2010 Banquet & Major Event Schedule

March 27-28 Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Expo

April 10-11 Arizona Bowhunter’s Association’s 2nd leg (Rumble in the Rocks) of the 2010 Triple Crown. Click on the link above for more information or contact Stony Amerine at 623-204-8659 or at amerines7@aol.com.

May 1-2 Arizona Bowhunter’s Association’s 3rd leg (Pinal Mountain Gathering) of the 2010 Triple Crown. Click on the link above for more information or contact Stoney Amerine at 623-204-8659 or at amerines7@aol.com.

May 8 Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Annual Steak Fry at Cave Creek Park (37019 N. Lave Ln. 85331, Cave Creek). For more information call 480-854-8950.

May 15 Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation Annual Sportsmen’s Heritage Banquet with special Guest Governor Sarah Palin at the JW Marriott at Desert Ridge.

May 22-23 Southeastern Arizona Sportsman’s Club’s “3-D Shoot” at Blackjack Campgrounds on the AZ/NM border. For more information contact Gila Outdoor (3660 W. Main St. Thatcher, AZ 85552) at 928-348-0710.

June 5 Arizona Deer Association Fundraising Banquet. Chaparral Suites Resorts, 5001 N. Scottsdale Rd at 4:00 PM. For more information call 480-854-8950.

July 10 Arizona Chapter Safari Club International Annual Banquet at Ventana Canyon, details TBA. For more information call 520-490-8367.

July 15 Arizona Game and Fish Department Big Game Super Raffle Drawing

July 23-25 Arizona Bowhunter’s Association’s 4th leg (Bowhunter Happening) of the 2010 Triple Crown at Sunrise Park Resort. Click on the linkabove for more information or contact Stoney Amerine at 623-204-8659 or at amerines7@aol.com.

July 23-25 Arizona Trapper’s Association Annual Convention, Gila County Fairgrounds. For more information call 928-674-3355

July 30 National Wild Turkey Federation (Huachuca Golds Chapter) The Knight’s of Columbus Hall, 156 W. Kayetan Dr., Sierra Vista 85635. For more information call 520-378-0478

October 30 Arizona Antelope Foundation’s “Arizona Conservation Awards Banquet” El Zaribah Shrine, 552 N. 40th St. Phoenix. More information is forthcoming

September TBA Anglers United Annual Fundraiser Banquet, Grace Inn, 10831 S. 51st St. Phoenix 85044
December 10 Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club Annual Dinner Banquet. For more information call 928-344-9323.

2010 Conservation Projects and Mentored Hunt Calendar

Arizona Antelope Foundation
April 10 work project Hope 3 Canyon Clear Creek Ranch. For more information please email info@azantelope.org.

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society
April 10 High Tank #3 in Unit 45B, KOFA

April 24 Powell’s Monument in Unit 12B, Paria Plateau
*For more information on ADBSS events call 480-854-8950

Arizona Elk Society
April 16-18 AES-NWTF Youth Turkey Camp Unit 23

June 11-13 Annual Burro Creek/26 Bar Adopt-a-Ranch Project, Big Lake area

June 18-20 Wapiti Weekend, Springerville, AZ

July 17 (Tentative) Buck Springs Work Project

July 31 AES Elk Clinic, FOP Lodge 19th Ave. between Cactus and Thunderbird

October 7-10, Junior Elk Camp, Unit 6A, Happy Jack Lodge

Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club
April 2, Youth Fishing Derby, for more information call 928-580-7752

October 1-2, Coyote/Quail Hunt, for more information call 928-783-8110

2010 Conservation Board & Membership Meetings
Arizona Deer Assoc Board Meeting, March 16 and April 20 @ 6:30 PM, University of Phoenix Campus, 4635 E. Elwood (3-story building), Room # 7, Phoenix. Call 480-854-8950 for more information.

Yuma Valley Rod & Gun Club Board Meeting, March 24 and April 21.

