Biologists told the Game and Fish commissioners that the outlook is better for antelope and elk, but also said that small game reproduction potential is looking tremendous, thanks to a wet winter and spring. "The quail reproduction should be excellent. We are expecting a great quail year," said Game Branch Chief Leonard Ordway.
Department officials note there are significant changes to the draw this year that applicants need to know. One of the biggest changes is that the online application process has been suspended, and a manual system with paper applications is the only way to apply. Regulations and applications will be available from www.azgfd.gov in downloadable PDF format files on May 2. Printed paper copies will be available at all department offices and license dealers around May 20. The new application forms are yellow; the old ones are white. Throw away any old application forms.
Deadline day is June 14. The department must receive completed paper applications, either mailed or delivered to any department office, by 7 p.m. (MST) that day. Postmarks don't count. All department offices will be crowded on deadline day, so don't wait until the last minute. If you apply by May 27, the department will review your application and attempt to contact you if any errors are found.
The downward spiral on deer permits during the last decade or so has now been reversed slightly, so department biologists recommended a moderate increase in hunt-permit tags.
The commission established 37,695 permits for the general deer season, which is an improvement of 1,370 permits over last year's record low level of permits. Statewide fawn-to-doe ratios improved over last year for both white-tailed and mule deer, but large-scale population improvements have not occurred.
The Kaibab deer hunts, especially the doe hunts, received a lot of discussion during the commission meeting. The commission established a juniors-only doe hunting season with 750 permits for November during the Veteran's Day weekend (Nov. 11-14).
Ordway pointed out that the fawn-to-doe ratio on the west side of the Kaibab is around 103 fawns to 100 does, which is "unprecedented." He said the doe hunt is necessary to trim the reproductive capacity of the deer in that area so that the animals don't exceed the habitat's carrying capacity. Of great concern to biologists and knowledgeable stakeholders is the winter range. Some of the winter range, especially out on the points, has shown high use of cliffrose, one of the key browse plants that deer feed upon.
A piece of good news is the slight rebound of pronghorn antelope this year. The commission approved a 56-permit increase over last year with 421 permits for the general season, 409 archery permits (a one-permit reduction from last year), and 97 muzzleloader permits (an increase of five permits over last year).
Pronghorn fawn recruitment is looking better this year, especially compared to the last several years when drought was severely impacting pronghorn habitat in most areas. The rebound is likely due to habitat improvements in conjunction with ongoing management efforts.
Elk, which generally have been less affected by the drought during the last decade, received a 1,085-permit increase for the general season this year with 14,720 permits. Archery permits were set at 6,454 permits, an increase of 1,346 from last year. Muzzleloader permits were set at 1,233, which is no change from last year. Junior elk permits were set at 1,160, which is a 135-permit increase over last year.
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