts should be offered? After the presentation, department staff will take questions, provide insight and reasoning, and record any public recommended changes to the draft presented. For those that are unable to attend a public meeting, your comments and suggestions on the draft guidelines are still welcome and encouraged through June 30. Please e-mail them to: azgamebranch@azgfd.gov or by U.S. mail to: Hunt Guidelines Arizona Game and Fish Department 5000 W. Carefree Highway Phoenix, AZ 85086. The department will use these final public inputs to finalize the hunt guidelines under consideration, which will be presented to the commission for approval at its Sept. 11–12 meeting in Phoenix. Commission meeting agendas are available online at www.azgfd.gov/commission under commission agenda. Voyles added, “When reviewing the guidelines, understand, there are a plethora of variables and there is no perfect solution for the many varied desires of our hunting and nonhunting public, yet we want to balance those needs in such a way that we do not compromise the viability of our wildlife or the experience.” “It is an incredible challenge to balance constituent satisfaction, work load on law enforcement and wildlife managers, and allowing enough time for flight surveys, data collection, and other necessary biological wildlife management methodologies,” said Voyles. “What may seem like a simple change could have a domino effect on many other intertwined factors.” Every two years, on odd numbered years, the department reviews and revises the existing hunt guidelines and recommends changes that address the current direction of the commission. The direction for the 2009 package is for standardization, simplification, and increasing hunter participation. The hunt guidelines set the framework, social and biological, that the department uses to develop specific hunt recommendations and permit level guides for commission orders (elk, deer, antelope, etc.). To learn more about the hunt guidelines process, visit www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
.270 Report post Posted June 4, 2009 ever time i go they never do anything i say. what is wrong with a designated sheep/elk/deer/pronghorn tag every year that automatically goes to me? they just have no vision. or sense o' humor for that matter. Lark. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Red Rabbit Report post Posted June 4, 2009 After comparing the 2010-2012 with the 2008-2010 Guidelines, I note a few things. No mention of a possible Jr Muzz deer hunt in December over Christmas (a hunt Don Martin argued to keep for kids involved with fall sports/band) Archery Deer- if archery harvest is 10-20% of total, additional opportunity will be incrementally added. Juniors elk to occur during school holidays like Columbus Day or Veterans Day, and to overlap junior deer hunts. This year it is the week after Veterans day, so it looks to be moved up a week. This could reduce youth opportunity due to the overlap, but the elk and deer draws are separate so one will know what hunts to apply for. Looks like late archery elk and rifle deer will have their weeks switched. Nov archery elk will be begin on Friday of week 45 and deer on week 46. The 25 archery elk hunters in each unit then will not have the deer hunters pressuring the elk the week before their hunt. Also, if there is a Nov muzz elk hunt, the late archery elk will start week 47, the same week as General rifle elk. General rifle elk will move up 1 week by starting on Friday of week 47, instead of week 48. This will put the rifle deer hunters in the field directly before the elk hunters with no calming-down time for the elk between seasons. This also means that elk season will be the week before Thanksgiving as opposed to starting Thanksgiving Friday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
