AZGFD Rule Changes

[reganranch]

I agree to disagree Str8tshot and I respect your opinion man. There are areas that do need improvement and others that dont. If CWD was a high enough virulent pathogen there would already be CWD present in every herd except few herds that might be geographically isolated. If it hasn't made a dent yet it's not going to unless it mutates somehow which can happen to any pathogen at anytime. Obviously the r-not factor is not high enough to spread the disease rapidly during the virus shedding stage before it kills the host. G and F can sell it however they want it though as harvest objectives or a virulent disease scare that isn't an endemic in any Weatern State. The decision has already been made the public comment period is just to please people and make people still believe that fallacy that their actual comments matter to the issue. Their going to do whatever the heck they want anyway. I'll send my letter no doubt, but the Goverment just does whatever they see fit anyway.

[lonne]

All,

Please take time to modify this how you need, and do so before Nov 5

 

Email to: agfdStrategicPlan@azgfd.gov, CCook@azgfd.gov, rulemaking@azgfd.gov

 

And copy/paste into the Contact Me link for each of the Commissioners on this page:

http://www.azgfd.gov...n_members.shtml

 

TO:

Arizona Game and Fish Strategic Plan

Celeste Cook

Rulemaking

Commissioners

 

FROM:

<Your Name>, Hunter

 

SUBJECT:

My Comments on NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULEMAKING

 

BODY:

Please take these comments into consideration and take further time to address

these concerns before proposing for passage.

 

1) Is the following rule meant in any way to target infrared flash game

cameras or tree stands?

The rule is amended to prohibit an individual from placing any substance,

device, or object in, on, or near a water source to intentionally restrict

wildlife from using the water source to ensure wildlife have adequate access

to water sources.

 

2) This rule change does not hold water, literally. Water can also spread

CWD. As far as toxic contaminants go, this should just require those that

make attractants to make them safer for animal consumption. Is there any

other reasoning behind this rule, like archery deer success? If so, it is not

stated, and prefer to have seasons more like bear hunting with a female

harvest limit. Why not have a deer harvest limit and more restricted dates?

The rule is amended to prohibit the use of edible or ingestible substances to

attract big game for the purposes of hunting to proactively address concerns

that baiting may facilitate the transmission of diseases among wildlife and

placing substances in the wild that contain toxic contaminants and may also

result in unnatural concentrations of wildlife.

 

<Signature>

[CouesBaiterJr]

... When it comes to access and waterholes the word "intentionally " is used, common sense would say that use of blinds, trail cams, and tree stands would by in no way an intentional attempt for a hunter to restrict access as this would defeat the reason and purpose for the device being there, also would be pretty hard for a G&F department to show that the use was in an explicit attempt to intentionally restrict access.

 

Aren't you "intentionally" trying to restrict access by killing the deer going to the water source from your blind/treestand?

[wardsoutfitters]

I sent this to AZGFD and I had to fill out a public records request form inorder to get this information.

 

I do not want to see any changes to the current laws pertaining to R12-4-303. I would like to ask for data pertaining to the fact that the department feels that hunters utilizing the method of hunting has affected the deer numbers and the harvest rates. Please answer the few questions I have pertaining to this issue.

 

Please provide scientific data gathered in Arizona showing the transmission of disease at water sources, Bait sites, Mineral sites, Licking Branches, Scrapes, Natural food sources.

 

Please provide the number of Archery deer tags sold over the past 10 years. Year by year.

 

Please provide factual data pertaining to the number of deer harvested by the archers over the past 10 years, year by year.

 

Please provide the number of rifle deer tags sold over the past 10 years. Year by year.

 

Please provide factual data pertaining to the number of deer harvested by gun hunters over the past 10 years. Year by Year.

 

Please provide factual data showing with what method archers have utilized to harvested their animal for the past 10 years, “Example” Spot and Stalk, Water Holes, Salt based Products, Bait sites, Scent Products, Tree stands, Ground Blinds, Calling.

 

Please provide factual data during deer surveys for the past 10 years,

 

Answer the question as to why deer survey numbers are down but the rifle hunter success is still high.

 

Please answer the question as to why Archers are the only hunters that have to report deer harvests.

 

Please answer the question. Do you not think if all Arizona hunters were required to report their harvest the Arizona Game and Fish Department would have better data to manage the game?

 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, I look forward to your response

 

[CouesBaiterJr]

I sent this to AZGFD and I had to fill out a public records request form inorder to get this information.

 

I do not want to see any changes to the current laws pertaining to R12-4-303. I would like to ask for data pertaining to the fact that the department feels that hunters utilizing the method of hunting has affected the deer numbers and the harvest rates. Please answer the few questions I have pertaining to this issue.

 

Please provide scientific data gathered in Arizona showing the transmission of disease at water sources, Bait sites, Mineral sites, Licking Branches, Scrapes, Natural food sources.

 

Please provide the number of Archery deer tags sold over the past 10 years. Year by year.

