summer 2017
Northern Arizona
Fishing, Hunting & Camping guide
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Northern Arizona
Fishing, Hunting & Camping INSIDE 4 | TAGS OUT Draw results post as hunting business starts prepping for the season.
“It’s better to sit in a tree thinking about God than to sit in church thinking about hunting.”
6 | FAMILY FUN Outdoor recreation a growing priority for young adults and young families.
One of thousands of hunting and fishing quotes that pop up in Google, shows that if one thing stands true about hunters and anglers, it’s that they’re very dedicated to the traditions and experience. Welcome to the Arizona Daily Sun’s first Fishing, Hunting and Camping Guide. This inaugural edition pays homage to the outdoor activities that are a celebrated fact of life in northern Arizona and to the visitors and tourists who come here to enjoy them. At least $10 billion is pumped into the state economy each year by outdoor enthusiasts, including hunters and anglers. Northern Arizona, well known for premier elk, deer and other biggame hunting as well as for some of the best fishing and camping in the U.S., benefits from a portion of dollars spent. You’ll find in these pages helpful information to make your hunt a success, as well as tips and guides for family camping and an introduction to Arizona’s newest sport fish. Area sport businesses are gearing up for the fall and winter seasons, ready to help with outfitting, firearms, guides, game processing
8 | TOP SPOTS For family fishing and camping. 9 | HUNTING 101 New to the sport? Start here. 10 | GET OUT! Kayak fishing and paddle boarding grow in popularity, plus other outdoor activity stats. 12 | REEL SPINNERS Tiger trout start swimming in Arizona lakes. 14 | LICENSING & FEES How to obtain an Arizona hunting and/or fishing license. 15 | TOP READS Books for Arizona hunters, anglers and campers. 2
WELCOME!
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
and taxidermy. Stop in and say hello. During hunting season, safety comes first. Practicing safe and responsible shooting helps protect access to recreational opportunities for years to come. If you’re a non-hunter out in the wilderness during hunting season, make yourself known by wearing bright colors, like blaze orange. Wildlife managers in designated hunting areas and local Arizona Game and Fish offices (locations below) are on hand to assist hunters and anglers.
Flagstaff 3500 S. Lake Mary Rd., 86005 (928) 774-5227 Pinetop 2878 E. White Mountain Blvd., 85935 (928) 367-4281 Kingman 5325 N. Stockton Hill Rd., 86409 (928) 692-7700
Region II - Flagstaff • 3500 S. Lake Mary Rd. 928 - 774 - 5045 • www.azgfd.gov
HUNTING
WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF WILDLIFE @ YOUR FINGERTIPS • • • •
Access Draw Results days before anyone else! View past and current licenses. Check your bonus points. Establish your “I Support Wildlife” Membership.
General Fishing License available for residents for $37 and non-residents for $55.
• • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
Cottontail Rabbit Dove Pheasant Quail Sandhill Crane Tree Squirrel
Antelope Black Bear Bison Bighorn Sheep Elk Javelina Turkey Mountain Lion Mule Deer White-Tailed Deer
www.azgfd.gov/License
General Hunting License available for residents for $37. Combo hunting/fishing available for $57.
24/7 ONLINE SERVICES AVAILABLE
North Central Arizona has the greatest variety of fishing in the state. Both cold and warm water lakes and streams are found from Flagstaff to Camp Verde. The Verde River offers small mouth bass, channel catfish, flathead catfish and round tail chub. Upper Lake Mary has walleye, northern pike, and crappie. There are no trout in Upper Lake Mary. Lower Lake Mary offers great springtime trout fishing. Other small lakes around Flagstaff and Williams are stocked with trout and catfish depending on the time of year and Oak Creek has the best wild brown trout population in the area.
BIG GAME
BUY A LICENSE ONLINE
SAVE TIME, GO ONLINE
FISHING
SMALL GAME
BOATING
RECREATION OHV
The online watercraft registration system allows individuals to renew their registration and have immediate use of their watercraft. Registration renewals are still accepted in person at any Arizona Game and Fish Department office or by mail. www.azgfd.com/Boating/ Registration
BE BEAR AWARE!
The Arizona OHV Decal will only be issued by the Arizona Department of Transportation, Motor Vehicle Division. The OHV Decal is available online at www.servicearizona.com, or at any MVD office or Authorized MVD Third Party Service Provider.
Do not allow a black bear access to food. If you encounter a black bear, make yourself as large and imposing as possible.
