September Update

Overview

As an Arizona conservation organization we are thrilled to support the wildlife and people of Arizona.  We are continuing with an exceptional annual monsoon.  It is shaping up to be one of the best on record and is relatively widespread.  We are seeing thick and tall habitat from the great rainfall.  The abundant bugs we are seeing are pests but needed for Mearns’ chick survival.

Gambel’s numbers are way down based on poor winter and spring rainfall.  Dove opens on 1 Sep giving us an opportunity to get shotguns and dogs out.

The chapter schedule for the 21/22 season is copied below.  You should expect normal events for the upcoming season.  We will follow national, state and local guidelines on COVID and will adjust our activities and schedule as required.

If you have a little time, the videos in the Hunting / Wildlife Conservation section put together by Doug Burt from AZ G&F are worth viewing.

Habitat

We continue to build numerous rock structures on our Coronado National Forest Grasslands Project.  National Forest Foundation, Fisher Foundation and AZSFWC are some of the significant donors supporting this work.  Our loose rock dams help by slowing runoff to keep water in the soil longer and retaining soil to grow habitat.  To date, we have completed over 600 structures this season alone.  The work completed the last few years looks great after our rainfall.

Borderlands Restoration staff led two groups of high school and college students in building erosion control structures in the project area. Both groups were part of the Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY) summer program; one group was based in Patagonia and the other in Douglas. The Douglas crew included 9 interns and 2 facilitators, and the Patagonia crew included 8 interns and 2 facilitators. The crews worked for 4 days on the project and completed 74 structures.

Borderlands was awarded a matching funds grant from the National Forest Foundation to continue our work along the border.  We will support with funding.

SAQF completed installing the BLM provided quail escape ramps on the Rosetree Ranch.  We have also acquired a few escape ramps that can be used on non BLM lands. 

We are meeting with Mule Deer Foundation and AZ Antelope Foundation in Sep to consider more water for wildlife work.  Will keep you advised.

Public Land Grazing

Due to the extreme drought combined with grazing many of our public grasslands took a big hit this last year.  These grasslands look much better after our recent rain.  As a stakeholder in the public grasslands our Dec meeting will focus on how grazing on public lands is managed and provide feedback to the land managers.  We are working procedures with CNF to report grazing issues to their range manager.

Facts #13-16 About Hunting & Wildlife Conservation

By: Doug Burt, R3 Program Manager, AZGFD. Previously printed in the July / August 2021 issue of the Arizona Wildlife Views, published by the Arizona Game and Fish Department

Welcome to the fourth edition of fun facts that maybe you didn’t know about hunting and conservation in our series of 21 facts in 2021.

To put some light on these sometimes misunderstood subjects, we will cover four more facts: perceptions of rarity, opportunity for all, conservation funding, and the benefit to the public.

 Because of our urban society, observations may seem rare. This “rarity” of sightings might suggest animal populations are dwindling. But that’s generally not the case. We just don’t occupy the same habitats as wildlife. Seek wild places and you’ll be amazed at the frequency and diversity of wildlife you will encounter. And remember, avoiding detection is key to survival.  <Dig deeper: Mountain Lions in Arizona video, https://bit.ly/3dHUVcU>

Opportunity for All. Our Democratic process has established that wildlife is held in the public trust. All citizens have equal rights to these resources within the laws set through the public process. In Europe, the Crown holds the public trust responsibility, yet access to wildlife is limited to rulers, aristocrats, titled landowners, and those with class and status. Remember Robin Hood.  <Dig deeper: TWS The Public Trust Doctrine, https://bit.ly/3awX74J>

Funding Conservation. In 1937, the federal Pittman-Robertson Act put an excise tax on hunting equipment to provide funding for state wildlife agencies to manage wildlife. Considering most state wildlife agencies, including AZ, do not receive state tax revenues, this Act was a game changer for conservation of the public’s wildlife. <Dig deeper: What is the Pittman-Robertson Act? video, https://bit.ly/3emUGCZ>

