South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

PIERRE, S.D. --(Ammoland.com)- Hunter surveys of the Black Hills Deer and Firearms Antelope hunting seasons indicate a decline in the number of hunters and harvest for both seasons in 2011.

“The reduction in the number of deer and antelope taken during those two seasons is in line with our management goals for both,” said Corey Huxoll, a GFP biologist who leads the harvest survey effort. “We have reduced the number of licenses available for those seasons to help increase the herds.”

The 2006 Black Hills Deer season had about 9,000 licenses issued and 5,400 deer harvested, for a 60 percent success rate. The 2011 season had about 4,500 licenses issued and 2,530 deer harvested, for a 57 percent success rate.

In 2011, hunter reports indicated 2,011 white-tailed deer bucks, 401 white-tailed deer does, 107 mule deer bucks and 10 mule deer does were harvested during the Black Hills Firearm season.

The Firearms Antelope season has seen a similar decline in harvest.

In 2008, about 12,800 antelope licenses were sold and 17,056 antelope harvested. In 2011, there were 6,209 licenses sold and 4,498 antelope harvested. Success rate of hunters for both years was 50 percent.

Hunter reports indicated 2,523 antelope bucks and 1,971 antelope does were harvested in 2011.

GFP randomly samples hunters after most big-game seasons to determine hunter success. Surveying begins as soon as a hunting season closes. It typically takes a couple of months to gather information and prepare a report. The hunting surveys are posted on the GFP website.

“The harvest information that hunters provide us after each season is a vital part of our wildlife management programs,” Huxoll said. “We are able to get a very accurate look at harvest distribution and hunter success to help us formulate the next year’s hunting seasons.”

Antelope Shot And Left To Rot South Of Estancia NM

New Mexico Game and Fish

ESTANCIA, NM --(Ammoland.com)- The Department of Game and Fish would like to make the holidays a lot less merry for whoever shot two pronghorn antelope and left them to rot in a field near Estancia.

Conservation officer John Martsh said the antelope were killed sometime between 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Dect. 15, off N.M. 542 near mile marker 3 just south of Estancia. There was no hunting season in progress at the time.

“It appears that someone drove up, shot the antelope and then left the scene in a hurry to prevent being caught,” Martsh said.

A $350 reward is being offered for information that leads to charges being filed in connection with the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Operation Game Thief toll-free, (800) 432-4263. Callers may remain anonymous.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission

LINCOLN, Neb. --(Ammoland.com)- Remaining Permits On Sale July 11. Bighorn and Super Tag Lotteries Now Open. Landowner Elk permits Are Included in Draw Application Period.

The calendar says May, and your hand may be holding a fishing pole, but it’s time for some advance thinking about your fall hunting activities.

Nebraska residents may currently apply for: one deer permit in any draw unit (Republican Whitetail, Republican Mule Deer and Desoto December Muzzleloader season units), one elk permit, and one buck or either-sex antelope permit in available units. (One application is allowed per person per species.)

Landowners interested in elk permits should contact their district Nebraska Game and Parks office for application forms at this time.

In addition, two big game lotteries are presently underway for Nebraska hunters: a Bighorn Sheep Lottery and a Super Tag Lottery. Both lotteries are open to Nebraska residents only, have a $25 application fee and can be entered online.

The winner of the bighorn sheep lottery will receive a historic hunt for a bighorn ram in the rugged Pine Ridge, with four nights lodging and guide service provided by Nebraska Game and Parks. The recipient of the Super Tag lottery wins a permit with a bag limit of one elk, one antelope, one deer and two turkeys. This permit is valid during 2011 and 2012, meaning the winner has two years for fill it. Once-in-a-lifetime bull elk permit holders are eligible to participate in this lottery.

Both resident and nonresident hunters will want to mark July 11 on their calendars; it’s the day when all remaining permits go on sale. A complete list of opening dates and application periods can be found on our website, and our 2011 Big Game Guide will be posted there as soon as it becomes available.

Hunters in search of big game animals will find that Nebraska’s populations and hunting opportunities are about the best they have ever been in modern times. Record numbers of deer and turkey exist throughout the state, and even our elk population is thriving. Permits for deer and turkey are easy to obtain, and our $5 youth permits make hunting affordable for aspiring young hunters.

According the staff biologists, the 20-year trend of increasing numbers of older bucks should continue in 2011. Data from 2010 indicates that 75% of harvested whitetail bucks and 83% of harvest mule deer bucks were age 2 or older.

Thousands of acres of private land have also been opened up for hunting through our Open Fields and Waters program, which provides incentives to landowners in return for opening up areas of good habitat to public hunting and fishing use. These lands will be included in the 2011 Public Access Atlas, which is generally available in August each year.

So as you are reeling in that largemouth or casting for walleye, be thinking about all the great ways you can extend your adventures in the Nebraska outdoors. We are here to help you with that, so visit our website for frequent updates or follow us on Facebook or Twitter. And as always – we’ll See You Out There!

Click here to buy your permits online.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- For those hunters with hopes of getting one of the few remaining hunting permits for elk and pronghorn antelope, the first-come, first-served process, issued through application by U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) only, begins on Monday, April 25 after 8 a.m.

To apply for these permits remaining after the drawing process, a valid hunt application must be sent via U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) to:

Arizona Game and Fish Department
Attention: Draw/First Come
5000 W. Carefree Highway
Phoenix, AZ, 85086

Game and Fish officials caution applicants not to use the standard envelope provided with the hunt application form. The PO Box address listed on that preprinted envelope is for the draw process only and should not be used for the first-come, first-served leftover process.