WATCHABLE WILDLIFE
AZWatchWildlife.com Audio Guide Available Part of the Flagstaff Urban Trail System
Hunters and anglers pay for wildlife conservation through purchases of licenses, tags and stamps, and through excise taxes on hunting and fishing gear. Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
3
Hunting hunters,” Champagne said. “They understand their own limits, know the terrain and understand an animal’s habits.” He offered his tips to hunters harvesting an animal for meat: 1. Make a well-placed shot in the head or neck to reduce any loss of meat. 2. Tag the animal immediately to comply with game laws. 3. Eviscerate the animal as soon as possible after the kill.
tags out
hunting business starts prepping for season Game processor Dennis Champagne expects to welcome hundreds of hunters at his facility this fall and winter.
Fall hunting tags have posted and those lucky in the draw are sure to start making preparations for their hunts. “The last weekend of August, with antelope season, things will start up for us,” said game processor Dennis Champagne, standing in his east Flagstaff facility that has seen little action over the last few months. His familyrun Coconino Game Processing and other businesses catering to hunters are prepping to meet fall and winter hunt demand. The longtime meat cutter, butcher and hunter looks forward to the season with a big smile and a deep breath. “I can’t wait for the season to open. I enjoy what I do.” he said. “We pretty much don’t turn off during game season. We’re a 7-in-the-morning to a 7-at-night operation.” Champagne expects he will process 4
800 animals during the area’s four-month big game season — transforming earned kills into packaged steaks, roasts, ground meat and sausage (Andouille, chorizo, country style, Italian, Polish, brats and more.) He said that nearly 70 percent his customers, taking advantage of prime elk, deer, turkey and buffalo hunting in northern Arizona, are from places south and from other states. One of eight processors in the area, Champagne said he does not feel the pressure of competition. He readily admitted, “There’s certainly enough business to go around.” And what makes for a successful hunt in northern Arizona? “Successful hunters are prepared
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
4. Remove the heart and liver (they are excellent eating) and keep in a clear plastic bag in a cooler. 5. Hang the animal in the shade to drain the blood and circulate air around the body (this helps cool the carcass).
6. In most cases, leave the skin on to keep the meat clean. If skinning is necessary, cover the carcass with cheesecloth or old white sheets to protect against dirt and/or insects. 7. When transporting, keep the carcass as clean and cool as possible. For long trips in warm weather, place bags of dry ice around the carcass. 8. Take the carcass to a cooler the day of the kill. “In warm weather you only have a couple of hours to get it into a cool box,” Champagne said. If a sport hunter does not have a need for the animal’s meat, Coconino Game Processing can arrange to butcher the animal and donate the packaged meat to local food banks. The business participates in the Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry program.
Draw Results Post The waiting is over for hopeful hunters who applied for 2017 fall hunt permit tags. There are three ways to obtain draw results for deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bear, fall bison and pheasant seasons:
1. Sign in to your AZGFD customer portal account. 2. Visit https://draw.azgfd.gov, hen click on “View Results and Bonus Points.” 3. Call (602) 942-3000 and press 2. A record 90 percent of all fall permit-tag applicants, 131,457, applied online. The remaining 14,309 filled out a paper application. For those who were unsuccessful in the draw process, a list of about 2,300 leftover permit tags is posted at http://www.azgfd.gov/draw. The department will accept applications for leftover permit tags by mail only beginning July 31. Leftover permit tags will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-serve basis at all Fish and Game Department offices beginning Aug. 7. All permit tags are scheduled to be mailed by Aug. 4.
Hunting Hunting 101: Tips for Starting Out Hunting is a tradition usually passed down through family and friends, but for those who don’t know someone in the sport, the Arizona Game and Fish Department has courses, materials and tips to help get you started. Small game season is a great time to get involved and many hunts start Oct. 6. Dove season begins Sept. 1 and offers fun hunting for everyone. In the meantime, get to know hunting by talking with the experts and learning about wildlife. • Go to a taxidermist, see what the small • Take a hunter education course online and big game animals of this region or in a classroom setting. Learn safety, look like. ethics, rules and regulations and some • Learn about wildlife habitats and firearms handling. See https://www. behaviors — where game animals rest azgfd.com/Education and roost, find food and water. • Go to a hunting clinic. Camps, classes and workshops are offered across Arizona. • Visit a store that specializes in hunting gear and equipment. Try Ruff’s Sporting Goods, Bull Basin Archery, C-A-L Ranch or Sportsman’s Warehouse, to name a few local shops.
• Hunting is about hiking, using binoculars and learning about the outdoors. Leave your vehicle behind and take a long hike, you will likely see more animals.