Public Benefit. State wildlife agencies are charged to protect and manage all wildlife, not just hunted animals. In Arizona, that’s more than 800 species. Because of the funding system for conservation, hunters and shooters fund conservation for many species, not just those that they pursue, resulting in diverse, abundant wildlife and habitats for all to enjoy.  <Dig deeper: RMEF Hunting Benefits Non-Game Species video, https://bit.ly/2QojH8Y>

Most wildlife populations are robust and diverse and any citizen can enjoy them thanks to the public trust doctrine, wildlife agencies stewardship, and an unparalleled funding system that will assure the wildlife for generations to come.

In the next issue I will close with five elements about hunting: public acceptance, food, health, hunting is hard and hunters care.

Scaled Quail and Box Turtle Count, 8-9 Oct

Expect more detail and a call for volunteers as we get closer.  This count is done with AZGFD near Bonita which is north of Wilcox.  They are looking for dogs and handlers to assess quail and turtle populations. Dogs will run preplanned routes in areas that have been treated and areas without treatment to help assess the differences.  These same routes have been run for the last several years.  We typically meet Friday afternoon/evening, cook burgers and hotdogs, tell stories and other lies and load GPS routes.  We then head out early the next morning to run the routes and collect data.  We are typically done by 9:30 or so before it gets hot.

Expect more detail and a call for volunteers as we get closer.  This count is done with AZGFD near Bonita which is north of Wilcox.  They are looking for dogs and handlers to assess quail and turtle populations. Dogs will run preplanned routes in areas that have been treated and areas without treatment to help assess the differences.  These same routes have been run for the last several years.  We typically meet Friday afternoon/evening, cook burgers and hotdogs, tell stories and other lies and load GPS routes.  We then head out early the next morning to run the routes and collect data.  We are typically done by 9:30 or so before it gets hot.

January 2022 Banquet

We are searching for a banquet chair to facilitate our banquet.  Let us know if you can help.
Ads for Chapter Members: As you have seen in the past we are willing to let folks know if you have dogs/pups or other items that other members may be interested in.  This is only for private sales, not commercial.  The chapter does not endorse nor have we vetted any of these ads.

Garmin Alpha 100 Handheld: Ken Sullins is selling his Alpha 100 this is the handheld and charger only without collars.  If interested contact Ken at 571-246-3122.

English Pointer Puppies Expected Early September

These should be awesome Wild Bird Dogs. Contact Dave Brown 520-604-2729

Chapter and Quail Forever 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.  Donations that are sent to the national organization are used at the national level and not made available to the chapter.   A big thank you to those that have made donations directly to the chapter.  At present the chapter is in good financial shape.

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.

Access to Public Lands

Meadow Valley road bypass is still moving forward.  Both AZSFWC and AWF have written letters of support for this project.  A CNF decision is expected in the second quarter of FY 2022.  This has been delayed from earlier completion estimates due to the requirement to complete a full blown environmental assessment instead of a more streamlined option which has not materialized.  Implementation will follow which may take some funding assistance.

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.  Signage for access has been installed and a gate is in process.

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.  AZSFWC is currently doing a sweepstakes for a new Ford Bronco.  Profit from these sweepstakes supports wildlife habitat and new hunter outreach.
Chapter Website, Facebook and Instagram:  

Website and Social Media

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 have added instagram to our social media offerings. Please feel free to post, tag or share to any of our social media feeds,or 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

• 8-9 Oct    Scaled Quail and Box Turtle Count
• 15 Oct   Desert Quail Opens
• Nov/Dec TBD  Fall Road Cleanup
• 3 Dec    Mearns’ Quail Opens
• 5 Dec  QuailFest Fairgrounds
• 9 Dec Fall Meeting Green Valley
• 20 Jan Winter Meeting Sonoita
• 29 Jan  Banquet
• 6 Feb Quail Closes
• TBD Feb Wing Bee
• 25-27 Feb    Family Days
• TBD Winter Road Cleanup
• Spring TBD Chapter Election