Applications received by any other delivery method, at any other address, or prior to 8 a.m. Monday, April 25, will not be accepted and will be returned to the applicant.

Absent an electronic service, the most equitable way to achieve a first-come, first-served process is by U.S. mail (U.S. Postal Service) only. The U.S. mail-only process allows applicants the same chance at being first in line regardless if they are from the far reaches of the state, from out-of-state (resident or nonresident), or from the Phoenix metro area.

A detailed listing of the leftover permits remaining and their associated hunt numbers is posted at the Game and Fish website at www.azgfd.gov/draw under the link “Leftover Permits for 2011 Elk and Pronghorn Antelope Hunts.”

For those who qualify, there are military hunts available at Camp Navajo. For more information, contact Camp Navajo at (928) 773-3158 or at www.campnavajo.com.

There are three archery-only antelope permits. For general elk, there are seven bull elk permits remaining and six antlerless tags remaining. For archery-only hunts, there are eight bull elk permits and five permits for antlerless elk hunts.

Also available are 335 limited opportunity general antlerless elk tags, two limited opportunity general any elk tags, and 199 limited opportunity archery-only antlerless elk tags.

Applicants should note that hunt numbers in the 3800 series shown on the leftover permit list are not listed in the 2011 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet. These hunts were Hopi hunts only during the draw process and did not carry a public hunt number in the regulations. However, for the first-come process these hunts are now open to all hunters (tribal and non-tribal members).

Therefore, to match the 3800 series numbers in the regulations, applicants will have to carefully match the hunt type (general, limited opportunity), the season dates, the open areas, and the legal wildlife gender (bull, antlerless) to find any other notes applicable to that hunt of interest.

If any tags remain following the first-come, first-served by U.S. mail (Postal Service) only process, these tags will become available for purchase in person over-the-counter at any of the seven Game and Fish offices across the state after 8 a.m. on May 2.

However, leftover tags for these coveted hunts go very quickly, considering the demand for these hunts far outweighs the available resource by more than 4 to 1. During the draw process, more than 121,000 people applied for the approximately 26,000 total permits allocated for the 2011 elk and pronghorn seasons.

To learn more about leftover tags, hunting regulations, drawing process, bonus points, future drawing cycles and more, please visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.

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.

Drawing Results For Elk & Pronghorn Hunts Now Available

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- The drawing results for Arizona’s 2011 elk and pronghorn antelope big game hunts are now available.

The more than 120,000 eager applicants can find out if they were drawn for the limited permits by visiting the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/draw or by calling (602) 942-3000 and selecting option two.

Hunt permit-tags for successful applicants, and refunds for unsuccessful or rejected applicants/applications (less application fees), will be mailed out no later than April 22.

For those individuals who missed the draw deadline or were unsuccessful in getting a permit-tag, there are more than 600 leftover tags remaining. Remaining tags are available on a first-come, first-served basis and include more than 600 elk tags and 4 pronghorn antelope tags. Leftover tags in Hopi hunt open areas are available to everyone (tribal members and non-tribal members) through the first-come, first-served process.

There are two methods to obtain a leftover tag. Applications will be accepted by mail only beginning at 8 a.m. (MST) on April 25. Starting on May 2 at 8 a.m. (MST), hunters can purchase a leftover tag in person with an application at any of the seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices.

For a detailed listing of leftover permits, the 2011 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet (see pages 8-12 for draw and first come process), and other drawing related information, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.

For those who qualify, there are military hunts available for Camp Navajo, call (928) 773-3274 for additional information.

Important information regarding 19B pronghorn antelope hunts.
Hunters who applied for pronghorn antelope in Game Management Unit 19B, hunt number 2022 (50 general permits) and 2054 (15 archery-only permits), are reminded that the Arizona Game and Fish Commission has canceled all the 2011 antelope hunts in this unit due to the loss of public access onto the Chino Grande Ranch.

With the elimination of these two hunts, the draw program processed any choices with these hunt numbers as if all the tags had been issued and moved to the applicant’s next choice for all drawing passes.

Hunters are reminded, that while there are no pronghorn antelope permit-tags allocated for Unit 19B, the unit remains open for all other hunting seasons; however, access, and areas to hunt may be limited due to the closure of the Chino Grande Ranch.

The details from the March 23 public commission meeting on this issue are available at www.azgfd.net/artman/publish/NewsMedia/Arizona-Game-and-Fish-Commission-eliminates-pronghorn-hunts-in-19B-for-2011.shtml.

Fall draw and hunt recommendations
The anticipated application deadline for remaining fall hunts (deer, bighorn sheep, fall buffalo and others) is the second Tuesday of June. A preview of those hunt recommendations will be available for the public to view at six open houses in April. The recommendations will also be available at the Game and Fish website beginning Saturday, April 2 at www.azgfd.gov/huntguidelines.

Open houses are from 3-5 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

• Thursday, April 7 – Tucson regional office, 555 N. Greasewood Road
• Monday, April 11 – Pinetop regional office, 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd.
• Tuesday, April 12 – Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road
• Tuesday, April 12 – Yuma regional office, 9140 E. 28th St.
• Wednesday, April 13 – Kingman regional office, 5325 N. Stockton Hill Road
• Thursday, April 14 – Mesa regional office, 7200 E. University Drive

Hunting and angling are the cornerstones of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. These activities continue to be the primary source of funding for conservation efforts in North America. Through a self-imposed excise tax on hunting, angling and shooting sports equipment, hunters and anglers have generated more than $10 billion toward wildlife conservation since 1939. The Arizona Game and Fish Department does not receive any of the state’s general funds to operate.