Yuma Valley Rod & Gun Club Membership Meeting, April 7 @ 6:00 PM, American Legion Post 19, 2575 S. Virginia Drive, Yuma

Southern Arizona Wildlife Callers Board Meeting, March 16 and April 13, FOP Lodge 3445 North Dodge, Tucson

Southern Arizona Wildlife Callers General Club meeting March 11 and April 8, FOP Lodge 3445 North Dodge, Tucson

Chandler Rod & Gun Club Board Meeting, March 17 and April 21 @ 6:30 PM, Bass Pro Shop

Chandler Rod & Gun Club General Club Meeting, March 10 and April 14 @ 6:30PM, Chandler Community Center

Desert Christian Archers Member Meeting, March 16 and April 20 @ 7:00 PM, Calvary Community Church, Room 204, 12612 N. Black Canyon Highway, Phoenix

Arizona Flycasters General Meeting, March 11 and April 8 @ 7:00 PM, Sunnyslope Community Center, Phoenix

Arizona Flycaster Board Meeting, March 18 and April 15 @ 7:00 PM, Sunnyslope Community Center, Phoenix.

Arizona Predator Callers, March 11 and April 8 @ 7:00 PM, Mesa FOP Lodge, 1452 E. Main

Phoenix Varmint Callers, April 6 and May 4 @ 7:00PM, FOP Lodge #2, 12851 N. 19th Ave. Phoenix

Desert Fly Casters Board Meeting, March 17 and April 21 @ 7:00 PM, El Penasco Mexican Kitchen, 19 E. Broadway Road, Tempe

Desert Fly Casters Club Meeting, March 10 and April 14 @ 7:00 PM, American Legion Post #2, 2125 S. Industrial Path, Tempe.

Arizona Antelope Foundation Board Meeting, April 12 @ 6:30 PM, El Zaribah Shrine, 552 N. 40th Street, Phoenix

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Board Meeting, March 10 @ 7:00 PM, El Zaribah Shrine, 552 N. 40th Street, Phoenix

Arizona Elk Society Board Meeting- TBD
Southwest Walleye Anglers, General Meeting, March 16 and 18, for more information call 480-861-7898

Unit 37B – North 96 Hills Water Development Project – Volunteers Needed

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is requesting your assistance to help build a wildlife water catchment on the weekend of March 12-14th. We will be constructing a new water development in the 96 Hills in Game Management Unit 37B for wildlife, and we would greatly appreciate your help. We will be camping out close to the project site on Friday and Saturday nights (March 12th and 13th). Assistance would be greatly appreciated on Friday and/or Saturday if possible, even if you can only help for a day. Dinner will be provided on Saturday night for those who would like to relax around the campfire after a hard days work. Children are welcome.

What to bring: Hat, sunscreen, gloves, water and food (except for Saturday night) and a cordless drill if possible.

Directions:

From Tucson – Take Oracle Rd (Hwy 77) north to Oracle Jct. Go Left (west) on Hwy 79 toward Florence. Turn Right (east) at MP 119 on the 96 Ranch Rd. Drive east approximately 2.7 miles then turn left (north) and go approximately 2.2 miles until the road spits again. Take the right (east) fork and follow the signs from here.

From Phoenix – Take Highway 60 east to Florence Junction. Go south on Highway 79 and go through the town of Florence like you are heading toward Tucson. Turn left (east) at MP 119 on the 96 Ranch Rd. Drive east approximately 2.7 miles then turn left (north) and go approximately 2.2 miles until the road spits again. Take the right (east) fork and follow the signs from here.

Contact: If you are interested in helping out, please contact Ben Brochu at (520) 229-3222 or bbrochu@azgfd.gov for more information. Please RSVP if possible so I know how many people to cook for – Thanks.

Lend a hand at the Alamo Lake cleanup on March 6

A fishing hot spot needs your help – the Alamo Lake clean up is set for Saturday, March 6 starting at 8 a.m.

Arizona Game and Fish Department experts predict that this 2,500-surface-acre desert lake west of Wickenburg will be one of the state’s hottest fishing spots this year.

