February Update
Overview
Most of Southern AZ continues in a severe drought. Gambel’s numbers are decent after good winter rain in the last couple of years. With almost no rain this winter we will pay the price next season. Mearns numbers have been poor. Many of the coveys found are small and appear to be hold over birds. Because of the poor Mearns numbers we are seeing fewer folks out looking for Mearns.
COVID cases continue to increase in AZ. This has had a big impact on the number of seasonal visitors. We are able to conduct quite a bit of habitat work with significant social distancing.
Habitat
On the habitat side we have already completed a lot of loose rock dams on our Coronado National Forest Grasslands Project. Our loose rock dams help during below average rainfall years by slowing runoff to keep water in the soil longer. Due to COVID we are delaying planned volunteer days on the Grasslands Project until after Feb. There have also been two great habitat days in Dec where hundreds of hours of volunteer labor improved quail habitat at BANWR. We will get more habitat work done this season than any previous.
Take a few minutes to view the work a QF chapter has done in OK. There are similarities to our grassland project. https://www.youtube.com/embed/9xl4myM-b9U
Chapter and QF National Finances
Without a banquet this year we are working other sources of funding to support out habitat, public land and R3/Youth events. Every cent the chapter collects remains with the chapter for local work.
Our banquet profit from merchandise, raffles and auctions averages about $100 per person. If you are able, consider a donation directly to the chapter. You can use a credit card at https://ch3163-southern-arizona-quail-forever.square.site. A big thank you to those that have already done this.
QF National receives much of its funding through individual memberships. Many of you renew your QF membership at our banquet. You can keep your membership current by by renewing at https://quailforever.org/getdoc/91f8dfad-47ad-46d6-af54-5649db42671f/Membership.aspx. This video is an appeal from the PF/QF President/CEO – youtu.be/VPea0dKPWok.
R3 (recruit, retain and reactivate) Events:
Our Family Day scheduled for Feb has been cancelled due to COVID.
For the Hunter:21 Facts you might not have known about hunting / wildlife conservation for 2021
Introduction:Hunting and hunters are often misunderstood. Some of it is our own doing.
Certainly there are differences in personal beliefs and values. But, like many topics that polarize, a lack of knowledge, information and understanding play a big role.
One thing is certain, wildlife imparts amazement, astonishment, and a sense of awe in us all.
So this year, I’ll share 21 pretty cool facts you might not know about hunting and wildlife conservation — not in an attempt to convert or to change your beliefs, but to have a conversation about common misconceptions.
- Wildlife is monitored using science Before any hunting begins, wildlife professionals survey, monitor and measure wildlife populations, habitat conditions, reproduction rates and many other elements to assure healthy, sustainable wildlife populations, to determine if there is an allowable harvest.
- Hunting is regulated by law There are extensive laws and rules in place that regulate hunting seasons, harvest limits, as well as restrictions on hunting methods that result in fair chase. This is to assure hunting doesn’t result in a decline of populations. The days of unregulated market hunting are gone.
- Restrictions on harvest by sex For many animals, hunting is limited to the males (buck, bull, ram, etc.) only which doesn’t reduce population levels – since it’s the females that have offspring. Interestingly, science has determined that buck-to-doe ratios have to dip below 10:100 to reduce populations.
- No waste of meat The primary purpose of regulated hunting is for food regardless of the game animal’s size, rack or antlers. There are extensive laws about wasting game meat. When you see a taxidermied animal, it’s done after the meat is processed and you are only seeing the hide or fur on a molded shape.
Many get hunting confused with unregulated market hunting of the 19th century that depleted wildlife populations. On the contrary, regulated hunting using modern science-based wildlife management methods has restored, maintained and allowed sustainable use of North America’s thriving wildlife populations.
In the next issue I will cover: carrying capacity, management plans, public trust and public process.
By: Doug Burt, AZ G&F Hunting and Shooting Sports ManagerPreviously printed in the January / February 2021 issue of the Arizona Wildlife Views, published by the Arizona Game and Fish Department
Access to Public Lands
Meadow Valley road bypass is still moving forward slowly. The pacing factor is the environmental study required by NEPA. CNF road manager is working to have a road in place for the 21/22 season. Both AZSFWC and AWF have written letters of support for this project.
The conservation easement and public access easement on ranch land near Tombstone has been completed. Both AZ QF Chapters provided funding plus we received a grant from AZSFWC.
The chapter completed a highway cleanup on Highway 82 to maintain a positive image for the chapter.
AZ Sportsman for Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) and Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF)
SAQF is part of AZSFWC. You can sign up for their enews at http://azsfwc.org. This allows us to better coordinate with other wildlife groups and better communicate with AZ G&F leadership. We are part of over 10,000 AZ sportsman represented by this organization. We are also an affiliate of AWF which allows us to pool volunteer help and communicate with other wildlife and conservation organizations.
Please consider purchasing a AZSFWC license plate to support wildlife when you renew your current AZ plate through Service Arizona. The fee for this license supports the conservation grants provided by AZSFWC. Our Family Day/Youth Hunt has received AZSFWC grant support the last two years.
Chapter Website and Facebook:
If you see an error or have a recommendation for improvement, please let us know. We are always looking for pictures, stories or articles to add. We are working to add instagram to our social media offerings. If you see something that would be worthwhile to cross post, please send it to Dave Brown (browndave27@gmail.com) or Kerry Newberry (newberry.kerry@gmail.com).
Future Dates
- 7 Feb 2021 Quail Closes
- Feb/Mar/Apr Road Cleanup TBD
- Apr/May Grasslands Volunteer Days TBD
Tentative 21-22 AZ Quail Season Dates Pending AZ G&F Commission Review and Approval
- 15 Oct Desert Quail Opens
- 3 Dec Mearns Quail Opens
- 6 Feb 2022 Quail Closes