Are we going to be pleasantly surprised by a possibly early and normal monsoon season? For most of the White Mountains, even a flock of spitting sparrows might seem “normal”! But the recent storms give us hope as they were able to soak into some of the most flammable brush and sticks in the woods. More moisture spread out through the season will allow this valuable rain to soak into the larger logs, making it even easier to fight fires, even if they do start from more lightning.  

 

With the recent re-opening of the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, State and County lands, many folks are itching to get out and explore the area, catch some fish for supper, or plan their fall hunting excursions. Many of us were in some form of human hibernation the past year, so an update of recent changes to some fishing and hunting regulations may be helpful.

Folks who applied for a hunt permit tag are probably aware of some of the changes mentioned below. The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) recently finished the draw to determine the lucky hunters for the 2021 fall big game hunts. About 30% of the applications submitted were successful in getting a hunt permit-tag issued. You can log into your free AGFD portal account or call (602) 942-3000, press “2” and follow the prompts (you’ll need to submit your social security or Department ID number and date of birth if you don’t have a portal set up already). To find out more about creating a portal account, call the same number above, but choose”7” when prompted.

One significant impact to archers in the White Mountains is the change in Units 1, 2A, 2B, 2C, 3A, and 3C from the over-the-counter type tag, which did not limit the number of hunters, to a draw system with 210 permits distributed among those units. It’s too late this year to put in for those new draw tags if you weren’t aware of this change, so make a reminder in your calendar for next year.

Hunt management recommendations are complicated and there are many factors that go into determining how deer and elk populations should be controlled and managed at desirable levels. One decision that has to be made is how many deer and elk to allow for archery season harvest and how many for the general season, using rifles, muzzleloaders, crossbows and other firearms.  

Recently, archery hunters have become more numerous and more efficient, resulting in a larger and larger harvest, showing advancements in bow and arrow technology that allow less-skilled archers to harvest more big game. To maintain the desired ratio of harvest from archery vs the general season, the over-the-counter archery hunts in the game management units mentioned above had to be changed to a draw permit to manage the numbers better.

A major change to the fishing regulations includes a state-wide bag limit of four trout per person, including at the Silver Creek Hatchery area during the “catch and keep” trout season, open from April 1 to September 30. With the opening of many lakes that had been closed due to the Forest Closure, there could be some gullible and well rested fish just waiting for some bait or an artificial fly. It may be even more difficult to remember the new four trout limit when they are biting, but make sure you leave some for that family that will fish your spot the day after you leave.

Woodland Lake had to miss another fishing season due to low water levels and dam repairs, but fortunately, another very popular fishery has been added to the area. Show Low Creek Meadow, with parking and access along Highway 260 in Show Low, was added to the AGFD Community Fishing Program recently, so it has special fishing opportunities and regulations. Show Low Creek has received many stockings of bass, catfish, and trout, recently, since so many lakes have been closed. The daily limit of trout is lower here, only two trout per person, to make sure everybody has a chance to catch fish. Check signage at all lakes and streams for special regulations just for that area.

Bear calls are on the increase even though the forest is starting to green up nicely. AGFD states that most calls involve residents allowing bears easy access to garbage and leaving curbside longer than a day. Bird feeders may have to be removed temporarily if bears are frequenting the area. Since bears have proven dangerous to people, they must be removed, which usually means killed, if they frequent populated areas and lose their fear of humans. For questions or to obtain a brochure on living with bears, visit www.azgfd.com/Wildlife/LivingWith and check out the Bears link at the bottom. Bear sightings in areas of human activity should be reported to AGFD at 623-236-7201.

The ongoing drought has increased the need to maintain certain water catchments for wildlife. These catchments can help distribute wildlife so they don’t all concentrate on and impact high value habitats like streams and other riparian areas. Water catchments supported by wildlife advocates such as the Arizona Elk Society, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Mule Deer Foundation, as well as AGFD and others, can maintain wildlife during short periods of abnormal weather and provide the limiting factor of water to dozens of species, as shown in numerous studies. If you want to help contribute to the planned 3 million gallons of water delivered to almost 3,000 wildlife catchments statewide this year, visit AZwildlifehero.com or text “SENDWATER” to 41444 from any smartphone.

The AGFD’s 15th Annual Arizona wildlife photo contest is now accepting entries for the 2022 calendar, to be published in the 2021 November-December issue of Arizona Wildlife Views magazine. Your photo could appear on the cover as the “Best in Show” or representing one of the months. Local Round Valley photographer Marc Zebell has been honored in the past. Official rules, the online submission form, and more information can be found by Googling “AGFD Calendar Contest”. Arizona Highways is assisting with the contest due to its popularity and to make submissions easier. Deadline is August 13, 2021.