AZ402
Well-known member
PHOENIX - Hunters will be very interested to see what happens at the upcoming Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting in Flagstaff on Aug. 12 and 13. Action may be taken on several high-profile issues, including the spring 2006 hunt regulations and reaction to a Congressional move that could affect Arizona's recently repealed 10-percent nonresident hunting cap.
"We have put together our recommendations for the spring hunt seasons," says Richard Rico, assistant director of the department's special services division, which is responsible for hunt draws. "We are also working to deal with the ongoing nonresident tag issue."
Arizona's 10-percent cap on nonresident hunt tags was created to offer more hunting opportunities to Arizona residents by limiting the number of out-of-state hunters who were allowed to receive permits to hunt for certain desirable big game species each year. Last year, a U.S. District Court declared the 10-percent cap unconstitutional. Since then, a combination of department staff recommendations, extensive public input, and other factors were used to narrow down a list of alternative measures that might offer the same type of advantage to resident hunters. The department has already put several of these measures into place, including requiring all draw applicants to buy an Arizona hunting license, awarding additional bonus points for continuous support, and increasing the bonus point pass percentage from 10 percent to 20 percent, making more big game permits available to those individuals with the most bonus points.
Also recently, Congress took action to renounce interest in regulating hunting and fishing permits under the federal Commerce Clause. The Commerce Clause was used as a justification for the U.S. District Court's decision to declare the 10-percent cap unconstitutional. The new legislation may allow the Commission to reimpose limits on nonresident permits. The Commission will look at options related to that at its August meeting.
The 2006 spring hunt recommendations will also be discussed at the August Commission meeting. Hunt application dates, hunt season dates, bag limits, and other details will likely be finalized. Javelina, turkey, bear, buffalo, and waterfowl are among the species to be discussed.
Both the nonresident tag issue and the spring hunt recommendations are scheduled for consideration on the second day of the Commission meeting. The meeting will be held at the Museum of Northern Arizona, located at 3101 N. Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff. The public is invited to attend both days, Aug. 12 and 13, starting at 8 a.m.
"We have put together our recommendations for the spring hunt seasons," says Richard Rico, assistant director of the department's special services division, which is responsible for hunt draws. "We are also working to deal with the ongoing nonresident tag issue."
Arizona's 10-percent cap on nonresident hunt tags was created to offer more hunting opportunities to Arizona residents by limiting the number of out-of-state hunters who were allowed to receive permits to hunt for certain desirable big game species each year. Last year, a U.S. District Court declared the 10-percent cap unconstitutional. Since then, a combination of department staff recommendations, extensive public input, and other factors were used to narrow down a list of alternative measures that might offer the same type of advantage to resident hunters. The department has already put several of these measures into place, including requiring all draw applicants to buy an Arizona hunting license, awarding additional bonus points for continuous support, and increasing the bonus point pass percentage from 10 percent to 20 percent, making more big game permits available to those individuals with the most bonus points.
Also recently, Congress took action to renounce interest in regulating hunting and fishing permits under the federal Commerce Clause. The Commerce Clause was used as a justification for the U.S. District Court's decision to declare the 10-percent cap unconstitutional. The new legislation may allow the Commission to reimpose limits on nonresident permits. The Commission will look at options related to that at its August meeting.
The 2006 spring hunt recommendations will also be discussed at the August Commission meeting. Hunt application dates, hunt season dates, bag limits, and other details will likely be finalized. Javelina, turkey, bear, buffalo, and waterfowl are among the species to be discussed.
Both the nonresident tag issue and the spring hunt recommendations are scheduled for consideration on the second day of the Commission meeting. The meeting will be held at the Museum of Northern Arizona, located at 3101 N. Fort Valley Road in Flagstaff. The public is invited to attend both days, Aug. 12 and 13, starting at 8 a.m.
