More OPPORTUNITY

[bowsniper]

Even though I am convinced that they will do what they want to regardless of hunter input, I'll be at the PHX meeting to gripe.

 

Mark

[Red Rabbit]

Reminder: Phoenix and Mesa meetings are tonight, 6-8 PM

 

Mesa, June 18, Arizona Game and Fish Department Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive.

 

Phoenix, June 18, Wildlife Building at the Arizona State Fairgrounds, 1826 W. McDowell Road.

[Dan H]

Went to the Mesa meeting and only about 14 people showed up???????

People are really going to need to send their comments thru the mail and internet to make the slightest difference here.

Buck to doe ratio is looking at being reduced to increase the number of tags that can't be good.

 

There was some good concern about deer and elk poulations, and increased opportunity for kids, but it really sounds like the surveys they take are the deciding factors in all the departments decisions.

Quantity over quality is where it's going.

I was really expecting more people to show up.

What happened to everyone from this site?

 

I left with the same opinion I've had for quite some time now, if I want to hunt deer or elk. I'd be better off trying for the high quantity draws and continue to pack it in miles to make it a quality hunt.

 

Dan

[bowsniper]

The Phoenix meeting had about 30 people attend, 3 anti-hunters, and a lot of BS and lip service from the fish police.

 

Mark

[peloncillo]

I think you said it pretty well Mark, They kept stressing oppertunity over quality. One minute he said everything is based on hunter survey cards and the next minute he said they don't need them. I just hope when my boys get old enough to hunt Arizona will still have some trophy animals in it.

 

Keven

[bowhunter4life]

I was there also,They have an agenda. They still think, by having poor quality hunts and more tags will make hunters happy.How do they base everything on returned cards by a small % of hunters. They can not manage there mandatory deer harvest and give exact numbers of deer harvest per unit very frustrating meeting

[Basser15]

Made it to the Mesa meeting tonight(in a blue collared shirt, came in late) and thought that many of their ideals are contradicted by their actions. Leonard said my ideas were in the minority according to the survey and I'm starting to believe it after seeing so few people really seem to care and take our hunting seriously.

[jnobleinaz]

I guess I am really pissed off this morning after going to the Phoenix meeting last night I kept hearing the same thing. Oppurtunity Oppurtunity. But the biggest part that gets me is like people have said before is the way they collect their data. The numbers can no way even be close to what they say with the small percentage of hunters that respond. And then in the same breath they said they really dont need to have accurate numbers for herd control. But the numbers do seem to be enough to change hunts around. That is totally unacceptable to me I kept asking for as I have done via email to get mandatory reporting through, but the same old answer is that is to inconvenient for hunter retention and recruitment. Dont send me a survey card send me a return envelope and I will send my tag back if unused or a card with my kill info. If I dont, no hunting for me next year. We need them to do something and the changes they are making are disguised as small but down the road they could be devastating. I DO NOT believe that they will give those archery areas back to us if the numbers fall below there target area because we already know they dont need accurate numbers for herd control. What a joke!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!All you archery guys that didnt go there are a lot of units where they want to drop dec bow hunt.

[CouesWhitetail]

Thanks for the reports on the meetings guys. For those that weren't able to attend you can still send comments in by mail or email. here is the info from the AGFD website regarding that. But you only have until June 25 to send in written comments. Also there are a still meetings scheduled. (see below for meeting schedule)

 

 

The proposed two-year hunt guideline packet is now posted on the department’s Web site at azgfd.gov. The department has scheduled a series of public meetings across the state on the proposed guidelines. Comments can be submitted at the meetings, or written comment can be submitted until June 25, either by e-mail to azgamebranch@azgfd.gov, by mail to Game Branch, Arizona Game and Fish Department, 2221 W. Greenway Road, Phoenix, AZ 85023, or by fax to (602) 789-3929.

 

 

Remaining public meetings regarding the hunt guidelines:

 

Yuma, June 20, Arizona Game and Fish Department Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.

 

 

Kingman, June 20, Arizona Game and Fish Department Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road.

 

 

Payson, June 21, the Payson Inn (the night before the Game and Fish Commission meeting there), 801 N. Beeline Highway (Highway 87).

 

 

Page, June 21, National Park Service Headquarters conference room, 691 Scenic View Drive (just off Highway 89 between the Denny’s and the Maverick).

[Red Rabbit]

During the Phoenix/Mesa meetings, did they say how the alternative management units would have their coues permit numbers altered by going to up to 30% of the harvest in December?

 

Did they say what the proposed number of permits might be for any units if they go to 4 coues hunts and reduce the number of December permits to less than 5%?

 

Did they say anything about possible confusion by having units go in and out of the draw for archery deer from year to year?

 

Did they give an estimate on number of permits to be issued for archery Kaibab and compared to what the number of hunters are up there in recent years?

 

If hunter recruitment is an issue, why did they up the number of youth tags from 2% to only 3%?

[CouesWhitetail]

Doug, you might email your questions directly to Leonard or Brian. They should be able to provide answers.