 

Please provide factual data pertaining to the number of deer harvested by the archers over the past 10 years, year by year.

 

Please provide the number of rifle deer tags sold over the past 10 years. Year by year.

 

Please provide factual data pertaining to the number of deer harvested by gun hunters over the past 10 years. Year by Year.

 

Please provide factual data showing with what method archers have utilized to harvested their animal for the past 10 years, “Example” Spot and Stalk, Water Holes, Salt based Products, Bait sites, Scent Products, Tree stands, Ground Blinds, Calling.

 

Please provide factual data during deer surveys for the past 10 years,

 

Answer the question as to why deer survey numbers are down but the rifle hunter success is still high.

 

Please answer the question as to why Archers are the only hunters that have to report deer harvests.

 

Please answer the question. Do you not think if all Arizona hunters were required to report their harvest the Arizona Game and Fish Department would have better data to manage the game?

 

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter, I look forward to your response

 

+1 No one can justify a rule change without data supporting it.

[520HUNT]

You don't need stats or facts to back up Junk Science! This is why Game and Fish has lost the respect of outdoorsmen.

[wardsoutfitters]

We Need Facts Period... How can the game branch make adjustments to the number of tags if they have no idea how many animals are being harvested. How can the department make rule changes If they have no factual data to support that decision!!! Show us the facts AZGFD.

[tjhunt2]

We Need Facts Period... How can the game branch make adjustments to the number of tags if they have no idea how many animals are being harvested. How can the department make rule changes If they have no factual data to support that decision!!! Show us the facts AZGFD.

 

I have to agree. I hope azgfd doesn't cave in to the anti hunters. Let's keep this state strong hunter friendly.

 

TJ

[jamaro]

We Need Facts Period... How can the game branch make adjustments to the number of tags if they have no idea how many animals are being harvested. How can the department make rule changes If they have no factual data to support that decision!!! Show us the facts AZGFD.

 

The only way you are going to even get close to this is by going to a draw. What is your opinion on going to a strict draw for all archery hunts? Also, what is your opinion on one deer a calender year archery or draw tag?

[wardsoutfitters]

We Need Facts Period... How can the game branch make adjustments to the number of tags if they have no idea how many animals are being harvested. How can the department make rule changes If they have no factual data to support that decision!!! Show us the facts AZGFD.

 

The only way you are going to even get close to this is by going to a draw. What is your opinion on going to a strict draw for all archery hunts? Also, what is your opinion on one deer a calender year archery or draw tag?

 

The azgfd already has checks and balances in place for archers; there is no need for the draw!!! I am suggesting they require all hunters that purchase or draw any tag to report their harvest! They need to go to a computerized system and before any hunter can purchase a tag they will have to reported.

I don’t understand what you are referring; we can only harvest one deer per calendar year

 

[wardsoutfitters]

The azgfd already has checks and balances in place for archers; there is no need for the draw!!! I am suggesting they require all hunters that purchase or draw any tag to report their harvest! They need to go to a computerized system and before any hunter can purchase a tag they will have to reported.

I don’t understand what you are referring; we can only harvest one deer per calendar year

 

[Str8Shot]

Jamaro ... as it is now you can only take 1 deer per calender year ... January 1st - Dec. 31st .... with archery, what many individuals seem to get confused about, is when someone takes a Buck in Dec, and then another in Jan. this is two deer in two separate years and results in a a long wait until the next Jan. ...

[ThomC]

Mr Ward me thinks that you protest to much.

 

The facts that outfitters dont want you to know are: they kill lots of deer over bait. Unlimited non resident hunters can pay them big bucks to kill a deer on their bait piles. Everyone that says that they dont care dont know how many deer are killed over bait. Any outfitter want to volunteer those stats? How about a manaditory success report from all outfitters that use bait.

[jamaro]

What are those checks and balances??? I am serious... Just trying to figure it out... If there are OTC what are they?

 

In NM we are required to submit a harvest report, but even our dept claims that is is not 100% accurate... In the end it only excludes hunters who forget to put in the harvest info... and even then for a small fee they can get back into the draw without reporting in a timely manner.

 

Sorry I probably wasn't clear do you think people should be able to hunt the rifle draws and otc archery in the same year? In NM, you need to choose, you can't hunt both your draw tags and your OTC... I am sure this contributes to the high overall harvest...

[jamaro]

Jamaro ... as it is now you can only take 1 deer per calender year ... January 1st - Dec. 31st .... with archery, what many individuals seem to get confused about, is when someone takes a Buck in Dec, and then another in Jan. this is two deer in two separate years and results in a a long wait until the next Jan. ...

 

Sorry what I meant to say was you can hunt Archery OTC and still hunt Rifle Draw but you are only allowed 1 deer a year... In NM, we don't have OTC tags so you need to choose your weapon and season.. you can't hunt with different weapons until you kill... I bet this really contributes to the overall harvest...