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Arizona Dove Hunting Season Should Be Just Like The Good Old Days
1 million acres opened to hunting; 10 white-winged dove limits; all day hunts.

Arizona Dove Hunting Season Should Be Just Like The Good Old Days

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Arizona Game and Fish has turned back the hands-of-time for dove hunters, with the launching of the new 2011-12 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed Pigeon regulations that are now available online at www.azgfd.gov/dove.

“For those of us with a little gray hair, the upcoming September 1st dove season will feel like a hunt from the olden’ days, now that we can once again hunt on much of the open, undeveloped public lands within municipalities, such as Phoenix,” said Rory Aikens, a public information officer with the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the past two decades.

A number of changes have been made to the dove regulations that have removed many barriers to this Arizona hunting tradition, most notably:

• Hunting access re-opened to approximately a million acres of open uninhabited lands within municipalities
• Daily bag limit increased for white-winged dove to 10 birds
• Hunting hours extended until sunset statewide

The increased access is a result of two recently revised state laws. Those changes transferred the authority to regulate the use of firearms for the take of wildlife within municipal boundaries to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission.

Because of these changes, dove hunters will no longer have to drive long distances to partake in this Arizona hunting tradition.

However, Game and Fish has taken a prudent approach in its deployment of these shifted authorities and has closed hunting in many well-defined, densely populated metro areas. The flip side of this for dove hunters, especially those in the Phoenix metro area, is you will now be able to easily determine where you can and cannot hunt doves.

The closed to hunting boundaries are well defined in the notes section of the 2011-12 Arizona Dove and Band-tailed pigeon regulations. For the Phoenix metropolitan area, there is a map showing where you can and cannot hunt. The area is bounded by readily discernable roadways or waterways, such as the Gila River, and is available at www.azgfd.gov/dove.

At first glance, these regulations may seem more complicated than in years past. However, with this one-stop resource comes some complexities. Hunters need to thoroughly understand the notes section before they go hunting.

“A perfect example are the lands along the Carefree Highway corridor, between I-17 and US Route 60. These lands are primarily wide-open desert, but they fall within the city limits of Phoenix and Peoria. Before the law change, it was illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits, making hunting in these safe, open, unpopulated fringe areas also illegal – that is no longer the case,” said Aikens.

In addition to the closed area descriptions, hunters are reminded of the quarter-mile law, and while that is a minimum, responsible, ethical hunters will find an area where there is plenty of open space in all directions to hunt, in order to prevent any conflicts with other recreationists or homeowners, and to have an enjoyable hunting experience.

The early dove season opens on a Thursday this year, and runs from Sept. 1-15, statewide, with a 10-bird daily bag limit of mourning or white-winged dove. Printed copies of the dove regulations are anticipated to be available the first week of August statewide at license dealers and Game and Fish offices.

Dove hunters are reminded they will need a general hunting license and an Arizona migratory bird stamp. Both are available online, at Game and Fish offices and licensed dealers.

Overall, dove populations are doing well in Arizona. Many farms are growing grains, including corn, which are excellent dove attractants. Working a corridor in these areas will bode well for many hunters.

In addition, monsoonal rains have been adequate throughout the state bringing much needed new growth to desert flora, another excellent dove attractant. Finding a lone water tank in these newly opened desert areas could also provide some fast wing shooting action.

In either case, success will come to those that scout their areas the weekend before they go hunting, as much can happen between now and that 3 a.m. wake up on opening day.

For more information about the recent law changes, the Phoenix metro no hunting map, a PDF copy of the dove regulations, or to buy your hunting license and dove stamp visit www.azgfd.gov/dove. Basic season information, boundary description, and other field reference facts are available for smartphone users at www.azgfd.gov/m.dove.

Looking To Try Dove Hunting?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has teamed up with local sportsmen-conservation organization to offer “how-to dove hunt” events that are designed for kids and for first-time hunters. These events are a great way to get a “hands on” experience hunting doves.

• Sept. 4-5, Juniors Dove Hunt – Robbins Butte Wildlife Area near Buckeye – Game and Fish actively manages the land, and due to the water corridor it is rich with mesquite trees, wildlife food crops, and nesting habitat that attracts an abundance of dove (white-winged and mourning) and other wildlife. Pancake breakfast provided, hosted by the Chandler Rod and Gun Club, for details visit www.azgfd.gov/dove.
• Sept. 10, First-time Hunters Dove Seminar and Hunt – East Valley (Phoenix/Mesa/Chandler) – This is for first-time hunters for kids and adults. A safety seminar will be held on Thursday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. and the hunt will be held on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 5 a.m. Some loaner shotguns and ammunition are available. Hosted by the Chandler Rod and Gun Club, contact David Carson at dcarson@azgfd.gov.

