Arizona Game and Fish meets in Yuma

Commission discusses wildlife in region

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission held its monthly meeting in Yuma Friday, where they discussed local topics and recognized Yumans who have contributed to the agency’s statewide mission, along with discussing proposed rule changes on the use of cameras while hunting.

The commission holds about half of its regular meetings outside of Phoenix, allowing the members and staff to come to see constituents in different parts in the state, and current Chairman James Ammons is a Yuma resident who brought additional local insight.

Findings of an ongoing wildlife study of the western Barry M. Goldwater Range were presented by Ryan O’Donnell, wildlife specialist for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The western section includes about 700,000 acres and is managed by the Marine Corps, while the eastern side is overseen by the Air Force.

The wildlife inventory is required by federal law so officials can better understand what wildlife can be found within their jurisdiction and what its habitat needs are. O’Donnell said over the last two years, researchers have documented about 3,300 different animals on the desert expanses of the range, from 64 different species.

“That’s an amazing number to me, the 3,300 different,” Ammons said.

Of those, 17 are among the department’s “species of greatest conservation need,” including nine reptiles, seven small mammals and one amphibian. Among the rare species being found is the variables and snake. “This is really remarkable because before this study there were only two records of this species from anywhere in Yuma County. We really weren’t expecting to find it, so it was a nice surprise.”

Arizona woodrats have also been recorded, “but we’ve only gotten a handful of them,” O’Donnell said. Both it and the variables and snake are classified with those having the greatest conservation need.

“You wander around places like that, you don’t recognize the diversity that does exist,” Commissioner Kurt Davis said.

Scientists are two years into the three-year study, which is being funded by the Marine Corps. Large mammals including sheep, mule deer, and pronghorn, along with bats, are being excluded because there has already been extensive study of those species, O’Donnell said.

Jon Fugate, past president of the Yuma Valley Rod and Gun Club, approached the commission with the club’s concerns about federal regulations potentially superseding the state’s ability to oversee public lands.

“Often, federal land management agencies propose new wilderness-type management plans, which adversely impacts the department’s ability to manage wildlife and also impacts the public’s ability to enjoy said areas,” Fugate said. He did not cite any specific federal regulations.

He said the department should add language in any future wilderness management plans submitted to the federal government to include language specifying that the state Game and Fish Department shall retain jurisdiction.

Davis said there is already similar language in many of the state’s agreements with the federal government, and said he would be following up with department staff on the issue.

Ammons, as chairman, presented three awards of achievement to Yuma-area residents: veterinarian Dr. Cheryl Haugo for her work in wildlife rehabilitation and with feral cat colonies; Richard Meyers, Game and Fish Department wildlife manager for the Yuma region; and Daryl Williams, lead range controller at Yuma Proving Ground.

The commission’s statewide business included several proposed amendments to hunting regulations, including prohibitions on the use of live-action trail cameras for hunting purposes

and use of any trail camera within a quarter-mile radius of any developed water sources.

The commission voted 5-0 to approve the preliminary rules and open a 30day public comment period

on the proposals, after which the final rule will be presented to the Commission for consideration.