This is topic AZ Game and Fish is finally taking a baby step in forum Member forum at The New Huntmastersbbs!.
To visit this topic, use this URL:
https://www.huntmastersbbs.com/cgi-bin/cgi-ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=6;t=002964
Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on December 03, 2011, 05:34 PM:
I just got this email in from Az Game and Fish. After reading it, my question is what do we use on lion?
Arizona Game and Fish Commission takes a cautious and surgical approach to implementing night hunting legislation
Dec. 3, 2011
PHOENIX – The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on Dec. 2 approved rules and commission orders to implement new short-term strategic tools that will allow hunters to help reduce predator numbers to aid struggling pronghorn antelope and bighorn sheep populations in specific game management units.
Both votes were passed by a 3-1 margin with one commissioner absent. Arizona now joins 41 other states that allow night hunting of predators.
The commission approved rulemaking to allow the use of artificial lights at night for taking coyotes and mountain lions, as allowed by new laws enacted by the legislature last session.
“The rules will enable implementation of these new management tools within game management units or smaller portions thereof,” explained Game Chief Brian Wakeling. “In order to help struggling pronghorn antelope populations, we will use night hunting using white light for coyotes in specific hunt units at critical times of year during the spring fawning period (typically April, May and June).”
“Research studies and our own survey data demonstrate that if we can strategically reduce coyote predation during the critical spring fawning period, especially during the first six weeks of life when the fawns are most vulnerable, then we can increase fawn survivability and pronghorn population size. Carefully timed coyote removal on the fawning grounds has proven effective at reducing predation,” Wakeling said.
The orders that the commission approved will allow shotguns shooting shot for coyotes as a safety measure, with limited range firearms.
The commission adopted short-term night hunting seasons for coyotes in hunt management units 4A, 10, 13A and 35A to augment the department's ongoing enhancement efforts, and in units 2A, 17A, 17B, 31, 32, 34B, 35B and 36B to assist pronghorn where recruitment is less than 15 fawns per 100 does. “It only makes sense to use one of our most viable and valuable wildlife management tools, the hunter, to help us achieve increased fawn survivability,” Wakeling said.
The rules and orders adopted will allow a similar approach for achieving temporary, local mountain lion population reductions to help struggling desert bighorn sheep populations. Mountain lions have expanded their range and populations are currently robust and increasing in Arizona.
“With mountain lions, strategic night hunting is now a tool to be used only in those hunt management units where we have instituted multiple bag limits for mountain lions in an effort to assist struggling desert bighorn sheep populations,” Wakeling said.
Wakeling added that since the implementation of sound scientific wildlife management back in the 1940s, hunting has been one of the most effective wildlife management tools available to biologists and to the Game and Fish Commission.
“Keep in mind that through the decades, hunters have not only been instrumental in wildlife management, but they have also paid for most wildlife conservation efforts in Arizona and nationwide,” Wakeling said. “The support and contributions by hunters and shooting sports enthusiasts have funded conservation efforts that benefit not just hunted species, but all wildlife species that Arizonans enjoy.”
He added that most people may not realize it, but America has the most successful and envied wildlife management approach in the world.
Posted by 4949shooter (Member # 3530) on December 09, 2011, 03:14 AM:
Excellent. So Arizona will now allow mountian lions to be taken with shot? Apparently they did not prior to this?
Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on December 09, 2011, 09:40 AM:
"The orders that the commission approved will allow shotguns shooting shot for coyotes as a safety measure, with limited range firearms." This line talks only about shotguns for coyotes. They may allow us to use shotguns using buckshot on cougar, but I don't read it into this line. We will just have to wait until they come up with the final rules which I fully believe will be full of bull $hit knowing how AG&F LEOs feel about this subject. The quote "...with limited range weapons." could mean muzzleloaders, bows or slugs. If slugs are the approved method, how many guys are going to invest in a slug barrel just to hunt cougar. I know of no one that has a slug barrel in Arizona. I doubt they will even allow us to us an extension cord to the vehicle's battery to power our lights.
Posted by Kokopelli (Member # 633) on December 09, 2011, 12:48 PM:
It ain't perfect.............but it's a start. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posted by Leonard (Member # 2) on December 09, 2011, 01:12 PM:
What I would like to see is a specific justification for every stupid condition in that regulation, who wrote it and why they think it's important.
gh....lb
Posted by Aznative (Member # 506) on December 10, 2011, 07:06 AM:
I wonder how effective this rule change will be on cougar. These critters are usually so far off the beaten path, one would have to be a 27 year old pro ultimate fighter to be able to carry enought battery power to even make 2 one hour stands. The rules are going to require the use of artificial lights. The only loop hole that may work is a high dollar FLIR night vision devices coupled with a low power light used to comply with the rules that can last several hours when hooked up to a 11 AH gell cell. Has anyone developed a high candle power LED unit?
UBB.classicTM
6.3.0