Arizona Game And Fish Commission Eliminates Pronghorn Hunts Because Of Private Property Concerns

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Faced with the loss of public access to a vast area of Game Management Unit 19B north of Prescott, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission on March 23 decided to cancel the pronghorn antelope hunt there prior to the big game draw for the 2011 season.

The commission’s decision affects the hunting prospects for 65 hunters who would have received allocated tags.

Commission Chairman Robert Woodhouse said, “There have been closures of other hunt units for a season or more based on biological reasons such as severe winter die offs, loss of habitat due to fires, etc. … but this was the first time a decision was made to eliminate hunt tags due to public access closures. This was a difficult decision made only after extensive staff input and a long discussion by the commission.”

During the discussion, commissioners pointed out that this was a “no-win situation” for the commission, the department, and for the hunters who applied for the general and archery pronghorn antelope hunts in Unit 19B this fall, but the commission was compelled to do what was most fair to all concerned.

Late last week, the property manager for the Chino Grande Ranch, which is a checkerboard of private and state trust land parcels, verbally notified the department that the ranch is now closed to public access, due to a proposed renewable energy project. Access to other portions of the unit has also become restricted, with some private lands being closed entirely and other ranches allowing access by payment of “trespass” fees.

The Chino Grande Ranch contains a significant portion of the available pronghorn habitat in 19B, and its lands also hold the greatest density of pronghorn numbers in the unit.

The deadline to apply for the upcoming draw was Feb. 8 and the draw results are pending, giving the commission only days to modify the affected hunts without affecting thousands of other hunters.

There are 4,780 people who applied for the 65 pronghorn antelope hunt permits in the two hunts (one general hunt and one archery hunt) scheduled for 19B. Game Branch Chief Brian Wakeling said “the antelope hunts in 19B are some of the most coveted in the state.”

The commission also considered reducing the number of permits in the hunt but after significant discussion, the members felt that option would do a disservice to those who applied, as the area left open for 2011 would differ substantially from that available when hunters applied in February.

With the elimination of these two hunts, the draw program will treat any choice where these hunts were selected as if all tags had been issued and move to the applicant’s next choice. The draw examines first and second choices primarily and then third, fourth, and fifth choices secondarily. The majority of the commissioners felt that to be the most equitable approach.

The commission also expressed its desire to open up a dialogue on the whole land access and wildlife availability issue with land management agencies, county governments and stakeholders to include hunters, anglers and other recreationists. At issue is access to public lands and state trust lands and the management of public resources, such as wildlife and fish.

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 Director’s Office, 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 Director’s Office as listed above.

Arizona Elk & Antelope Hunt Applications Are Due

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- Elk and pronghorn antelope hunters, if you haven’t yet submitted your application it is recommended you hand deliver it to one of the seven Game and Fish offices across the state before the deadline of 7 p.m. (MST) this Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011.

Remember, postmarks don’t count and applications must be received by the department by the deadline. There is no online application service available.

To apply hunters will need a copy of the 2011 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet and a hunt application form. For drawing and harvest odds, refer to the Hunt Arizona 2010: Survey, Harvest and Draw Data.

All these materials can be found at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Additionally, regulations, application forms and envelopes are at more than 300 license dealers statewide.

Please note: department offices will be open until 7 p.m. on deadline day (Feb. to receive dropped off applications; however, front counter customer service of regular transactions, including buying licenses, still closes at 5 p.m.

Payment methods permitted through the application process include check, cashier’s check, or money order. Cash or credit cards are not accepted through the drawing process.

Game and Fish offices are located in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, Mesa and Phoenix. For office addresses, contact information and driving directions, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

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.

This herd of pronghorn antelope in the Hinsdale area is using a paved highway to escape record-deep snow. (photo courtesy Montana FWP)

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

GLASGOW, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Continued bouts of bitter Arctic air and record-breaking snowfall in many areas of Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) Region 6 are taking their toll on wildlife, especially pronghorn antelope and deer.

With harsh winter conditions potentially continuing for weeks longer, FWP biologists are predicting substantial impacts to white-tailed deer, mule deer and antelope populations, which in some areas had reached near-record numbers in recent years.

In fact, many of these animals are starving already after more than two months of heavy snows and especially harsh winter weather. Elk numbers across the Hi-Line are not expected to see big declines, in part because these animals are larger and can battle deep snow a bit easier.

“The biggest impacts will probably occur to antelope since they are ill-equipped to deal with deep snow conditions,” said FWP Region 6 Wildlife Program Manager Mark Sullivan. “Antelope are traditional migrators, but human developments have blocked some key migration routes. The Milk River Valley itself presents many formidable obstacles, such as U.S. Highway 2, the railroad tracks and tightly spaced fences. Antelope stack up against these developments and are forced to try to survive in less-than-suitable winter range.”

Mule deer are another species that are typically more heavily impacted by winter, but they usually don’t have as much difficulty migrating to winter ranges, nor are their migrations as long. In most years, Sullivan said, whitetails are not as impacted by winter as they primarily occupy agricultural areas that offer more options for finding nutrition.

“However, this winter is taking a toll on them as well, and ranchers are starting to report dead deer in or near their haystacks,” Sullivan said.

High deer numbers in many Region 6 hunting districts allowed harvest quotas to be sharply increased over the past several years, and substantially more licenses and permits have been available to hunters.

Now state biologists say they’ll likely have to reduce the number of licenses and permits where deer and antelope have been most impacted by the harsh winter of 2010-11. How much these numbers will be adjusted depends on a variety of factors, including hunting harvest surveys from last fall and upcoming aerial surveys.