• Ask a wildlife manager (game warden) about hunting a particular area. Or stop in a Game and Fish office for information and advice. • Start with hunting small game like squirrels, rabbits, dove, and quail. These animals and birds only require a hunting license, not a permit tag, and weapons used are simple firearms or archery equipment. • Find an experienced hunter mentor and shadow them on a hunt. • Seek out hunting clubs and/or conservation groups like the Arizona Elk Society, Ducks Unlimited or Dove and Quail Forever. • Go to a local shooting range. Try the Northern Arizona Shooting Range in Flagstaff. For archery, contact the Flagstaff Archers club http://www. flagstaffarchers.com/. • Visit a meat processor for tips and tricks on game care. Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
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Family Camping
Family fun Outdoor life a priority for young adults Riley Mae is already quite the seasoned camper at just 1-and-a-half years old. “She really embraces the dirt,” said her mom with a laugh. “She likes the natural world and seems to be in her element when we’re out camping.” Kathleen and Tyler Barton of Flagstaff have been camping and hiking with their toddler since she was 4 months old. They camp six or more times a year and are part of the growing 45-and-under crowd that makes the outdoors — hiking, biking, camping and the like — a priority both in time and dollars spent on recreational activities. According to the Outdoor Foundation, participation in outdoor activity for Americans age 18-24 increased from 53 6
to 57 percent, and 54 to 56 percent for those age 25-44, between 2014 and 2015. The most popular outdoor activities were running, hiking, camping and fishing. About 60 percent of the U.S. population is considered outdoor consumers: those who spend at least one hour per week outdoors, participate in an outdoor activity at least once a year and purchase apparel, footwear, equipment, and/or technology for outdoor activities.
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
About half of outdoor consumers are 25 to 44 years old, and 43 percent have at least one child and believe they are raising the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts, according to research by the Outdoor Industry Association. The association reported that $10.6 billion was spent by consumers in Arizona on outdoor recreation in 2012, the last year for which it has data. At age 28 and 30, Kathleen and Tyler see their family making outdoor trips long into the future. “We are big campers. It’s just something we really enjoy,” Kathleen said. “We wanted to make sure Riley was used to going at as young of an age as possible. The earlier kids start, I believe, the more used to it they become.” The couple has outfitted with tents, sleeping bags, gadgets and packs,
especially ones to comfortably carry Riley. They recently made a bigger purchase: a new 24-foot camping trailer to simplify heading outdoors. “Having the camper makes it easy for us to go out whenever we feel like it,” Kathleen said. “It offers a lot more conveniences, making it easier to camp with kids.” Bob Been, who owns and manages Affinity RV Service, Sales and Rentals in Prescott, Prescott Valley and Dewey, is seeing a younger demographic shopping for recreational vehicles. “The average age of our customers has dropped tremendously in the last few years,” he said, adding that first-time RV buyers now tend to be between the ages of 35 and 45 in an industry that a decade ago was seeing most buyers at 55 years or age or older.
Family Camping Families are “looking to get the kids out of their rooms, away from the TV, the computer, gaming and their cell phones,” Been said. “They are looking for what we had 30 some years ago when we spent our family vacations camping, fishing and hiking. People are trying to bring their kids back to nature … where they are getting out and walking around and experiencing open spaces.” His best advice for first-time RV buyers is to think about functionality. “You can buy pretty and it can be totally dysfunctional for you,” he said. “Keep it functional for your family.” Today’s RV market offers plenty of luxury amenities (Anyone for massaging
cab seats?) and a lot in the way of technology options—built-in wifi, TVs in every space and the like. Been said potential buyers need to take a hard look at what they want their travel and camping experience to be like. “Do they really want to take all that technology into the great outdoors?” he asked. Of course, a major consideration is affordability. There are so many choices in the sizes and types of vehicles alone: truck campers, pop-up campers, travel trailer, park trailer, fifth-wheel trailer, toy hauler as well as motorhomes that come in several sizes and classes. With
all these options, come as many or more price ranges. Been suggested that first-time RV shoppers talk to others who own and use recreational vehicles and with industry people about the best affordable options for their lifestyle and family. Write down your needs, questions and concerns before heading to the dealership, said the RV seller. Among the Barton family’s favorite places to venture is along Hart Prairie Road at the base of the San Francisco Peaks. “We like to be among the aspens where it’s cooler,” Kathleen said. “And it’s close to our house.”
