Applications being accepted for 2010 Arizona elk, pronghorn hunts

Regulations and forms now available at www.azgfd.gov

AZGFD
Source: http://azgfd.net/
Published: Dec. 18, 2009

The regulations for Arizona’s 2010 elk and pronghorn antelope seasons are available online at www.azgfd.gov/draw, and hunters interested in obtaining a hunt permit-tag via the draw process can start applying now.

Applications must be submitted to the Arizona Game and Fish Department by U.S. mail to P.O. Box 74020, Phoenix, AZ 85087-1052 or hand-delivered to any department office by Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2010 by 7 p.m. (MST) – postmarks do not count.

Hunters are reminded that a 2010 hunting license is required to apply. Department officials encourage hunters to get their license before applying for an elk or antelope hunt permit-tag if they wish to do any other hunting in early 2010. Licenses purchased through the draw process will not be mailed out until after the draw is completed.

Those who submit an application that is received by Jan. 21, 2010 (the end of the “correction period”) will receive up to three calls from the department in a 24-hour period if an error is found on the application. If the applicant is reached by phone, the department will try to help fix the error to prevent it from being rejected.

Arizona Game and Fish Department officials said printed copies of the regulations and application forms should be available at license dealers across the state in early January 2010.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission set the 2010 elk and pronghorn antelope hunt orders during their regularly scheduled meeting on Dec. 5, authorizing a grand total of 952 pronghorn and 26,702 elk permits.

There were a couple of changes made to the proposed recommendations during the meeting for both elk and antelope.

Unit 19B antelope hunters can be thankful for an agreement arranged by Commissioner Robert “Robbie” Woodhouse with the Chino Grande Ranch that will continue to allow hunters access on the ranch during the 2010 season. Closure of the property to the public would have resulted in a reduction of 45 antelope permits in the unit.

“We are very glad that Chino Grande Ranch decided to keep their property open to sportsmen,” said Commissioner Woodhouse. “This is a great example of how teamwork and cooperation can resolve an issue. Open communication and cooperation between the commission, department, sportsmen, and landowners are critical to preserving our hunting heritage in Arizona.”

Sportsmen are reminded that access to private land is a privilege, and their conduct and behavior can have an effect on their ability to hunt in these areas in the future.

Unit 1 elk hunters will see an increase in the number of available antlerless permits compared to the proposed recommendations in an effort to stabilize that growing herd. One hundred and forty more permits will be available in this unit through a number of hunts.

An agreement with the Hopi Tribe will allow 2010 antelope and elk hunters from the general populace access to sovereign Hopi Trust Lands within Units 4A, 5A, and 5B. Through the agreement, a proportion of the available permits will be exclusively for Hopi tribal members.

To learn more about the big game draw lottery process, bonus points, and available leftover spring javelina hunting permits, visit www.azgfd.gov/draw.

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