For a listing of other hunting events for youth and new hunters throughout the season, visit www.azgfd.gov/outdoorskills.

Cooking Your Harvest
After the hunt, you will have harvested a game bird that provides a rich, lean red meat, and when not overcooked it is superb in a number of recipes. When the meat is filleted off the breastplate bone, it offers even greater recipe adaptation. The type of seasonings and side dishes you choose can customize these common methods listed below greatly:

• Kabobs (dove and veggies)
• Wrapped and stuffed (bacon and hot pepper are common)
• Grilled (hot and fast)
• Sauté (garlic, teriyaki, etc.)
• Diced in chili (slow cooked with tomato base)

Dove hunting is a deep-rooted family tradition. When done properly, dove hunting is very safe, challenging, exciting, and provides a great meal.

When the season is over, clean and oil your shotgun, but don’t put it back into storage – the fall small game hunting season starts up Sept. 30, with quail, squirrel and more.

To get the latest hunting news, sign up for the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s e-news at www.azgfd.gov/signup and select Hunting Highlights and Wildlife News.

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Drawing Results Now Available For Arizona Fall Big Game Hunts
Many prime Coues deer tags and others remain; offered first-come, first-served.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Let the planning begin.

The drawing results for Arizona’s 2011 fall big game hunting permits are now available at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Draw results are also available by telephone at (602) 942-3000 by selecting option two.

The more than 107,000 applicants, an increase of 3 percent from last year, can find out if they were issued a permit-tag for deer, fall turkey, fall juniors-only javelina, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo, or pheasant by providing their sportsman’s ID and date of birth.

Game and Fish officials report that hunt permit-tags will be mailed out to successful applicants no later than Aug. 12 (archery deer tags will be mailed out earlier). Refunds for unsuccessful and rejected applicants will be mailed out to applicant “A” no later than Aug. 23 (less application fees).

For those individuals who missed the drawing application deadline or were unsuccessful in getting a permit-tag, there are more than 5,767 hunt permit-tags remaining. These remaining tags will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and include more than 4,600 deer tags, more than 700 fall turkey tags, and nearly 400 tags for the juniors-only fall javelina hunts.

There are two methods to obtain a leftover tag. Applications will first only be accepted by U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) beginning at 8 a.m. (MST) on Aug. 1. Starting on Aug. 8 at 8 a.m. (MST), hunters can obtain a leftover tag in person at any of the seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices. A list of office locations is available at www.azgfd.gov/offices.

For a detailed listing of leftover permits which includes hunt number, number of permits available and unit number, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw and click on the “Leftover Permits for 2011 Fall Hunts” link under the “2011-12 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations, season dates and drawing information” section.

Hopi hunts with leftover tags are available to everyone, tribal and non-tribal members. For those who qualify, there are military hunts available for Fort Huachuca. Call (520) 533-8763 for additional information.

For those that applied for a fall turkey permit in unit 1 (hunt number 4501) or unit 27 (hunt number 4518), there was a reduction in permitted tags issued through the draw compared to what was listed in the regulations. On July 8, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted to reduce the number of permit-tags by 1,075 permits due to the Wallow Fire. The commission action was taken after the application deadline, but before the draw was processed.

Hunter clinics and seminars
Getting prepared and planning for an upcoming hunt is almost as fun as the hunt itself. It’s also the most important. Many of the local hunter conservation groups are hosting hunting clinics to teach the basics, all the way up to how to score a trophy. Many of these clinics offer biology and ecology of the species; hunting tips and techniques; knowledgeable guest speakers, and other great information from experienced hunters. The popular hunting clinics are open to all, not just tag holders, and include:

• July 30: Arizona Elk Society Elk Hunting Clinic
• Aug. 13: Arizona Deer Association Hunting Clinic
• Sept. 24: Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Clinic

For more details on these clinics, upcoming hunting camps for first-time hunters, and events hosted for families and juniors-only hunts, visit www.azgfd.gov/outdoorskills.

Note: The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any of the state’s general funds to operate. Wildlife conservation and management of the state’s game animals, which also benefits many non-game species, is made possible through a user-pay, user-benefit system. Funding from the direct sale of hunting and fishing licenses, big game tags, and matching funds from the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act (a federal excise tax that sportsmen pay on a variety of hunting and angling related equipment) remain the primary sources for funding wildlife conservation in North America.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AGFD’s programs or activities, including employment practices, they may file a complaint with the Deputy Director, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the Fish and Wildlife Service, 4040 N. Fairfax Dr. Ste. 130, Arlington, VA 22203. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Deputy Director as listed above.

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