The Facts Unit 29 Proposed Archery Season Dates

[wardsoutfitters]

Here is what I sent to all the commissioners. Please give me your input. Also if you do not agree with these types of unit closures contact them and state your concerns.

 

Commissioners

 

I am writing you this letter to inform you that I do not agree with the proposed hunt dates for the unit 29 archery deer season. Unit 29 season December 2012 was removed, then December 2013 and half of January 2014 was removed now the Department is recommending that unit 29 only be open for January 1-11, 2015. I have reviewed all the harvest data from 2010-2012 and the data does not support the closure, Outlined below are the facts I have gathered from the departments harvest data.

 

Year 2010

According to the Archery Deer Final Questioner 63 deer were reported harvested in unit 29 by archery hunters, the department states that 260 archery hunters hunted in unit 29 the year 2010, I would like to point out the fact that only 58 questioners were returned for unit 29. This is a harvest percentage of 24%. If only 58 questioners were returned how does the department come up with 260 archery hunters. Tag sales in 2010 were 20850, 14053 questioners were sent out the return rate was 33.1%. The lack of returns and the lack of factual data here can very well impact the success rate in unit 29.

Year 2011

According to the Archery Deer Final Questioner 43 deer were reported harvested in unit 29 by archery hunters, the department states that 171 archery hunters hunted in unit 29 the year 2010, I would like to point out the fact that only 44 questioners were returned for unit 29. This is a harvest percentage of 25%. If only 44 questioners were returned how does the department come up with 171 archery hunters. Tag sales in 2011 were 20825, 15000 questioners were sent out the return rate was 35%. The lack of returns and the lack of factual data here can very well impact the success rate in unit 29.

Year 2012

According to the Archery Deer Final Questioner 35 deer were reported harvested in unit 29 by archery hunters, the department states that 247 archery hunters hunted in unit 29 the year 2010, I would like to point out the fact that only 49 questioners were returned for unit 29. This is a harvest percentage of 14%. If only 49 questioners were returned how does the department come up with 247 archery hunters. Tag sales in 2012 were 21392, 18521 questioners were sent out the return rate was 23%. The lack of returns and the lack of factual data here can very well impact the success rate in unit 29.

 

This data shows that the removal of the December 2012 did have an impact on the harvest percentage for unit 29. With that said the department has no reason to continue to remove hunter opportunity in unit 29. I would also like to point out that the decision to remove the December 2013 and ½ of the January 2014 opportunity was made prior to having the data to support it, I spoke to the department at a meeting and stated this as a fact and I was told that I was right they did not have the harvest data but they were basing their decision off the recommendation of the unit game officer. The decision to close this unit contradicts the policy the department has when it comes to the 20% cap on archery hunter harvest. The game officer was obviously wrong and really has no idea how many deer were actually harvested. I would also like to point out the fact that again the department is closing unit 29 without the data to support it for the December 2014, and ½ of January 2015. The department does not as of today 4-03-2014 have the archery harvest data completed for the year 2013.

If the unit manager feels as though to many deer are being harvested in unit 29 and that the deer numbers are low than why haven’t the rifle deer permits been reduced ? They have remained the same for a number of years now.

I would ask you as commissioners of the Game And Fish Department contact me prior to making a final decision on the proposed hunt dates for unit 29. I would also as that you look into this matter with a fine tooth comb before making a final decision on the hunt dates for unit 29.

[couesmagnet]

There should be mandatory reporting in this state for all big game. I never understood how the az gfd knows anything about what's going on with regards to harvest rates now. Why have to extrapolate data when they could require it? Sounds like some unit manager guessing isn't the way to go about it either. Guessing leads to what is going on here in 29. This could happen in any unit in az now with the current way of doing things.

[bonecollector]

I agree couesmagnet, there should be madatory reporting. NM has mandatory reporting and if you dont report you cant apply the next yr I believe.

[gotcoues]

I do believe this has much more to do with putting you out of business or putting a hurt on your business, than actual decisions made on factual data. I believe that the G&F should start a program that aggressively promotes return of that annual survey cards. If you were awarded a bonus point for returning the card, I would suggest, data would double in one yr. Or, even a more aggressive approach of mandatory reporting to apply the next yr. The bottom line is wildlife management decisions need to be made based on factual data and not some vendetta against an outfitter with a very high rate of success for his clients. IMO, you played by the rules, were very successful and they simply changed the rules. They, through out all their talking points, created the big smoke screens and rammed it through.

 

I wish you the best of luck in the future, but I believe you are fighting an uphill battle based on decisions made for the wrong reasons.

 

Apparently, the new rule change was not enough, so the punishment continues.

 

I would also post your thread on the FB coues group as it has been getting lots of traffic as of late.

[couesmagnet]

I agree couesmagnet, there should be madatory reporting. NM has mandatory reporting and if you dont report you cant apply the next yr I believe.

New mexico does this perfectly, and i wish az gfd would do the same. New mexico actually treats this like a science, not like az where it's guess how many marbles are in the jar type deal. Copy new mexico's way, and we would be dealing with hard numbers, not just guesswork.