“Biologists will be flying deer surveys this April to determine what impact winter had on populations, and antelope surveys will be flown in early July,” Sullivan said. “Even though our big game regulations come out before these surveys are flown, license quotas can still be changed from what is shown in the regulations, based on what we find during our surveys.”

Many people wonder what they can do to help wildlife and ask why FWP isn’t feeding animals. While some people think FWP should feed wildlife that is starving, Sullivan explained that the agency cannot treat deer, elk and antelope like domesticated livestock.

“While it is difficult to watch wild animals suffer and die, weather and habitat have always determined whether wildlife populations expand or decline,” he said.

“Feeding wildlife typically causes more problems than it solves. Feeding will increase the number of animals in an area. That brings a greater chance of spreading disease, and it teaches wildlife to rely on humans for food. In addition, the ruminant bacteria in a deer and antelope’s stomach are specific to breaking down certain food types, such as sagebrush and other browse. Animals that are stressed and already starving often cannot adjust fast enough to a new food type if fed hay or alfalfa. They may eat whatever is in front of them but then die with full stomachs.”

The best thing the public can do is try not to bother wintering wildlife at all. Give antelope herds a wide berth if you are snowmobiling, and try not to push deer out of winter cover. If animals are moving away from you in these situations you’re contributing to their stress.

“Unfortunately, this is one of those times where the declines in populations are likely to be steep,” Sullivan said.

“Winters on the Hi-Line and in northeastern Montana have their own way of sorting wildlife numbers out. Wildlife populations typically run in cycles, and we’re now probably going to see a major downturn in some of our numbers of pronghorn antelope and deer.”

One especially troubling problem is that because these areas are free of snow, large herds of antelope are congregating on railroad tracks across the Hi-Line. Hundreds of the animals have been hit by trains in recent weeks. Others are in danger of getting hit by cars and trucks as they travel on or bed down along plowed highways and county roads. Where they are able, white-tailed and mule deer have moved to hay stacks and other agricultural feeding sites, all waiting for a break in the weather.

On the positive side, Sullivan noted that heavy precipitation last year led to abundant food and cover for wildlife across much of FWP Region 6. That means most deer, elk, antelope and upland game birds went into the winter in the best possible physical condition.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- They’re here. Printed versions of Arizona’s 2011 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklets are now available at all seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices.

Deliveries of the regulations to more than 300 license dealers are underway.

The deadline to submit an application is Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. There is no online application process.

All applications must be submitted either by U.S. mail to P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052, or hand-delivered to any Game and Fish office. There are Game and Fish offices in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, Mesa and Phoenix. For contact information and directions, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

Drawing odds from 2010 for elk and pronghorn antelope are not listed in the regulations, but are available for viewing and printing from the department’s website at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

For 2009 and older information, refer to the Hunt Arizona 2010: Survey, Harvest and Draw Data on the right side of the page under “Hunting, Trapping & Fishing Regulations, Season Dates & Draw Information.”

Also available is an editable PDF application form that allows applicants to enter their information using a computer for better legibility and consistency. The form must be printed, signed, and then mailed or hand delivered to Game and Fish. The form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen and submitted the same way.

Hunters are reminded they will need a 2011 hunting license to apply. Licenses can be purchased through the application process, at Game and Fish offices and website, or at more than 300 license dealers statewide.

Game and Fish reminds applicants that all department offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 17 in observance of the Martin Luther King holiday.

Go Hunting Now
There are still plenty of leftover spring javelina and turkey hunting permits remaining, including juniors-only opportunities, issued on a first-come, first-served basis. Permits can be obtained at any Game and Fish office. For a listing of available hunts, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw under the link “List of Leftover Tags for Spring 2011 Javelina, Turkey, and Bear Hunts.”

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 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 certain related equipment.

2011 Arizona Pronghorn and Elk Booklet

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.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – -(Ammoland.com)- PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department today posted the 2011 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Hunters with visions of a bugling elk in their sights or a broadside buck antelope in range can now start applying for a hunt permit-tag issued through the drawing process.

All applications must be submitted either by U.S. mail to P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052, or hand-delivered to any Game and Fish office by Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. There is no online application process.

There are Game and Fish offices in Pinetop, Flagstaff, Kingman, Yuma, Tucson, Mesa and Phoenix. For contact information and directions, visit www.azgfd.gov/offices.

A 2011 hunting license is required to apply in the draw and hunters are reminded licenses purchased through the draw will not be mailed out until after the drawing process is completed. Hunters are encouraged to purchase a license before applying if planning any spring hunts. Licenses are available from the Game and Fish website and offices, and more than 300 license dealers statewide.

Applying early has benefits thanks to the “correction period.” If your application has an error and is received before 5 p.m. Jan. 20, 2011, you will receive up to three phone calls from Game and Fish in a 24-hour period to help get the application corrected. After that date, mistakes can cause your application to be rejected.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials anticipate printed versions of the regulations and applications should be available at all Game and Fish offices and license dealers across the state by mid-January 2011.

To learn more about the big game draw lottery process, bonus points, and available leftover spring hunting permits, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.

Go hunting now
Hunters looking to get into the field for some exercise after the holidays can take advantage of the many hunt permit-tags remaining for spring turkey, javelina and bear. These tags may be purchased at any department office or by mail on a first-come, first-served basis. Many of the archery-only javelina tags make a great companion to an archery-only deer tag for the new year. For a complete listing of available spring hunt permit-tags, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw and select “List of Leftover Tags for Spring 2011 Javelina, Turkey, and Bear Hunts.”