“The problem is, Alamo needs to be cleaned up,” said Wildlife Manager Stew Kohnke. “The solution? Come join the volunteers and department employees cleaning up the shoreline at the Alamo Lake Wildlife Area.”

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is holding its 11th annual Alamo Lake cleanup March 6 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. In the past 10 years, volunteers have picked up over 23 dump trucks full of trash from around Alamo Lake.

“Volunteers have removed everything from a kitchen sink to an old truck frame including the engine block,” says Kohnke. “This is a great opportunity to give something back to a lake that so many people enjoy.”

The department will provide boat transportation and trash bags for those who do not have them. The Alamo State Park will waive camp and launch fees for participants staying at the Cholla Campground Group Use Area. Registration begins at 6 p.m. on Friday, March 5 and runs through March 6 at the group use area.

Williams Ranger District seeks public comment on Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment

The Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has released its Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment for public review and comment. The document and accompanying maps are available on the Kaibab National Forest Web site at http://fs.usda.gov/kaibab.

Forest managers are seeking input on the environmental assessment, which includes the proposed actions to improve the management of motorized vehicle use on the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest. In addition to the proposed action (Alternative 2), the document includes descriptions of the other action alternatives that were developed.

The Williams Ranger District will host a community meeting on the Travel Management Project Environmental Assessment in order to provide an opportunity for the public to review information contained in the document, view large-scale maps of the proposed project, and submit comments. The meeting is scheduled for March 6 from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Williams Recreation Center in downtown Williams, 301 Railroad Ave. A previous meeting was held in Williams on Feb. 24.

The public can also submit written, faxed or e-mailed comments to the Forest Service. All comments must be received by March 9. Written comments must be submitted to Martie Schramm, Williams District Ranger, 742 S. Clover Rd., Williams, AZ 86046 or by fax to (928) 635-5680. Hand-delivered comments must be submitted between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday excluding holidays. Electronic comments must be submitted in a format such as an e-mail message, plain text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf), or Word (.doc) to comments-southwestern-kaibab-williams@fs.fed.us.

Recent condor mortalities used to expand conservation efforts

After three years without a confirmed mortality from lead poisoning, three California condors have recently died from the biggest challenge to the species’ recovery. The condors, including a female and her chick from the previous year, were recovered by The Peregrine Fund.

Necropsies to determine the cause of death were performed at the San Diego Zoo’s Institute for Conservation Research. Testing confirmed the presence of lead fragments in the digestive tracts of all three birds. Lead shuts down the condors’ digestive system, which leads to starvation, weakness and death.

“While the deaths of a breeding female and her wild-hatched chick are a significant loss, condor conservation has been gaining ground since lead poisoning was first identified as a leading cause of mortality and we began to educate hunters about the effects of spent lead on condors,” said biologist Chris Parish, head of The Peregrine Fund’s condor recovery operation in Arizona. “But, as the condor recovery program progresses, new challenges have been identified.”

The three dead birds had been outfitted with tracking equipment that allowed field biologists to monitor daily movements. In recent years, that radio tracking data has identified increased use of southern Utah as a major foraging area for the flock.

“When we first reintroduced condors to northern Arizona in 1996, the birds primarily foraged closer to home,” said Parish. “Now that we have observed the condors expanding their range into Utah and foraging more frequently outside of the local release area, conservation partners are working with Utah and its hunters to reduce the amount of spent lead ammunition available to condors in gut piles and carcasses left in the field.”

The Peregrine Fund tries to capture all condors twice yearly to test for lead exposure, the leading cause of condor death. Birds with high blood lead concentrations are treated with chelation therapy to reduce the lead in their system. Condors are scavengers, and research in the last five years has proven that they consume tiny fragments of lead in the remains of gunshot animals.

To aid condor conservation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department started a non-lead ammunition outreach program in 2003 to hunters drawn for hunts in the condor’s core range. Surveys show that 85 percent of hunters took voluntary measures in 2009 to reduce the amount of available spent lead ammunition in the condor’s core range.

