Small Town News

Species management takes public insight

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Each year, the Arizona Game and Fish Department makes recommendations to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission regarding the management of game species for the annual hunting and trap ping regulations, which establish the seasons, dates, bag limits, open areas and hunt permit-tag allocations based on the framework of the hunt guidelines set by the commission every two years.

The department will host upcoming public forums to meet with constituents about developing the 2014 fall hunt recommendations for deer, bighorn sheep, turkey, javelina, buffalo, bear, mountain lion and small game animals.

The meetings will be held Thursday, March 6, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Flagstaff Game and Fish regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.

Constituents who are interested in specific game management units within those regions will have the opportunity to discuss management direction.

"The meetings are a great way for sportsmen and other members of the public to stay informed and provide input on the hunt recommendations. We will be discussing the direction for the recommendations based on survey data, harvest rates and the hunt guidelines," Big Game Management Supervisor Amber Munig said. "We won't be proposing permit numbers at this point, but we will generally discuss where permit numbers might be headed."

After the public forums have been completed, the final proposed draft hunt recommendations will be made available for public review at several regional open houses and posted on the Arizona Fish and Game Department's by Saturday, March 29.

The open house will be held Tuesday, April 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Flagstaff regional office, 3500 S. Lake Mary Road.

The final fall hunt recommendations will be presented to the Arizona Game and Fish Commission for consideration during its Saturday, April 12, meeting in Phoenix.

To learn more about the hunt recommendations and hunt guidelines processes, visit the department's website.



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