Mark your calendar
The next drawing process after the elk/antelope draw is for fall deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, bear and pheasant. Game and Fish anticipates accepting applications starting in mid-May, with the deadline to apply typically the second Tuesday of June 2011, pending commission approval at its April meeting in Phoenix.

2011 Arizona Pronghorn and Elk Booklet

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 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 certain related equipment.

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks

HAVRE, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Final figures compiled from the FWP Region 6 hunter game check station outside Havre show a higher number of white-tailed deer and mule deer were checked in as compared to other recent hunting seasons.

According to FWP biologist Scott Hemmer, the number of pronghorn antelope, elk, pheasants, sharp-tailed grouse and Hungarian (gray) partridge brought in was in each case less than the average checked in recent years.

This season 333 pronghorn antelope, 689 mule deer, 314 white-tailed deer, 33 elk, 707 pheasants, 156 sharp-tailed grouse and 50 Hungarian partridge were brought to the check station by hunters.

Hemmer said check station data indicate the 2010 antelope harvest was down 17 percent, the mule deer harvest was up 11 percent, the white-tailed deer harvest was up 24 percent, the pheasant harvest was down 32 percent, and the sharp-tailed grouse harvest was up 3 percent.
While numbers of elk and Hungarian partridge were also down this year, state biologists said not enough of these species come through the Havre check station to provide meaningful harvest trend data. FWP will also be conducting the annual telephone harvest survey this winter, which will give more accurate harvest information by species for individual hunting districts.

FWP Region 6 Wildlife Program Manger Mark Sullivan noted that mild fall temperatures and excellent habitat conditions during the first part of the big game season reduced movements and feeding activity by big game animals in many areas.

“Although big game numbers were generally good across the Region, animals were not very visible during the first half of the season,” Sullivan said. “Weather conditions changed abruptly during the fourth week of the season as temperatures dropped to well below freezing, and repeated snowfall made hunting conditions and travel difficult. This caused animals to be much more visible and concentrated, but hunter numbers dropped in many hunting districts the last two weekends due to snow, cold and poor road conditions.”

Sullivan said FWP field personnel noticed a significant increase in big game hunter numbers in Region 6, particularly in the hunting districts between Glasgow and Havre. Most of these were deer hunters who may have been displaced from other parts of the state due to lower deer numbers in their traditional hunting areas.

South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

PIERRE, S.D. –-(Ammoland.com)- South Dakota antelope hunters and some West River deer hunters can take the field on opening day, Saturday, Oct. 2.

The 2010 Firearms Antelope hunting season will run from Oct. 2-17 in most units.

Hunters with antlerless deer tags for the West River Deer season will be able to hunt in their respective units during the same period.

“We are not only able to expand the opportunity for deer hunters to take additional antlerless deer, but we can also provide a unique opportunity to hunt both antelope and deer at the same time,” said Chad Switzer, game program manager in the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

There are unsold licenses still available for both the Firearms Antelope and West River Deer hunting seasons.

The licenses are being sold on a first-come, first-served basis by application through the GFP License Office.

Leftover license lists may be accessed online at http://www.gfp.sd.gov/hunting/licenses/limited/leftover/default.aspx

New Mexico Game and Fish

ALBUQUERQUE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- The State Game Commission will hear proposals and public comments about hunting seasons and licensing rules for bears, cougars, pronghorn antelope and deer at its meeting Saturday, Aug. 28, in Albuquerque.

Proposals include increased harvest limits for bears and cougars for the 2011-2014 seasons, and options to change the way the Department of Game and Fish allocates private-land pronghorn antelope licenses.

The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Albuquerque Marriott, 2101 Louisiana Blvd., N.E., in Albuquerque. The full agenda, detailed agenda-item briefings and other information are available on the Department of Game and Fish Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or by calling (505) 476-8008. Details of proposed hunting rules and opportunities to comment about them also are available on the Web site.

The Commission is expected to take final action on the 2011-2014 bear, cougar, pronghorn and deer proposals at its Sept. 30 meeting in Ruidoso.

Other agenda items Aug. 28 include:

• A proposal to accept the Department’s biennial review of the status of state threatened and endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation Act. No species are recommended for uplisting or downlisting.
• A request to approve the Department’s operating and capital projects budget requests for fiscal-year 2012.
• A report on Gov. Bill Richardson’s executive order to temporarily ban trapping in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area of southwestern New Mexico while the Department conducts a study to assess the risks to Mexican Gray Wolves from trapping and whether some methods of trapping could be allowed that pose minimal risk of injury to wolves.

The State Game Commission is composed of seven members who represent the state’s diverse interests in wildlife-associated recreation and conservation. Members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Current members are Chairman Jim McClintic, Vice-chairwoman Sandy Buffett, Tom Arvas, Gary Fonay, Kent Salazar, M.H. “Dutch” Salmon, and Thomas “Dick” Salopek.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact Sonya Quintana, (505) 476-8030. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible forms.

New Mexico Game and Fish

ROSWELL, NM – -(AmmoLand.com)- Fifty-one pronghorn antelope recently were trapped and successfully relocated to ranches north of Roswell, the Department of Game and Fish announced. The animals came off a farm where they were eating cultivated crops.

The Department has moved 156 antelope from the Roswell area during the last five years. The ranches receiving the animals were identified as excellent antelope habitat by the Department and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.

“It’s hoped that these new herds will thrive in a more natural habitat,” State Game Commission Chairman Jim McClintic said. “Hopefully they will provide additional hunting opportunity in the future. The more public-land hunting opportunity we can provide our sportsmen, the better we feel about what we are doing.”

