Outdoor Writer

FISHING REPORT Dec. 13, 2019 Arizona Game and Fish Department TIP OF THE WEEK With rising water levels at Bartlett Lake (1,766 feet) and Roosevelt Lake (2,125), our artificial habitat sites will be at more appropriate depths for potential crappie schools to target. See maps for Roosevelt and Bartlett. A reminder that we’re looking for volunteers on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4, and Saturday Jan. 11 to install used Christmas trees at Bartlett Lake that will help ensure robust fish populations at this Tonto National Forest impoundment. We’ll be starting at 8:30 a.m. each day from the yellow cliffs boat ramp. Just bring a pair of gloves and help conserve sport-fishing opportunities for future generations. Contact Bryant Dickens at 623-236-7593 if you have any questions. This coming week, we're bringing 4 tons of fun in the form of 8,200 pounds of rainbow trout to waters statewide. Here's a list of where you can plan to find some great holiday-time trout fishing the week of Dec. 16. Stay tuned to next week's Reel Deal report for confirmed stockings as some of these are subject to change due to factors such as water quality and weather. These stockings will take place during two select days: Statewide: Verde River, Goldwater, Watson Lake Community "core" waters (except Cortez due to golden algae). See the schedule of "core" waters. Expansion waters: McQueen, Freestone, Water Ranch, El Dorado, Greenfield, Fain, Yavapai, Dave White Pond, Pacana Pond. Trout anglers can check out the latest trout stocking schedule. The Lower Salt River, pictured above from this week, is a great winter trout fishing spot and is being stocked with trout through the winter. Try the Phon D. Sutton and Granite Reef recreation sites. Some high country lakes are starting to ice over: we consider all such ice in Arizona unsafe. Get to your favorite high country trout hole before things really freeze. For bass fishing in lower elevations, water temperatures have dropped enough to send high populations of bass into deeper water where the water temperature is higher. Be sure to have a bait in the water when the sun comes out and there's a spat of warmer weather. This can be a good time of the year to jig spoons in deep water for yellow bass at Salt River-chain lakes Apache, Canyon and Saguaro. Catch of the Week Send your fishing reports and photos to BFishing@azgfd.gov -- one will be selected for Catch of the Week Lake Mead Joe, from Alaska, caught this 18-inch striper - his first striper -- at Temple Bar on Nov. 20. What's been stocked this week ("Catchable" sizes only; water temp in parenthesis if available) Rainbow trout: Parker Canyon Lake (Dec. 4). Thank you, anglers! Arizona fishing opportunities wouldn’t be possible without the Sport Fish Restoration Program. It was created through the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950 (Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act) and the Wallop-Breaux amendments of 1984. Through a federal excise tax paid by manufacturers on fishing gear and motorboat fuels, it provides grant funds for fishery conservation, boating access, and aquatic education. Save time, buy online Grab a license online (that helps conserve all species of wildlife, not to mention provides funding that goes back into fishing opportunities) and go "Fish AZ". SEE MORE REPORTS

R12-4-318 Seasons for Lawfully Taking Wild Mammals, Birds, and Reptiles 7. A “muzzleloader” season may use one or more of the following methods or devices if authorized under R124-304 as lawful for the species hunted: a. Muzzleloading rifles or muzzleloading handguns, b. Bows and arrows, and c. Crossbows or bows to be drawn and held with an assisting device. “Muzzleloading handgun” means a firearm intended to be fired from the hand, incapable of firing fixed ammunition, and loaded with black powder or synthetic black powder and a single projectile. “Muzzleloading rifle” means a firearm intended to be fired from the shoulder, incapable of firing fixed ammunition, having a single barrel, and loaded through the muzzle with black powder or synthetic black powder and a single projectile. “Muzzleloading shotgun” means a firearm intended to be fired from the shoulder, incapable of firing fixed ammunition, having a single or double smooth barrel and loaded through the muzzle with black powder or synthetic black powder and using ball shot as a projectile.