Now the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources is implementing a similar program for hunters on the Zion unit in southwestern Utah.

“We’ve started educating our hunters about the effect that lead ammunition has on condors,” said Jim Parrish, nongame avian coordinator for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. “The next thing we’re going to do is give everyone who hunts on the Zion unit a coupon for a free box of non-lead ammunition.”

Condor conservation partners include The Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Utah Wildlife in Need, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

For more information on condor conservation and non-lead ammunition, visit www.peregrinefund.org or www.azgfd.gov/condor.

Good job by AZGFD and remember, these are a different sub-species than the pronghorn you see north of Phoenix and beyond. ~DesertRat

Plan seeks to further recover endangered Sonoran pronghorn

Public input sought on establishing new breeding locations, experimental populations

PHOENIX — On the brink of disappearing from the United States with only 21 animals remaining in 2002, the endangered Sonoran pronghorn population in the U.S. is growing. An estimated 68 animals grace the landscape, thanks in part to extensive cooperative management efforts, captive breeding, irrigation for forage and protection from predation. Now, the species is ready for the next step — recovery.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has drafted an environmental assessment (EA) as part of the process to establish a second U.S. population into its historical habitats of southwestern Arizona. The two areas being considered are in the King Valley of the Kofa National Wildlife Refuge (Kofa NWR) and the Barry M. Goldwater Range-East (BMGR-E).

To allow for greater management flexibility in the reintroduction effort, the plan proposes that these new populations be designated as “experimental, nonessential populations” as classified under section 10(j) of the Endangered Species Act.

On Feb. 23, a public information session on the proposal will be held from 4:30-5:30 p.m., followed by a public hearing from 7-8:30 p.m. on the experimental population designation. The event will be held at the Gila Bend High School located at 308 N. Martin Ave. in Gila Bend. Written and oral comments will be collected at the hearing.

In addition to the meeting opportunity, the public can submit comments on the proposals by:

U.S. mail: Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, Attention: Refuge Manager, 1611 N. Second Ave., Ajo, AZ 85321
Fax: (520) 387-5359
E-mail: James_Atkinson@fws.gov
Online: www.regulations.gov, reference document id FWS-R2-ES-2009-0077
The draft environment assessment for establishing additional locations and the Federal Register listing proposing the populations as experimental are available for review at www.fws.gov/southwest/es/Library under “documents added within last 90 days” or by contacting the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge at (520) 387-6483.

“10(j) designation goes a long ways towards facilitating the actual release of animals on the ground,” said Eric Gardner, nongame branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “The experimental designation allows a more collaborative approach, garners support, and helps develop partnerships between stakeholders, landowners, and other federal, state and local officials.”

Previous reintroduction efforts of endangered species using 10(j) classification include the black-footed ferret and the California condor.

Gardner added, “Multiple populations for a species are critical to recovery efforts and are more desirable than one population because they help prevent a single regional catastrophic event (e.g., disease, weather events, high predation rate) from causing the entire species or population to disappear from an area or altogether become extinct.”

For a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service fact sheet on experimental populations, visit www.fws.gov/southwest/docs/ES10jFactSheet.pdf.

To learn more about the Sonoran pronghorn, one of five subspecies of the American pronghorn, visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov.

Public forums, open houses scheduled for 2010 fall hunting regulations

Feb. 17, 2010

Hunt guidelines, science-based surveys, and public input shape recommendations

PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department is hosting a series of public forums followed by open houses across the state to allow constituents an opportunity to provide their input, learn about the process, and then see the preliminary hunt recommendation package before it is set by the commission in April.

“If you have ever wondered, why did the Department recommend an increase or decrease in harvest in your favorite unit, these public forums offer that level of explanation,” said Brian Wakeling, chief of game management. “You will get to hear from a representative who has the knowledge from the survey data, hunter surveys, as well as the on-the-ground reports from wildlife managers.”