For several years now, the Department has worked with local landowners, ranchers and farmers to address the growing antelope herd just outside of Roswell’s western city limits. The readily available forage and water provided by cultivated crops led to growth in antelope herds, which in turn led to increasing depredation complaints on private property. Complaints included damage to alfalfa and winter wheat fields, and antelope eating ornamental shrubs in residential front yards.

Trapping and transplanting problem animals typically is not feasible because of topography, high mortality rates and exorbitant costs. The great success of this effort, however, was due to the location and travel patterns of this group of antelope, in conjunction with significant landowner cooperation and Southeast Area staff planning, patience and expertise.

This trap was part of a much larger effort to reduce antelope and mule deer populations in the area west of Roswell. For the next three to five years, the Department plans increase the use of fence modifications, trapping and transplanting, and public, private and youth hunts to achieve that goal.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX, AZ – If you are an elk hunter and get an antelope hunter questionnaire from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, don’t despair.

Conversely, if you are an antelope hunter, don’t be surprised if you get a questionnaire intended for an elk hunter.

“The company doing our mail-out printed the addresses for elk hunters on the questionnaires intended for antelope hunters and vice versa.

So don’t be surprised or get concerned if you get the wrong species’ questionnaire – there are simple remedies,” said Brian Wakeling, the Game Branch chief for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Here’s the solution.
The approximately 6,000 hunters who receive the wrong questionnaires may go online (the Web site address is listed on the questionnaire) and complete the questionnaire for their correct hunt.

Or those who receive the wrong questionnaire can simply throw it and wait for a new questionnaire that is being mailed to them.

“If you complete the survey online, then please simply disregard the second survey you receive in the mail,” Wakeling said.

“We apologize for the mix up and appreciate everyone taking the time to provide us this valuable information so we can better manage these two game species.”

Hunter questionnaires are sent annually to a random selection of hunters in order to monitor game harvest levels and hunt success rates.

Note: To learn about the Arizona Hunter Questionnaire and the department’s survey program, read the article from the September-October 2009 issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine , by clicking here. [pdf, 116kb]

About:
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.

South Dakota Fish, Game & Parks

PIERRE, S.D. –-(AmmoLand.com)- A tough winter and low reproduction this summer has resulted in a lower then expected antelope population in northwestern South Dakota, and that will mean fewer licenses available to hunters.

Aerial surveys were conducted during the month of May and June to estimate the number of adult antelope. However another important aspect in estimating the antelope population in South Dakota is a count of the number of fawns per doe, which is not available at the time that the Game, Fish and Parks commission sets the antelope season.

Substantially lower recruitment rates obtained in recent doe/fawn antelope surveys, coupled with lower overall antelope numbers has prompted GFP to eliminate all unsold licenses remaining after the first two drawings for Harding and Perkins counties, where current estimates show a considerable drop in the antelope population compared to 2008.

“Over the past few years we have attempted to increase harvest due to high antelope numbers in the northwest corner of the state,” GFP Terrestrial Program Administrator Chad Switzer said. “Because of that effort and abundant antelope, hunters have had many opportunities in Harding and Perkins County to harvest antelope.”

A few areas have an increased antelope population, but overall, numbers have decreased approximately 20 percent throughout their range. Surveys in Harding and Perkins counties indicate as much as a 50 percent decline.

“Through the years we have seen our antelope numbers rise and fall, often in the span of a short period of time,” Switzer said, adding that allowing the initial sale of licenses to proceed will still provide hunting opportunity and help keep the antelope population in check.

“Even though the challenge of an antelope hunt will be greater this year then last, South Dakota still has one of the best antelope populations in the country” Switzer said. “The prairie is as lush as it has been in some time. It will be a great chance to leave your vehicle parked, and walk in and enjoy a truly unique hunting experience. As always, hunters should be sure to get permission before hunting on any private land.”

Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks

Kansas - -(AmmoLand.com)- The Kansas Wildlife and Parks Commission approved 2009 big game season regulations at a public hearing in Oakley April 16. Meeting at the Logan County Courthouse, the commission set seasons for deer, antelope and elk.

Among season dates approved for deer hunting are the following:

• youth/disabled season – Sept. 12 through Sept. 20, 2009;
• archery season – Sept. 21 through Dec. 31, 2009;
• muzzleloader-only season – Sept. 21 through Oct. 4, 2009;
• urban unit firearm season – Oct. 10 through Oct. 18, 2009;
• extended antlerless-only whitetail firearm season – Jan. 1 through Jan. 10, 2010; and
• urban unit antlerless-only whitetail archery season – Jan. 4 through Jan. 31, 2010.

The commission also approved a department recommendation to add deer management units 4 and 5 to the list of units open for the extended antlerless-only firearm season. The length of that antlerless season (open in units 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 19) was also increased by six days compared to last year’s extended season.

Season dates for antelope hunting include the following:

• archery season – Sept. 19 – 27 and Oct. 10 – 31, 2009;
• muzzleloader-only season – Sept. 28 through Oct. 5, 2009; and
• firearm season – Oct. 2 – 5, 2009.

Applications for firearm and muzzleloader antelope permits (open to residents only) will be accepted from the earliest date that applications are available through June 12, 2009. Archery permits (available to residents and nonresidents) will be available through Oct. 30, 2009.

Season dates for elk hunting include the following:

• archery season, statewide except Fort Riley – Sept. 21 through Dec. 31, 2009;
• archery season, Fort Riley – Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, 2009;
• muzzleloader season, statewide including Fort Riley – Sept. 1 through Oct. 4, 2009;
• firearm season, statewide except Fort Riley – Dec. 2 – 13, 2009, and Jan. 1 through March 15, 2010; and
• firearm season, Fort Riley – first segment Oct. 1 – 31, 2009; second segment Nov. 1 – 30, 2009; third segment Dec. 1 – 31, 2009.

