Unit 9

[cosninocanines]

 

Trophyhunter , Do You donate to Orgs. or do anything to help or just take the tags? Can't rely on G&F for everything.........BOB!

 

i do some, DU lately. im kinda broke right now due to $200 in application fees alone this year. but why dont we stay on track. you dont think that AZGFD should be in charge of organizing that sort of thing?

 

The Arizona Elk Society (AES) and Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society both put boots on the ground in the water catchment projects on a regular basis. Many of the other groups also provide funding and manpower but in my observations these 2 work year in and year out to provide water for all the animals that utilize catchments.

 

AZG&F does participate and their developement crew also haul water and build and maintain catchments. BUT they are a small crew and can use any help we as sportsmen and women can provide. Most of the water hauling by AES and others is done in conjunction with and cooperation of the G&F. The unit game managers provide the information of what or where the greatest needs are.

[stanley]

 

Trophyhunter , Do You donate to Orgs. or do anything to help or just take the tags? Can't rely on G&F for everything.........BOB!

 

i do some, DU lately. im kinda broke right now due to $200 in application fees alone this year. but why dont we stay on track. you dont think that AZGFD should be in charge of organizing that sort of thing?

 

 

Interesting point regarding who should be in charge of this sort of thing. I think that the AZGFD should be in charge of managing our state's game. Not necessarily 'watering' our game.

 

In the same sentence you took a passive-aggressive poke at G&F for tag fees, but then proposed that they take charge of organizing something (which would cost even more $$$). I think the G&F should be consulted and included to the extent possible, but I also very much appreciate what the various organizations help over & above.

 

My $.02....

 

S.

 

[rthrbhntng]

There is much small maintenance type work that needs to be done on drinkers in addition to water hauling. The funding for the AES Water for Wildlife program comes from many sources including our Annual Banquets, G&F auction tag funds, other groups like SCI and donations throughout the year. So in essence G&F is involved in what many of the groups are doing for wildlife. The tanks we haul to are chosen by the WMs in the units. In some cases the G&F gives us supplies to fix the tanks. The Department only has so much resource. When the drought gets severe they don't have the capacity to keep up with the work so they contract out some of the work and that is where the AES and others have stepped up and taken the initiative to be the subcontractors.

The AES also has a crew on the ground that is fixing 30-50 water catchments this year. We are always looking for volunteers for those projects too. We also have hired a contractor to dig out and seal some old silted in dirt tanks in elk range in Units 7 & 8. We did this last year in Unit 9 and increased capacity to hold water by millions of gallons. Now we still need good rain. We have a list of over 120 drinkers that need maintenance in Units 22-23 and will be trying to put together a crew for those too. Many of these old drinkers are Forest Service and with their budget cuts the maintenance has not been done in over 10 years. Lots of red tape when dealing with the FS but we have been lucky to get agreements in place and permission to fix many of the drinkers.

Many of you know how many of these drinkers are out there. G&F has prioritized many of the small drinkers to get rebuilt to turn them into the 30,000 gallon drinkers that elk can use for a season before they dry. In the meantime the WMs try to keep them full and we are proud to assist with these chores. In times like this of severe drought they need all the help they can get. This is part of what conservation of wildlife is all about. Getting involved.

To all those that have helped by attending banquets, making donations and volunteering - THANK YOU. To those that don't have the funds think about volunteering. Next time you are going out to do some scouting check out the AES Facebook and website to see if there is a project or need for volunteers in that area and stop by for a day or even half a day to help. You will find a bunch of great volunteers that may have some good info about the type of animals you are looking for.

[rthrbhntng]

Water is life in Arizona.

The more reliable water we can provide for wildlife the healthier the cow elk are that are nursing their young, the better we can distribute the elk for the forage use to keep them healthier, and obviously the better the antler growth. There are many areas in elk range that have good forage but no water, there are huge grassland restorations going on in Arizona that have little water in the immediate area - this is part of the tank clean out and water catchment focus this year and next, getting more water to these areas. Join a group and help out, we can always use more help from those that know the areas. $40 a year is not much to be able to help and GET INVOLVED! Take some time and learn about the groups like the AES and you will find like minded folks that are working hard for the wildlife you enjoy. It is Conservation.

The last 4 Tracker Magazines are always posted for anyone to read on the AES website, www.arizonaelksociety.org, at the bottom of the Home Page.

If you do decide to become a member of the Arizona Elk Society between now we will extend your membership until the end of 2015.

Thanks for your support.

[trphyhntr]

@Stanley, you got me all wrong dude. i don't mind if AZGFD uses funds to actually help out, that's what we pay them for. i would think that helping to organize the wildlife organizations is part of their job. might be able to consolidate some big jobs. or maybe that's not their responsibility. i know that on the front page of AZGFD theyre asking for volunteers on a couple things. i get it, people want to get out and help. where does the money go that they save though? im sorry, i just think of AZGFD like the IRS or FDA, theyre just government to me. i do think $13 app fees are ridiculous but that's another story.

[rthrbhntng]

G&F does help to organize the groups. There are only a couple of groups that have the capacity to do the day to day work. Most of the groups are volunteers that have real jobs and don't have the time during the day to have meetings and such.

There are many parts of G&F that the groups are involved in such as the Hunter and Angler Work Group - made up of 45-60 groups. G&F coordinates all the HAHWG Outdoor Skills hunting camps.

There is the Habitat Partnership Committee that many of the groups are involved in that design, coordinate and fund habitat projects for wildlife. The HPC uses the funds from the sale of the Auction Tags for on the ground projects and research, all coordinated by G&F.

There is the Local Sportsman's Grant Program that is coordinated by G&F and the groups for camps for youth, women and new hunters.

There are many coordination meetings and lots of opportunity for groups to get involved with direction from G&F. Every 60 days the G&F holds the Sportsman's Roundtable meeting to go over issues and things. This is part of their outreach to get the groups more involved.

Their are lots of committees set up through G&F that have seats available for sportsmen and groups.

Now add in the Forest Service, BLM, State Lands and other agencies and the work load triples.

[naturebob]

Trphyhunter, Didn't mean a personal attack.Ya I think game and fish should do more to help the water situation too. I ddon't think there fees are to high, there are in line with other States. Wages are to low in AZ. Thats why I had to leave and work in the oil after 34 years.and I couldnt afford a life time lic. when I left. I think every one that hunt should help out in some form if they can in a water crisis............BOB!

[trphyhntr]

I hear ya. that's why I haven't been bathing everyday and only drink beer and fireball whiskey. just trying to do my part.

[johnnie blaze]

Does RMEF contribute to this problem?

[trphyhntr]

you must have saw me at the banquet a couple years ago. they wont let me back.

[rthrbhntng]

We posted a bunch of pictures and there is some great info on the water program on our Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/ArizonaElkSociety

[coueswt]

Azsagebrush. Did you get any rain today? The weather app on my phone said rain today so I'm hoping it is correct.

[firstcoueswas80]

Beautiful picture.

 

[CWpredator]

Hopefully it keeps this up an the moisture keeps hitten 9. Keep the kitchen full so the bulls grow. Come on September 12th

[azsagebrush]

We did get a little surprise today:)