New Stories & News

— Wildlife viewing basics workshop scheduled
— Reward offered in mule deer poaching
— Public sees bighorns-a-plenty at workshops

Wildlife viewing basics workshop scheduled at Sipe Wildlife Area

The Arizona Game and Fish Department will conduct its annual public wildlife-viewing basics workshop on Saturday, Sept. 18, at the Sipe White Mountain Wildlife Area, near Eagar in eastern Arizona. This popular program is designed to help people find, observe and enjoy many of the state’s wildlife species on their own.

The program begins at 2 p.m. with an information program that focuses on wildlife viewing in Arizona, giving suggestions on how and where to find wildlife. Department personnel will also discuss natural history and behavior of one of Arizona’s most recognized wildlife species, the Rocky Mountain elk. Workshop participants will go into the field that evening on the Sipe property, applying viewing principles and techniques to find and observe some of Arizona’s majestic elk up close. The wildlife area is located seven miles southeast of Eagar.

“We’ve designed this workshop to provide people with sufficient information for them to have a quality, first-hand experience in the outdoors, and to be able to regularly find and watch wildlife on their own,” says Bruce Sitko, spokesman in the department’s Pinetop office. “If you've never heard a bull elk bugle in the rut, you’ve missed one of nature’s most awesome sounds. This will be an excellent opportunity to see and hear elk.”

Because it will be necessary to maintain a small group once in the field, the clinic is limited to 30 participants. “Also, because wildlife viewing in general does require patience and a minimum of movement and noise, we request that children under the age of 14 not attend,” Sitko says.

The workshop is free, but pre-registration and a refundable deposit of $20 per person are required to ensure that spaces aren’t blocked off and then not used. The deposit will be returned to those who attend, but cashed if someone doesn’t show up.

Registration can be done at the Pinetop Game and Fish office at 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., or by calling the office at (928) 367-4281 and giving a name, contact phone number and the number of people attending to one of the customer service representatives. Participants will be given instructions at that time for mailing in the refundable registration deposit.

Wildlife viewing events for the public such as this are supported by the Heritage Fund, a voter initiative passed in 1990 to assist wildlife conservation efforts in the state through Arizona Lottery ticket sales.

“Arizona is a state rich in wildlife resources,” Sitko notes. “More than 900 different species of fish and animals can be found here. We highly encourage folks to pause and discover not just the visual beauty of Arizona’s settings, but also to learn to find, view and appreciate the different creatures that live in and about our state‘s diverse landscapes.”

Up to $2,500 reward offered in mule deer poaching near Tacna

YUMA, Ariz. - The Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals responsible for the illegal killing of an adult 4x4 mule deer buck east of Tacna in Game Management Unit 41 in southwestern Arizona.

Game and Fish officers believe the incident occurred between Aug. 1-9 near a popular hunting area known as Texas Hill. The deer hunting season in that area was closed at the time.

“The buck was shot, possibly through the neck, with an unknown caliber firearm and just left to waste in the desert” said Richard Myers, law enforcement specialist for the Game and Fish Yuma region. “The shooter may have been out on a joyride at night and was startled by another vehicle, since only one shot was taken and no meat was removed from the carcass.”

Myers added that poachers aren’t hunters, and the public shouldn’t confuse the two.

“Poachers who commit these illegal acts not only steal from the resource, they steal from the residents of Arizona,” he said.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Operation Game Thief hotline toll-free at (800) 352-0700. Caller identities may remain confidential upon request. You can also report online at www.azgfd.gov/thief.

Public sees bighorns-a-plenty at two viewing workshops

Standing majestically along a ridgeline, or bent down at the Colorado River’s edge, the Black Mountains desert bighorn sheep made for a memorable experience for nearly 100 members of the public.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department’s Region III office in Kingman hosted two bighorn sheep workshops on July 30-31 and Aug. 6-7 for the attendees, who were drawn at random from approximately 150 applications.

Following a Friday night classroom presentation on bighorn sheep, participants were taken on a four-hour boat trip from Willow Beach to the Hoover Dam to view these majestic animals in their native habitat. More than 90 bighorns were seen over the two weekends, many of which were bending down for a drink at the river’s edge.

Mocarski said as the population becomes urbanized, the disconnect people have with nature has increased, and it’s important to provide people with education and to get them outside to see these animals in their native habitat.

“These workshops, and others conducted by Game and Fish, provide an opportunity for people to learn about wildlife and the issues the animals and the department face, and to get outside and see what the outdoors has to offer.”

WLN_boat_and_Bighorns.JPG The classroom segment provided information on bighorn sheep biology, predation, disease, habitat, and efforts to prevent continued habitat fragmentation, as well as an overview of the activities of the Game and Fish Department.

Along with the bighorn workshops, Game and Fish offers watchable wildlife opportunities involving bald eagles, elk, California condors, and hummingbirds in various regions. There are also numerous birding festivals around the state. These types of opportunities for the public are made possible by the Heritage Fund, which was passed by voters in 1990 to help further wildlife conservation efforts in the state through Arizona Lottery ticket sales

“There’s no shortage of opportunities for people to see and learn about wildlife,” Mocarski said. “I’d really like to see more people join us on these workshops rather than sitting in front of a television. You’ll learn a lot more getting out than sitting down.”

(UP)