Elk hunting is not allowed in Morton County. Applications for elk permits are from the earliest date applications are available through July 10, 2009.

About:
The Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks is a cabinet-level agency with a Secretary appointed by the Governor. A seven-member, bipartisan commission, also appointed by the Governor, advises the Secretary and approves regulations governing outdoor recreation and fish and wildlife resources in Kansas. The commission conducts business during regular public sessions.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona  - -(AmmoLand.com)- The 2009 drawing for Arizona elk and antelope hunt permit-tags has been completed, and the 117,873 applicants can now visit the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw to see if they have been drawn. Be prepared to provide your department identification number, plus your birth date, to access your specific draw information.

Hunt permit-tags will be mailed out to successful applicants no later than April 24, 2009. Refunds for unsuccessful applicants (minus the application fee) will be mailed out to the person shown as “Applicant A” on the application form no later than April 24. Any licenses requested via the draw application process, regardless of draw success, are scheduled to be mailed out prior to April 24.

Game and Fish officials said there are 41 leftover general antlerless elk tags for limited opportunity hunts and 55 leftover archery-only antlerless elk tags for limited opportunity hunts that can be applied for by mail only beginning April 27, 2009 (first-come, first-served). The list of leftover tags is posted at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Please mail applications to Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn: Draw/1st Come, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.

There are also two antelope permits and 57 elk permits (different permit types) remaining at Camp Navajo for those eligible. For more information, visit the Camp Navajo Web site at www.campnavajo.com.

Remember that the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be setting the other 2009-10 big game hunts for deer, turkey, javelina, bighorn sheep, buffalo, bear and mountain lion during its Saturday, April 18 meeting at the Game and Fish headquarters on Carefree Highway just 1.5 miles west of I-17. Department recommendations for fall hunts are anticipated to be available online for review on April 4 at www.azgfd.gov/h_f/hunt_guidelines.shtml.

You will be able to start applying for those hunts once the appropriate information is posted online. The anticipated deadline to apply is Tuesday, June 9 (the second Tuesday of June), pending approval of the schedule by the Arizona Game and Fish Commission. As a reminder, the online application process will not be available.

About:
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 Director’s Office, 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 Director’s Office as listed above.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona – -(AmmoLand.com)- The 2009 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information regulations booklet and hunt permit-tag application forms are all available at all license dealers, department offices, or can be downloaded from www.azgfd.gov/draw.

To assist customers and reduce errors, a PDF application form can be filled out using a computer and keyboard, but must be printed, signed and submitted (along with the correct fees by check or money order) by mail, or by delivery to any department office. The form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.

A 2009 hunting license is required to apply. Department officials encourage hunters to get their license before applying for an elk or antelope hunt permit-tag if they wish to do any other hunting in early 2009. Licenses purchased through the draw process will not be mailed out until April 24, 2009, regardless of application success.

The big game draw is a lottery-style process for allocating the limited number of Arizona big game hunting permits to applicants. The department typically receives far more applications than there are available permits for the elk and antelope draw. Wildlife conservation and management of game animals by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is made possible by funding generated from the sale of hunting licenses, hunt permit-tags, and matching funds from federal excise taxes hunters pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment.

PHOENIX — Hunters applying for a hunt permit-tag for elk or pronghorn antelope this year need to have their applications submitted to the Arizona Game and Fish Department no later than Tuesday, Feb. 10 by 7 p.m. (MST); postmarks do not count. Hunters are reminded there is no online application process.

About:
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.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

Arizona - -(AmmoLand.com)- If you have visions of elk steaks on the grill or sending those trophy horns of a 70-class pronghorn to the taxidermist, don’t forget the most important step – applying for a hunt permit-tag before the deadline.

The final deadline to submit paper-only applications for a 2009 hunt permit-tag for pronghorn antelope and elk hunts through the draw process is Tuesday, Feb. 10 by 7 p.m. (MST). Applications must be received by mail or hand delivered to a department office before the deadline; postmarks don’t count. Remember, there is NO online application process for the draw.

To help hunters navigate the application process, the Arizona Game and Fish Department offers these tips:

Buy your 2009 hunting license before applying. If you need your license before the draw is completed (April 24), buying your license now will eliminate the wait and long lines at department offices. (Note: This is a great year for a combo hunt and fish license – the fishing should be fantastic this year.)

Use the new editable PDF application. By using a computer to fill out the application, many errors are eliminated, including legibility issues. Just fill it out, print it out, sign it, include your payment, and deliver it to the department. Remember, there is no online application process for the draw.

Consult the 2008 Hunt Arizona booklet. Research draw odds, hunt success, tag allotment and more with this valuable resource available online in PDF, or purchase a hard copy for only $6 at any department office.

Pay by check, money order or cashier’s check. The department doesn’t accept cash or credit/debit card payments with the hunt permit-tag application. (Note: You may pre-purchase a license at the front counter with cash or credit/debit card.)

Include the correct payment amount. Be certain to double-check your math when making out your payment. There is a worksheet on the second page of the application. Also, make certain you don’t transpose any numbers when writing out your check, money order or cashier’s check (it’s more common than you may think).

Use a separate application for each species. If you are applying for both elk and antelope, you must use two separate applications, envelopes and payments.

Use the “Hunt No.” in the first through fifth choice fields. This is the four-digit number in the far left column under each Commission Order. Don’t use Game Management Unit numbers (which are typically alphanumeric).