 

For those that want to get more involved, there is a ADA meeting tonight at 6:30 in PHX. I expect Leonard will be at the AZ Deer Assoc meeting tonight and those that have more questions can ask him at that meeting. here is the info on our annual members meeting. This is a good chance to come and see what the ADA is about.

 

 

Arizona Deer Association

 

Annual Meeting of Members

 

 

Tuesday, June 19, 2007 • 6:30 pm

 

University of Phoenix - West Learning Campus

 

9520 West Palm Lane

 

Phoenix, Arizona 85037

 

 

 

From the east side take I-10 west to 91st Ave. Exit and go north to McDowell. Turn left (west) to 95th Ave. Turn right to Palm Ln. Turn left to UOP campus. Have caution when entering driveway, since dip is severe.

 

From the west side take Loop 101 south to McDowell. Exit and go east (left) on McDowell. Continue under Loop 101. Access can be made at the first left prior to 95th Ave or at 95th Ave. Go north into the parking lot.

[AZcoues_addict]

The december coues tags they proposed will be no more than 5%, with the exception of the alternative managment units. I suggest you write the G&F if anyone does not support this!!!

 

As for archery:

The archery deer permits would be sampled for a 4-5 year term average, and not on a yearly basis. Therefore, archery permits would be on a draw only basis for specific units with an average harvest over 20% for this term, not yearly. My issue with this proposal is that they stated only around 33% of archery and 52% of rifle hunters return surveys, and this is the data and "model" they use for harvest data, which is not accurate IMO but they state it is statistically representative? Proposals to change hunting structure, with nowhere near complete data, can EASILY have a statistical variance to create a draw unit vs. a non-draw unit, especially when most of these units are only in the 20-30% harvest. Also, don't you think if they propose to create such a fine line in the sand, then they should also propose a better way of collecting more accurate data?

 

I saw many other units in addtion to all north of the grand canyon that would fall into this category as they proposed. If I remember correctly, I saw units 1, 3A/3C, 7, 12's, 13's, 22, 23, 17A?, 35A, 42? I could be wrong, and there were definitely more units I have left out!

 

I think the most agreeable compromise or solution was an archery harvest quota per these units? I'm for this solution if a change is a must. Bottom line is they want to control the archery harvest in these units.

 

My alternate suggestion if a draw is inevitable (my last choice) is an separate archery draw, limiting these tags in these units the same way they propose, but therefore not restricting rifle draw and bonus points? I think the main issue is that their proposal will limit opportunity and contrasts what they state their goal is, and I think the current system provides an abundant opportunity by providing us with the option to hold two tags? In my proposal, the archery bonus point would be totally separate from rifle, and this archery tag would still apply statewide in other hunt units that are not restricted by harvest. You could then possess two separate tags the same way currently, you won't have to be restricted to choose between archery or rifle and waste your bonus points on archery in these units, and they would have their harvest management tool? It seems like a compromise, but I haven't got much feedback yet?

[DesertBull]

NM makes all deer hunters report their harvest or they cannot apply the following year, why can't AZ do this?

 

I would rather have to draw an archery tag then have them take away the December / January hunts. I think it stinks, but honestly, most other western states (many of which have deer numbers far greater than AZ) have already gone to draw tags for archery. Depending on how many archery tags they issue, I can imagine that there would be quite a few leftover tags that could be had after the draw that would not require burning bonus points.

 

So, if they do go to a draw, would you also have to choose which season you hunt or would the tag be good for all archery seasons?

 

There are a few southern AZ units that have no early archery hunts right now. If they went to a draw and added these units to the early hunts, I would apply for them.

[jnobleinaz]

NM makes all deer hunters report their harvest or they cannot apply the following year, why can't AZ do this?

 

I would rather have to draw an archery tag then have them take away the December / January hunts. I think it stinks, but honestly, most other western states (many of which have deer numbers far greater than AZ) have already gone to draw tags for archery. Depending on how many archery tags they issue, I can imagine that there would be quite a few leftover tags that could be had after the draw that would not require burning bonus points.

 

So, if they do go to a draw, would you also have to choose which season you hunt or would the tag be good for all archery seasons?

 

There are a few southern AZ units that have no early archery hunts right now. If they went to a draw and added these units to the early hunts, I would apply for them.

 

They said it would be a "Barrier" for hunters to have mandatory hunt reports. That is my biggest bitch. You want to restructure hunts then get some good data to do so. I am like most of you guys I put in for deer but buy an archery tag anyway and like having the choice on what unit I like to hunt in. To me it is no more of a "Barrier" than having to fill out an application for a tag to have a mandatory report once they started it everyone would get used to it. But taking away the chance to go out in dec is a joke. I don't know if you guys know but there are some anti's that buy tags and report kills also.

[muskrat]

A barrier? Where I grew up (and in Maine too) you had to keep your deer in view, and go to the nearest check-in station. That's just the way it was. No one there thought it was a "barrier"... well, except maybe the dishonest people.

 

My wife was in the hospital last night; I will submit written comments.