[hunter72]

The info will never be correct I bet most people tell them a wrong unit anyway so the unit they hunt will stay open.

[wardsoutfitters]

We need all of you to contact the department and e- mail the commissioners to keep this from being the norm

[roninflag]

I agree couesmagnet, there should be madatory reporting. NM has mandatory reporting and if you dont report you cant apply the next yr I believe.

New mexico does this perfectly, and i wish az gfd would do the same. New mexico actually treats this like a science, not like az where it's guess how many marbles are in the jar type deal. Copy new mexico's way, and we would be dealing with hard numbers, not just guesswork.

What are the buck to doe ratio In NM?? what is their mgmnt objective for buck to doe ratios??

[GreyGhost85]

With all due respect Wardsoutfitters, i believe Gotcoues said it right. The reason that you are fighting this uphill battle is due to personal financial reasons. the reason the hunt dates have changed is because the G&F feels that the deer in unit 29 are being over harvested. Of those numbers that were read off, how many of the successful hunters were your clients? I remember hearing a similar discussion stemming from the G&F banning the use of baits other than straight salt. i know that the deer in unit 29 have been corn baited in your hunting areas for so long, that when someone would park near the feed sites and rattle a bucket that deer would start showing up out of the woodwork. this disrupts the natural habits of deer and they become dependent on human intervention. if the corn baiting was not so prevelant prior to the ban, i believe that the hunt dates would never have changed in the first place. what has honestly put a damper on success rates? is it the shorter seasons, or the ban of bait?

[wardsoutfitters]

Greyghost

If you truly believe that rattling a corn bucket would make the deer arrive your well, just misinformed, To set the record straight we at wards outfitters didn’t even utilize corn to attract deer, and we never used timed feeders, so whoever is giving you this information is completely making things up, Well lying to you to be exact, If deer are being over harvested in 29 then why are they not reducing rifle tags???

[DesertBull]

With all due respect Wardsoutfitters, i believe Gotcoues said it right. The reason that you are fighting this uphill battle is due to personal financial reasons. the reason the hunt dates have changed is because the G&F feels that the deer in unit 29 are being over harvested. Of those numbers that were read off, how many of the successful hunters were your clients? I remember hearing a similar discussion stemming from the G&F banning the use of baits other than straight salt. i know that the deer in unit 29 have been corn baited in your hunting areas for so long, that when someone would park near the feed sites and rattle a bucket that deer would start showing up out of the woodwork. this disrupts the natural habits of deer and they become dependent on human intervention. if the corn baiting was not so prevelant prior to the ban, i believe that the hunt dates would never have changed in the first place. what has honestly put a damper on success rates? is it the shorter seasons, or the ban of bait?

 

 

 

 

Why reduce archery seasons and leave rifle tags the same? Doesn't make $ense.

[DrRx09]

I will have to second Justin on this. GreyGhost, I believe you misinterpreted Justin's post and are way off base. If that were the case he wouldn't need to bait, he could just rattle a bucket of ..... and when they came outta the woodwork you could take a shot, Right? There's no rule for "calling" in coues. Mr Ward played by the rules and someone at AZGFD got their panties in a wad and changed them in order to try and hurt his businees. I have to agree that this is an uphill battle for you Mr Ward, but I do support you. My opinion is that someone has a hard on for you at AZGFD and is taking it out by limiting the archery hunts in the unit which you hunt. It's sad to see this happen, where personal opinions matter more than rock solid data that doesn't support those opinions. If they reduced tags because of over harvesting, then why not reduce the rifle tags? I wish you the best in this endeavor.

[520HUNT]

This department is making these numbers up just like the Obamacare folks! This is sickening! Our department is full of liars and poachers and there seems to be no consequences for their actions? I think it is time for a revolt aginnst this out of control department.

[520HUNT]

With all due respect Wardsoutfitters, i believe Gotcoues said it right. The reason that you are fighting this uphill battle is due to personal financial reasons. the reason the hunt dates have changed is because the G&F feels that the deer in unit 29 are being over harvested. Of those numbers that were read off, how many of the successful hunters were your clients? I remember hearing a similar discussion stemming from the G&F banning the use of baits other than straight salt. i know that the deer in unit 29 have been corn baited in your hunting areas for so long, that when someone would park near the feed sites and rattle a bucket that deer would start showing up out of the woodwork. this disrupts the natural habits of deer and they become dependent on human intervention. if the corn baiting was not so prevelant prior to the ban, i believe that the hunt dates would never have changed in the first place. what has honestly put a damper on success rates? is it the shorter seasons, or the ban of bait?

 

Wow, and you call yourself a hunter? You must work for G&F, because you are just as good as spreading lies as them. Did you take a class from G&F? If you have proof of this rattling a bucket, show it to us, and if not go crawl back into the hole you came out of!

[AZLance]

If any of you actually believe our Game and Fish department uses facts or science in making their decisions, I have some ocean front property for sale in Unit 34a.