Pursuant to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission hunt orders approved on April 19, 2008, archery deer hunts in the following units are now allocated through the big game draw:

Archery hunters interested in hunting deer in these units will need to apply through the big game draw application process. The deadline to apply is June 10 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count. Applications will be accepted by mail or may be hand delivered to a department office – there is no online application process.

“The reason for this significant first-ever change is to allocate the harvest among deer hunters that is proportionate to the demand for that weapon choice.  In some management units, the harvest proportion for certain weapon types exceeded the demand,” states Brian Wakeling, big game management supervisor for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.
 
“Under the new formula, in game management units where there is a single archery season and if the archery harvest exceeds 20-percent of the combined total harvest by both firearms and archery hunters, the commission established the need to allocate archery tags through the big game draw process to keep harvest by weapon type proportionate with demand,” Wakeling added.

Hunters who purchased a 2008 archery season nonpermit-tag in the fall of 2007 are reminded that you are now required to adhere to the new 2008-09 hunting regulations, which will eliminate these units from your available hunting areas (although these tags are valid in many other open units). Hunters are also advised that some season structures (dates) have changed, which includes the lengthening of seasons in some units.

To download a copy of the 2008-09 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations and to learn how to apply through the draw process, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw. If you have additional questions, call your local department office.

Harvest Reporting
Nonpermit-tag holders: Mandatory harvest reporting is still required by archery deer hunters with an over-the-counter nonpermit-tag. Please call (866) 903-3337.
Permit-tag holders: Archery deer hunters with hunt permit-tags obtained through the draw process are NOT required to call the harvest hotline. However, you will receive a hunter questionnaire in the mail. Please return your questionnaire.

CWD Sampling
Regardless of hunt permit-tag type, all successful archery hunters are encouraged to participate in the voluntary chronic wasting disease (CWD) sampling program. Hunters who are successful in Game Management Unit 12B are especially encouraged to submit heads. Because this unit borders Utah, deer from this area of the state have the greatest potential for initial detection of CWD. To submit a sample, heads can be brought to any Game and Fish Department office between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. You will be notified of the results of this test and there is no charge for this service. Lab tests from the sampling during the 2007-08 season found no presence the disease in Arizona (Read the full story here).

Prime camping season is arriving in the high country, and the Arizona Game and Fish Department reminds people heading to the great outdoors to be “bear aware” and keep a clean campsite.

Bear activity is up this time of year, as yearling bears leave their mothers and begin roaming more in search of food sources and to establish their own territories. Bears have a keen sense of smell and can be drawn to food in campgrounds.

“The root cause of most conflicts between bears and people, especially in camping areas, is food,” says Bruce Sitko, information and education program manager in Game and Fish’s Pinetop region. “Bears can’t change their behavior, but people can. Protect yourself and protect a bear—take a few minutes to secure your food items.”

Wildlife officials say it is prudent for all outdoor recreationists to take the following precautions to minimize potential conflicts with bears and other wildlife:

• Never intentionally feed wildlife.
• Secure all garbage.
• Keep a clean camp.
• Do not cook in your tent or sleeping area.
• Store all food, toiletries and other scented items well away from sleeping areas and unavailable to bears.
• Wash up, change clothing, and remove all scented articles before retiring to your sleeping area.
• Walk or jog in groups. Pay attention to your surroundings when hiking, jogging or bicycling.
• Supervise your children and keep them in sight.
• Keep your pets on a leash—don’t allow them to roam free. Or better yet, leave them at home if you can. Pets can easily get into conflicts with a wide range of wildlife.

If you are confronted by a black bear (the only bear species in Arizona), don’t run. Stay calm, continue facing it, and slowly back away. Try to make yourself look as big and imposing as possible; put young children on your shoulders. Speak or yell and let it know you are human. Make loud noises by clanging pans, using air horns, or whatever is available.

If you encounter a bear in a developed campground, notify the campground host. If you have a problem with a scavenging bear in the forest, notify the Arizona Game and Fish Department.