Consider what type of hunter you are. When looking over the Hunt Arizona information, keep in mind what type of hunt you are after. Do you just want elk meat, or are you dead set on harvesting a trophy? Do you have flexibility in your travel time, or is it limited? All these play a key role in your odds of being drawn. It could take time to draw that rutting bull tag compared to a late-season muzzleloader cow hunt.

Include your social security number – it’s a federal law. Even if you use a department-assigned identification number, you are still required to include your social security number. If you only use one number, it must be your social security number.

Only use one choice when applying for a bonus point. If you are just applying for a bonus point, use the first Hunt No. listed under each Commission Order in the first choice field and include the $7.50 application fee (leave the second through fifth choices blank).

For some other great tips and additional insights on how to get drawn, check out the article in the Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine at www.azgfd.gov/i_e/pubs/ElkHunting.shtml. The award-winning bi-monthly publication is a great resource for wildlife enthusiasts and a steal at $8.50 for a one-year subscription.

Staff will be on hand at each department office on deadline day to assist hunters with the application process. If this is your first-time applying, or you are new to the process, feel free to stop by and ask for assistance. However, license sales at department offices end at 5 p.m.

The 2009 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information regulations booklet, application forms and the 2008 Hunt Arizona are all available online for downloading from the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Hard copies of the 2008 Hunt Arizona publication are also available for sale at all department offices.

To learn more about big game hunting, wildlife management and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, visit www.azgfd.gov/hunting.

About:
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.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

PHOENIX — The 2009 Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklets are now available at all Arizona Game and Fish Department offices and license dealers statewide. Applications are now being accepted by mail only.

Apply before Jan. 22, and if there is an error in your application, the department will make three attempts, within a 24-hour period, to notify you by telephone (if a phone number is provided) to get the application to be corrected. Errors can cause your application to be rejected from the draw process.

A 2009 hunting license is required to apply. Department officials encourage hunters to get their license before applying for an elk or antelope hunt permit-tag if they wish to do any other hunting in early 2009. Licenses purchased through the draw process will not be mailed out until April 24, 2009, regardless of application success.

Hunters are reminded there is no online application process. The final deadline to submit paper applications for a 2009 hunt permit-tag for antelope and elk hunts through the draw process is Tuesday, Feb. 10 by 7 p.m. (MST). Applications must be received by mail or by hand delivery to department offices before the deadline; postmarks don’t count.

To assist customers and reduce errors, a PDF application form can be filled out using a computer and keyboard, but must be printed, signed and submitted by mail (along with the correct fees by check or money order), or by delivery to any department office. The form can also be printed and then filled out using an ink pen.

The PDF application and the 2009 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information booklet can be downloaded at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

The elk over-the-counter nonpermit-tags (for limited areas) are also available in 2009. These tags are akin to a “limited opportunity” hunt in areas with very low elk populations. Hunters interested should thoroughly review the regulations and visit www.azgfd.gov/otc to download the “2009 Elk OTC Informational Handout” PDF for frequently asked questions, hunt area boundary descriptions and area maps before purchasing.

For those hunters looking to get into the field before the fall, there are many spring javelina hunt permit-tags available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Javelina over-the-counter archery-only nonpermit-tags for metro Game Management Units are also available at any department office or license dealer. For a list of available spring javelina hunts, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw under “List of Leftover Permits for Spring 2009 hunts (PDF, 45kb).”

Note: The big game draw is a lottery-style process for allocating the limited number of Arizona big game hunting permits to applicants. The department typically receives far more applications than there are available permits for the elk and antelope draw. Wildlife conservation and management of game animals by the Arizona Game and Fish Department is made possible by funding generated from the sale of hunting licenses, hunt permit-tags, and matching funds from federal excise taxes hunters pay on guns, ammunition and related equipment.

About:
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.

The 2009 Arizona Pronghorn Antelope and Elk Hunt Draw Information regulations booklet is available online at the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Web site at www.azgfd.gov/draw. Hunters interested in obtaining a hunt permit-tag via the draw process can start applying now.

All applications must be submitted by mail or hand-delivered to a department office – no online application process is available. Applications are due by 7 p.m. (MST) Feb. 10, 2009 – postmarks do not count.

To assist customers and reduce errors, a PDF application form can be filled out using a computer and keyboard, but must be printed, signed and submitted (along with the correct fees by check or money order) by mail, or by delivery to any department office. The form can also be printed and filled out using an ink pen.

Early applicants can take advantage of the “grace period”—those who submit an application by Jan. 22, 2009 will receive up to three calls from the department in a 24-hour period if an error is found on the application. If the applicant is reached by phone, the department will help fix the error to ensure a completed application.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said printed copies of the regulations should be available at license dealers across the state by mid-January.

For 2009, there are 26,474 elk tags available (a slight increase of 385 tags from last year), and 1,007 pronghorn-antelope tags available (a 1-permit increase from last year).

The elk over-the-counter nonpermit-tags for limited areas will continue to be offered in 2009. These tags are akin to a “limited opportunity” hunt in areas with very low elk populations. Hunters interested should thoroughly review the regulations and visit www.azgfd.gov/otc to download the “2009 Elk OTC Informational Handout” PDF for frequently asked questions, hunt area boundary descriptions, and area maps, before purchasing.

A 2009 hunting license is required to apply. Department officials encourage hunters to get their license before applying for an elk or antelope hunt permit-tag if they wish to do any other hunting in early 2009. Licenses purchased through the draw process will not be mailed out until April 24, 2009, regardless of application success.

About:

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 Director’s Office, 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 Director’s Office as listed above.

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