GAME AND FISH NEWS Dec. 11, 2019 AZGFD delivers on promise to provide quicker draw results PHOENIX — It started decades ago with names being scribbled on small pieces of paper, inserted into empty capsules and then deposited into a container from which the lucky few would be drawn, often by a youngster chosen from the crowd in the State Capitol Annex Building. Over the years, actual paper applications would be dumped into a raffle ticket drum and given a spin under the guidance of law enforcement officials — and under the watchful eye of hopeful hunters who would be packed into the annex building’s rotunda. Eventually, applications could be mailed or dropped off at any department office throughout the state. Then, beginning in 2012, a commitment was made to move forward and venture into the world of doing business online. My, how far the application process for hunt permit-tags issued through the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s random draws has come over time. Game and Fish continually strives to deliver online products and services that better serve its customers. A major goal was recently achieved when the department, using several process improvement tools within the Arizona Management System (AMS) that Gov. Doug Ducey has brought to state government, was able to reduce the amount of time and manpower required to process applications. The state’s hunters, who only a few years ago waited 40, 50, even 65 days to receive draw results, now are getting the news in 25 days or less. Case in point: A record 392,658 total applicants vied for hunt permit-tags in last year’s three big game draws (pronghorn and elk, fall, and spring). Those applicants learned whether or not they would be participating in a hunt in a record 24 days for both the pronghorn and elk, and fall draws. The news only gets better. In the recently concluded 2020 spring draw for turkey, javelina, bison and bear — the first draw in which the department transitioned to a totally paperless application process — applicants were able to obtain their results by phone or through their portal account in a record 22 days. “The department has worked long and hard to reduce the amount of time it takes for hunters to get draw results,” said Jennifer Stewart, customer service branch chief. “That was so important to us from a customer service standpoint. We understood the anxiety that comes with having to wait, often for weeks, to get results.” The department already is gearing up for the next draw. In early January, the application service will become available for elk and pronghorn hunters. The largest of the three annual draws saw a record 178,323 total applicants contend for 26,190 hunt permit-tags back in early 2019. That’s just a few more applications than would fit into a raffle ticket drum.

Perhaps an area marker by some agency to be seen from the air?

You might want to post this in the forum section for javelina. This section is for help using the forum itself.

Two super bucks. Way to get it done guys. 👍

Dandy buck. 👍 I love the high antlered whitetails.

RF went to Sahuaro High School in Tucson.

Robert Fisher?

Great bull. 👍

Weird time of year for a turkey season.

GAME AND FISH NEWS Dec. 4, 2019 Mearns' quail season opens Friday PHOENIX — The wait is over for hunters eager to get out and stomp around the often steep and rocky terrain of southeastern Arizona in search of Mearns’ quail. The season begins Friday, Dec. 6, and runs through Feb. 9, 2020. The season for Gambel’s, scaled and California quail has been underway since Oct. 18 and also closes Feb. 9, 2020. A valid Arizona hunting or combination license is required for all hunters 10 and older. All youth hunters 10 to 17 can purchase a youth combination license for only $5. Those hunters under 10 must be accompanied by an adult who possesses a valid hunting or combination license. Licenses can be purchased online at azgfd.com/license/, or from license dealers statewide. The general bag limit is 15 quail per day in the aggregate, of which no more than eight may be Mearns’ quail. The general possession limit is 45 quail in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 Gambel’s, scaled or California quail in the aggregate may be taken in any one day. After Friday’s opening of the Mearns’ season, the 45-quail possession limit may include 24 Mearns’ quail, of which no more than eight may be taken in any one day. For more information, visit www.azgfd.com/hunting/species/smallgame/quail/.

