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Pool just for hunters
Dale Hajek, The Arizona Republic
Jul. 3, 2003
No matter how they fare in this month's computer drawing for big-game hunting permits, Arizona hunters may want to do something they've never done before:
Go jump in a pool.
For the first time, hunter pools could be used for population-management hunts where Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists believe it's necessary to harvest elk, javelina, black bear or buffalo. In other words, those hunters would be "on call."
The concept was proposed by the department's Elk Harvest Management Team and recently approved by the five-member Arizona Game and Fish Commission.
"The limited-opportunity hunts appear to be working well for trimming elk populations in areas designated by department elk biologists as 'limited population-management zones,' " said Brian Wakeling, big-game supervisor. "I think the hunter pool will give us an even more precise tool to use when conditions warrant."
Tice Supplee, game branch chief, described the pool as a management "surgical instrument" that could be used if continued drought and other factors result in elk negatively affecting habitat or private property.
If Game and Fish sets a population-management hunt and a hunter's application (a new form is available strictly for this process) is randomly selected, the department will try to contact the applicant by telephone three times within a 24-hour period. In the event an applicant cannot be contacted, the application will be returned to the pool for future consideration.
Pool rules
• An application costs $5.
• An application can be filed any time during the year.
• The pool list will be purged annually on April 30.
• Applicants must designate species and weapon type when applying.
• Applicants can designate more than one species and weapon type on the application form.
• A hunting license is not required when submitting an application. Only after an application is selected is a valid hunting license necessary when purchasing a non-permit tag.
• An attempt will be made to contact an applicant by telephone three times within a 24-hour period. If the applicant cannot be contacted, the application will be returned to the pool for future consideration.
• If an applicant is offered a non-permit tag, he or she can decline to participate. The application then will be returned to the pool for future consideration.
• An applicant is eligible to be in a pool even if he or she has been drawn for that species through the random computer drawing process. The annual bag limit still applies.
• Most hunts are conducted within a few days of the applicants being contacted.
• If an applicant fails to purchase a permit tag within the designated time frame, he or she will not be eligible for any more population-management hunts that year.
• Bonus points cannot be gained or lost when applying or participating in a population-management hunt.
• Non-permit tags can be purchased at all department locations.
• Information: (602) 942-3000 or http://www.azgfd.com.
Dale Hajek, The Arizona Republic
Jul. 3, 2003
No matter how they fare in this month's computer drawing for big-game hunting permits, Arizona hunters may want to do something they've never done before:
Go jump in a pool.
For the first time, hunter pools could be used for population-management hunts where Arizona Game and Fish Department biologists believe it's necessary to harvest elk, javelina, black bear or buffalo. In other words, those hunters would be "on call."
The concept was proposed by the department's Elk Harvest Management Team and recently approved by the five-member Arizona Game and Fish Commission.
"The limited-opportunity hunts appear to be working well for trimming elk populations in areas designated by department elk biologists as 'limited population-management zones,' " said Brian Wakeling, big-game supervisor. "I think the hunter pool will give us an even more precise tool to use when conditions warrant."
Tice Supplee, game branch chief, described the pool as a management "surgical instrument" that could be used if continued drought and other factors result in elk negatively affecting habitat or private property.
If Game and Fish sets a population-management hunt and a hunter's application (a new form is available strictly for this process) is randomly selected, the department will try to contact the applicant by telephone three times within a 24-hour period. In the event an applicant cannot be contacted, the application will be returned to the pool for future consideration.
Pool rules
• An application costs $5.
• An application can be filed any time during the year.
• The pool list will be purged annually on April 30.
• Applicants must designate species and weapon type when applying.
• Applicants can designate more than one species and weapon type on the application form.
• A hunting license is not required when submitting an application. Only after an application is selected is a valid hunting license necessary when purchasing a non-permit tag.
• An attempt will be made to contact an applicant by telephone three times within a 24-hour period. If the applicant cannot be contacted, the application will be returned to the pool for future consideration.
• If an applicant is offered a non-permit tag, he or she can decline to participate. The application then will be returned to the pool for future consideration.
• An applicant is eligible to be in a pool even if he or she has been drawn for that species through the random computer drawing process. The annual bag limit still applies.
• Most hunts are conducted within a few days of the applicants being contacted.
• If an applicant fails to purchase a permit tag within the designated time frame, he or she will not be eligible for any more population-management hunts that year.
• Bonus points cannot be gained or lost when applying or participating in a population-management hunt.
• Non-permit tags can be purchased at all department locations.
• Information: (602) 942-3000 or http://www.azgfd.com.