Wakeling added, “This improved hunt recommendation process allows us more flexibility in hearing from our constituents and making modifications, if they are warranted, before presenting the package to the commission.”

Each Arizona Game and Fish region will be hosting a public forum and providing details about the populations within their jurisdiction. This means that if you have interest in a particular unit, you will need to attend the public meeting in that region to discuss management direction.

Public forum dates, times and locations are:

Wednesday, Feb. 24, 6-8 p.m. – Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road

Thursday, March 4, 6-8 p.m. – Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.

Thursday, March 4, 6-8 p.m. – Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road

Monday, March 8, 3-5 p.m. – Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
Note: When you attend this meeting, ask at the front counter about this topic. Expect an informal atmosphere because of ongoing construction on the conference room at the Flagstaff office.

Wednesday, March 10, 6-8 p.m. – Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive

Monday, March 15, 6-8 p.m. – Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
The final draft of the hunt recommendations will be made available for public review through six regional open houses prior to being presented to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. No formal presentation will be made. However, a knowledgeable staff person will be available to discuss regional hunt recommendations.

A PDF version will be available at the Game and Fish Department’s Web site beginning Saturday, April 3 at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Open house dates, times and locations are:

Wednesday, April 7, 3-5 p.m. – Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road

Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.

Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road

Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.

Monday, April 12, 3-5 p.m. – Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive

Wednesday, April 14, 3-5 p.m. – Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road
Each year, the department makes recommendations to the commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trapping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas, and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The final proposed recommendations will be presented to the commission for consideration during its April 16-17 meeting in Phoenix at the department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix (1.5 miles west of I-17). The agenda will be posted at www.azgfd.gov/commission under commission agenda.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the five-member civilian policy setting board expressly developed to avoid undue politics into wildlife management; ensure citizen participation; provide recreational opportunities through stewardship; and ensure ethical and prudent operation of the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

The Game and Fish Department operates on revenue-driven “user pay, user benefit” business model and relies on non-tax dollars – it receives no tax money from the state’s general fund. To learn more, visit www.azgfd.gov/heritagefund.

You are cordially invited to:

The Phoenix Chapter 2010 Fundraiser
The Scottsdale Resort
7700 E. McCormick Parkway
Scottsdale, Arizona

Tickets $75.00 includes both nights

If you are unable to attend both nights, we will accept separate ticket holders for each night. Please be sure to detach Friday’s and Saturday’s tickets.

March 26th 6:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Cocktail party, Apetizers, Meet the Outfitters, & Free SCI Measuring Event
Door Prizes and Raffle!

March 27th 4:00 – 9:00 P.M.
Cocktails & Silent Auction 4:00
Doors Open 4:30 Dinner 5:30
Auction Starts 6:15
Door Prizes – Raffle – Auction

Many Hunts/Vacations & Firearms for Raffle and auction
Complete list to be on website closer to event

****Navajo Nation Special Season Elk Permit****

*Available hunt dates to ensure hunt during Rut*

~AND~
Navajo Trophy Deer Permit

New Zealand Red Stag Colorado Elk Hunt

Oregon Blacktail Argentina Axis Deer

Iowa or Missouri Whitetail Cape Buffalo

Idaho White Water Rafting Jungle Fishing In Belize

Weatherby Sub-Moa .300 Win Mag ~ S&W Elite Side bySide 20 Gauge ~ CZ Ringneck Over/Under 28 Gauge
Winchester Model 70 Stainless .300 Win Mag

Outside bidders MUST submit and confirm all bids 24 hours prior to event

For Tickets:

To Pay with Check:

Please complete the registration form and mail with payment to:
P.O. Box 51138, Phoenix, AZ 85076-1138

to pay with Credit Card:
Call Danell at 480-496-0701 or 480-650-1461

For more info please visit our website

www.phxsci.org

It’s nice to see the Az Republic covering this. It’s cool to see some success for the Sonoran Pronghorn. This is a conservation project that I hope continues well into the future. ~DesertRat

Read the full article here: Project near Ajo gives pronghorns second chance

Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

The gates slam shut.