FISHING REPORT Dec. 6, 2019 Arizona Game and Fish Department TIP OF THE WEEK Water temperatures are falling as overnight lows in desert regions are forecast to be dipping into the low-40s by Monday. If you're bass fishing in desert impoundments, a good strategy might be throwing crankbaits during mornings and closer to midday switching to smaller plastic baits (Roboworms or baby brush hogs) on Texas rigs or dropshots in 15-25 feet of water. Fish with slow presentations. As mentioned, we're adjusting our trout stockings due to operational issues at our Page Springs Fish Hatchery. Stockings from Page Springs have been halted, yet we've been purchasing fish from out-of-state vendors to ensure most waters scheduled to be stocked do indeed receive trout. Read more. Canyon, Apache and Saguaro lakes are scheduled to be stocked with trout in January. See the latest trout stocking schedule. Great opportunities for anglers also remain in Community Fishing Program waters -- some were stocked this week with rainbow trout. Finally, we're stocking 1,500 fingerling Gila trout from the Mora National Fish Hatchery (N.M.) into Watson Lake, and another 2,000 at Lynx Lake in Prescott. Volunteers needed in January for Bartlett Lake Christmas tree habitat installments Start 2020 off right and help us drop Christmas trees into Bartlett Lake. We’re looking for volunteers on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 3-4, and Saturday Jan. 11 to install these used Christmas trees that will help ensure robust fish populations at this Tonto National Forest impoundment. We’ll be starting at 8:30 a.m. each day from the yellow cliffs boat ramp. Just bring a pair of gloves and help conserve sport-fishing opportunities for future generations! Contact Bryant Dickens at 623-236-7593 if you have any questions. Silver Creek Fish Hatchery to close Wednesday We will be closing to the public the Silver Creek Fish Hatchery, located in Show Low, on Wednesday, Dec. 11. This closure is necessary for public safety and to allow for replacement of a culvert. For more information, contact the hatchery at 928-537-7513. Catch of the Week Send your fishing reports and photos to BFishing@azgfd.gov -- one will be selected for Catch of the Week Festival Fields Pond (Avondale) This 2-year-old girl caught her first fish, a rainbow trout, during Saturday's grand re-opening event at Festival Fields Pond in Avondale. Festival Fields (first picture) is the newest addition to our Community Fishing Program. What's been stocked this week Rainbow trout: "Core" Community waters. Upcoming Family Fishing Event Saturday -- Youth Fishing Festival, 8 a.m.-noon, Discovery Ponds (Game and Fish booth will be located between the two ponds), 2214 E. Pecos Rd. Gilbert. This family event is co-sponsored by the Town of Gilbert and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. AZGFD Sport Fishing Education Program staff and volunteer instructors will be on hand to provide loaner rods for the first 100 participants who don’t have their own rod, as well as bait, fishing information and instruction. Come on out and bring the whole family. The event is open to all ages. For more information please contact the Sport Fishing Education Program at (623) 236-7240. Attention future participants of the Youth Fishing Festival 2019 Fishing licenses will be required to attend/participate in this year’s event and will be checked throughout the morning. Thank you, anglers! Arizona fishing opportunities wouldn’t be possible without the Sport Fish Restoration Program. It was created through the Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950 (Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act) and the Wallop-Breaux amendments of 1984. Through a federal excise tax paid by manufacturers on fishing gear and motorboat fuels, it provides grant funds for fishery conservation, boating access, and aquatic education. Save time, buy online Grab a license online (that helps conserve all species of wildlife, not to mention provides funding that goes back into fishing opportunities) and go "Fish AZ". SEE MORE REPORTS

Well done, sir. 👍

Been there -- done that. I was actually able to drive across the river in the same place they waded across.

Killed my very first near Elfrida in 1964 with a 30/30 Marlin 336 Texan w/Weaver 4X on it. See below.

I agree. Can't imagine how the deer survived with that many lions roaming up there. Perhaps Teddy did a bit of exaggerating. Other than some strange punctuation and phrasing here and there, Roosevelt was a good writer. The other stories in that compilation are also good reading.

I was doing some research and came across this. Thought perhaps some of you might enjoy the read. It was written by Teddy Roosevelt. A COUGAR HUNT ON THE RIM OF THE GRAND CANYON

Nice whitetail. 👍

That's a fine trophy! Well done. 👍

GAME AND FISH NEWS Game and Fish Commission to meet Dec. 6-7 in Phoenix PHOENIX — The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 6-7, at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters, Quail Room, 5000 W. Carefree Highway in Phoenix. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. both days. View the complete agenda.

These were closed as of this morning: SR 87 closed from Payson to Winslow. SR 89 closed from Drake to Ash Fork. SR 89A closed from Sedona to the I-17 junction. SR 260 closed from Camp Verde to SR 87. SR 66 closed from Kingman to 20 miles west of Seligman. I-17 northbound closed from SR 179 junction to Flagstaff. I-40 closed from US 93 junction to Winslow.

Nice! 👍 Welcome to the cult of the Coues deer.

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My bad. You're right on the 2nd tag. I had a brain fart. 🤬