Arizona State Parks Board Approves Fee Increases

Some state parks park reduces hours

The Arizona State Parks board meeting on Friday, April 3rd, resulted in operational changes for some parks in the Arizona State Parks system. Continue reading about the Arizona State Parks reductions

Arizona’s fall hunting seasons set by Game and Fish Commission

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission on April 17 set the annual fall hunting seasons for the 2010-11 Arizona Hunting and Trapping Regulations.

Once the regulations are available, hunters interested in a hunt permit-tag issued through the lottery draw process can begin submitting paper applications in person or by U.S. mail. There is no online application service.

The application deadline is Tuesday, June 8, 2010 by 7 p.m. MST. – postmarks do not count. Application forms and drawing information can be found at www.azgfd.gov/draw.

The species addressed by the commission included deer (mule and white-tailed), fall turkey (Merriam’s and Gould’s), juniors-only fall javelina, bighorn sheep (desert and Rocky Mountain), fall buffalo, fall bear, mountain lion, small game (quail, squirrel, rabbit, etc.) and other wildlife that may be hunted and trapped in Arizona.

Some of the most notable changes from last year are:

Archery-only deer hunts for Game Management Units 1, 3A, 3C and 7 are now included in the over-the-counter archery-only nonpermit-tag seasons. (Note: Units 12A and B, 13A, and 13B archery-only deer hunts are still issued through the draw.)

Some juniors-only deer hunts (general hunts in Units 28, 29, 30A, 30B, 31, 32, 33, 36A, 36B; and 16A muzzleloader hunt) now qualify for a javelina “companion tag” in the corresponding population management hunt area, via a restricted nonpermit-tag, available over-the-counter at department offices only.

Falconry-only quail season now has a statewide late hunt after the closing of the general quail season from Feb. 7 – March 10, 2011.

General mountain lion season starts a week earlier (Aug. 20, 2010) to correspond with the opening of archery-only deer season.

Santa Cruz County Will Operate Tubac Presidio State Historic Park

Arizona State Parks and Santa Cruz County announced today that Tubac Presidio State Historic Park will not close as planned on Monday, March 29, 2010.  Executive Director Renee Bahl and County Manager Greg Lucero have come to an agreement that the County will be able to take over the management of the park. Continue reading about the Tubac Presidio State Historic Park.

FORT VERDE STATE HISTORIC PARK GRANTED REPRIEVE FROM CLOSING ON MARCH 29

Arizona State Parks and the Town of Camp Verde announced today that Fort Verde State Historic Park will not close as planned on March 29, 2010.   Camp Verde Mayor Bob Burnside has agreed to provide funding from the Town of Camp Verde and Yavapai County for State Parks to keep the park open and operating for one year.

"We have signed the Intergovernmental Agreement to keep the park open another year with options for two additional one-year periods," said State Parks Executive Director Reneé Bahl.

According to Mayor Burnside, "We are committed to promoting this park which will bring visitors to Camp Verde even during the economic recession.  Fort Verde is the focus of our tourism efforts to draw visitors to the downtown area.  We also want to attract as many local volunteers as possible to get involved at the Fort with many new special events and activities.   Already there are more than 50 volunteers working with Fort Verde, but we'll need everyone's support if we are going to keep the park open on the usual five-day schedule."

"Our Yavapai County Supervisors have been extremely supportive in partnering with us to keep the park open and we all appreciate the work that Supervisor Chip Davis has done to find funds to help on this effort," said Burnside.

"The Camp Verde Historical Society has been our partner for many years and has supported efforts to keep this State Park operating," said Bahl.  "Arizona should  appreciate the work this Historical Society has done to win the battle to save Fort Verde.   This is the only State Park which offers a glimpse into the history of Arizona's frontier soldier's everyday life in the late 1800's and the best-preserved example of this period in Arizona's military history."

For information about park closures throughout the state, contact Arizona State Parks at (602) 542-4174 (outside of the Phoenix metro area call toll-free (800) 285-3703) or visit the website at www.azstateparks.com.