A cloud of dust rises as a small herd of pronghorn looks for a way out of the corral. The endangered animals
have fed inside these small, circular corrals in the desert southwest of Phoenix for months, coming and going freely until one December morning the gates close.

The corrals are divided into three sections, and biologists open and close gates among these sections until a few of the caramel-colored animals are isolated in one. Five men slip inside and approach them with a long, black net, forcing the pronghorn into a narrow space. The air fills with dust, the sound of hooves and bleating as men and women step behind the animals, grab their legs and slip blindfolds over them. The pronghorn are then carried outside, where biologists begin their work, giving shots and taking genetic samples.

The sun burns brightly, and some of the animals are sprayed with water. The smell of wet fur hangs in the air.

Some animals will be turned back out into a breeding area; others will be released into the wild. Although the process takes only minutes, the biologists have worked toward this moment for years. The capture-and-release is part of an effort to help the animals regain a foothold here in the Sonoran Desert west of Ajo.

In 2002, there were only about 21 Sonoran pronghorn left in the United States. But their numbers are rising as researchers have collaborated to carve out a home on a wildlife refuge, expand the herd with a captive-breeding program and help the animals reclaim their range.

Read the rest of the story at the link above.

Game and Fish seeks ferret-finding volunteers
Spotlighting effort to document recovery progress

While the elusive, nocturnal, black-footed ferret has established a foothold in Aubrey Valley, the Arizona Game and Fish Department needs volunteers to help monitor progress in the recovery of the endangered animal.

As part of this effort, Game and Fish will be conducting a spotlighting event from March 25-29 and needs volunteer wildlife enthusiasts to help find the small predators.

“Since this program’s inception, volunteers have played a critical role in the recovery of this animal,” said Jeff Pebworth, wildlife program manager at the Game and Fish Kingman office. “We don’t have the personnel available to fully staff these efforts and the program’s continued success depends on people remaining involved.”

Twice thought to be extinct, a small population of black-footed ferrets was discovered in 1981. A mere 18 were left when captive breeding efforts began in 1985. In 1996, Arizona’s Aubrey Valley was selected as a reintroduction site.

The reintroduction of these rare animals in Arizona was possible because of state’s Heritage Fund which, when matched with federal dollars, accounts for the project’s funding. This, along with the dedication of volunteers, has made Arizona’s reintroduction effort a model for other sites to emulate.

Pebworth admitted that without the voter-approved initiative, which provides money through the Arizona Lottery, this effort would not have been possible.

“We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished in Arizona,” Pebworth said. “We’re restoring an animal that was absent from the state for about 65 years. It’s gratifying to know we’ve reached a point with this reintroduction where the population has continued to improve.”

Spotlighting is not easy, and Pebworth acknowledges that volunteers earn the right to brag about their participation in the recovery of this animal.

Volunteers must be able to stay attentive from sunset to sunrise, be able to carry up to 30 pounds while backpack-spotlighting for two-hour durations, and they must be willing to learn how to use a Global Positioning System (GPS).

Individuals can volunteer for one or more dates. A parent or guardian must accompany any youth under 18.

“This is a unique experience and provides volunteers with an opportunity to see the amount of effort involved with this reintroduction,” Pebworth said. “Not to mention the fact that people will have a chance to see an animal few others have ever encountered.”

Those wishing to volunteer, or needing more information, should e-mail azferret@azgfd.gov by March 19 with “March Spotlighting” in the subject line. Individuals should indicate which night(s) they are available to help; include a first and last name, a contact number, and if anyone else will be attending with them.

Additional information will be sent following contact, including meeting location and times.
Volunteers should also note any of the following equipment they can bring: GPS, clipboard, backpack (to carry a 30-pound battery), headlamp, pen, compass, binoculars, walkie-talkies, 4×4 vehicle (please list passenger capacity), compass, spotlight (that can plug into a cigarette lighter), or a cordless rechargeable spotlight.

It can be cool during the March event, so individuals need to dress appropriately.

“We’ve made progress,” Pebworth said, “but we’re a long way from recovery. It is critical we continue to document ferret numbers and understand how this population is holding up in the wild.”

Ever wonder where eagles go during the wintertime?

Find this out and more at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Annual Bald Eagle Workshop in Flagstaff on Saturday, Feb. 20.

The free workshop will be divided into two sessions; each one will include an informative lecture followed by a field trip to observe eagles. The first session will begin at 9 a.m. and the second at 11 a.m.

The lectures will be held at the Law Enforcement Administration Facility (LEAF) at 911 Sawmill Road in Flagstaff, which is the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office facility.

Biologists from the department will discuss bald eagle management and research in Arizona. The day will also include the opportunity to see a live bald eagle up close and personal, and a chance to talk with dedicated individuals from Liberty Wildlife Rehabilitation Foundation.

“The primary goal of the workshop is to educate people about eagles in Arizona but also to show the importance of wildlife management and the cooperation involved,” says Shelly Shepherd, information and education program manager for the department’s Flagstaff region. “This is a popular workshop and we are happy to see such an interest in our Arizona wildlife.”

Anyone interested in attending will need to register with the Game and Fish Flagstaff office at (928) 774-5045 by 3 p.m. on Friday Feb. 19. People are reminded to dress appropriately for weather conditions, bring binoculars, bird field guidebooks, snacks and water. Be advised field trips may be cancelled due to weather conditions.

Have a heart:
Join Valentine’s Day bike run for sick and injured wildlife

Looking for something different to do with your Valentine this year?

What better way to celebrate the occasion than on the back of a motorcycle enjoying Arizona’s landscape, all while benefiting sick and injured wildlife?

Riders are invited to participate in the family-friendly “Bikers Soar for Wildlife Poker Run” on Feb. 14. The fundraiser helps with the care and rehabilitation of animals at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Center, and is hosted by the center’s auxiliary.

“Flowers and candy are nice, but this bike run is an opportunity for you and your Valentine to spend the day together doing something different, all while helping raise money for wildlife rehabilitation and education,” says Sandy Cate, coordinator of the Wildlife Center. “The whole family is sure to have fun with a variety of activities, including the poker run, plus wildlife exhibits, a live band, and a raffle for prizes that include NASCAR and NHRA pit passes.”

Riders will enjoy approximately 130 miles of scenic Arizona, beginning at Arrowhead Harley Davidson at 16130 Fountain Center in Peoria and ending at Dillon’s at Lake Pleasant’s Scorpion Bay Marina.

Throughout the route, riders will stop at designated locations to collect a playing card, with the best hand of five cards winning a prize at the end of the ride. Even the non-riders in the family can partake by joining riders after 12 p.m. to enjoy the activities at the final destination.

The tax-deductible cost to participate is $25 per rider or $30 per rider and passenger with lunch provided to all registered riders. This reduced pre-registration cost is offered through Feb. 1, and the first 300 registrants will receive a free event T-shirt and a 5-year anniversary ride pin.

After Feb. 1, the cost to participate will be $30 per rider or $35 per rider and passenger. Registration begins at 8 a.m. on the day of the event. For more information and to register, visit the Wildlife Center’s volunteer auxiliary Web site at www.azwildlifecenter.net/events or call (623) 587-0139.

Founded in May 1983, the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Wildlife Center treats more than 1,000 sick and injured animals annually, and provides wildlife education to local schools and outreach to community groups. The center’s mission is carried out with a small budget from the state’s Heritage Fund, making fundraising an important contributor to the care of the animals.

The Heritage Fund, a voter-passed initiative, was started in 1990 to further conservation efforts in the state, including protecting endangered species, educating children about wildlife, helping urban residents to better coexist with wildlife, and creating new opportunities for outdoor recreation. Funding comes from Arizona Lottery ticket sales.