Was the first-time mom afraid of taking her daughter out at such a young age? “Not really,” she said. “Kids are incredibly adaptable to new situations. It’s usually the parents who have fears of doing things that they see as difficult for kids, so they don’t do it.” In terms of expense, Barton said that although they’ve made some big one-time purchases, in the long run there will be savings with making outdoor activities a priority. She said once the gear is bought, camping and hiking is less expensive than other typical entertainment — eating out, movies, amusement parks and other types of leisure travel.
Riley Mae enjoys an area hike with her parents, Kathleen and Tyler Barton. Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
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Family Camping
Top Spots
for Family Fishing & Camping Quality camping amenities, high-country scenery plus great fishing opportunities make these best bets for outdoor family fun. Remember, adults and children 10 and older need a fishing license to fish even crawdads. 1. Big Lake Located in the White Mountains of northeastern Arizona, Big Lake Recreation area is a summertime family staple featuring great camping amenities. The 575-acre lake offers trout fishing—cutthroat, rainbow, brook and Apache. Nine campgrounds give flexibility and options, including separate sites for tent and RV setups. The area offers exceptional hiking, mountain biking and wildlife viewing opportunities. Shore-angling is possible, but in the summer, you might want a boat (rentals are available at the store) because most trout will be deep. Directions: Big Lake is accessed via state Routes 260 and 273 (Forest Road 113). 2. Woods Canyon Lake Located northeast of Payson, Woods offers plenty of activities for anglers, boaters, hikers and photographers. There are plenty of campgrounds, a general store and marina. Excellent rainbow and tiger trout fishing. For a novice angler, or for a kid’s first fish, try putting a small piece of worm on a small hook (No. 8
12 or smaller) and dangle it in shallow water between rocks for sunfish. Directions: From Payson, take Highway 260 East toward Heber. Turn west on Forest Road 300 (Rim Road) and follow for three miles. Turn right at Woods Canyon Lake Road and travel 0.75 miles to the campground on the right side of the road.
4. Show Low Lake (and Show Low Creek) Show Low Lake is possibly the state’s premiere walleye fishery. It has a year-round concession with 75 campsites, seven have electric hook-ups. The lake and creek are great for trout and crawdads (crayfish). Directions: From Show Low, take Show Low Road southeast one mile from Highway 260.
hiking, picnicking and camping in the cool pines of Kaibab National Forest. The campground accommodates tents, trailers and motorhomes up to 40 feet. Anglers have caught trout on worms fished about two feet under a bobber or with yellow garlic PowerBait. Directions: From Williams, take Interstate 40 east to exit 165. Turn north onto State Highway 64 toward the Grand Canyon and go a mile to the campground entrance on the left.
3. Fool Hollow Lake Camp within view of this 150-acre 5. Kaibab Lake lake among cool ponderosa pines. The South Rim of Grand Canyon (Adapted from the Fish Arizona Blog of Located near Show Low, facilities National Park is just 60 miles north of the Arizona Game and Fish Department and are open year-round and include this recreational hotspot. There is fishing, used with permission.) tent and trailer camping, boat ramp and fish cleaning stations. A day& use area offers picnic ramadas and RETATILALS two playgrounds. The lake has selfREN sustaining populations of largemouth and smallmouth bass, sunfish, walleye, carp and black crappie. Fishing also Babbitt’s Backcountry Outfitters is more than just a gear is good for stocked rainbow trout. For shop – it’s an environment of honest advice and timely suggestions from people who are passionate about being trout, try fishing about 10 feet deep. outside. We are river guides, hiking guides, rock climbers, Directions: Located less than two snowboarders, skiers, kayakers, photographers, mountain miles from downtown Show Low off bikers, and so much more. Old Linden Road. Access Old Linden Road either from U.S. Route 60 in 12 E. ASPEN AVENUE, FLAGSTAFF, AZ town or at its western end from state WWW.BABBITTSBACKCOUNTRY.COM Route 260.
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
A family owned, local outdoor gear shop in the heart of historic downtown Flagstaff, Arizona
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
9
t u O t e G 48.4 percent
of the U.S. population participate in an outdoor activity at least once a year.
Top Growth Activities (participation increase over last three years)
29% 18% 48.4% 17% Paddle Boarding
Traditional Triathlon
Kayak Fishing
Most Popular Outdoor Activities by Participation 1. Running or Jogging
18%
51.5 million participants
68%
2. Fishing
16%
Top Motivations to Get Outdoors
Get exercise
4. Camping
Keep physically fit
49%
48%
37.2 million participants
Observe scenic beauty
Be close to nature
Children age
Participation by gender
46% 54% 10
Be with family and friends
40.0 million participants
5. Hiking
13%
53%
45.7 million participants
3. Cycling 15% 43.1 million participants
14%
55%
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
6-17 name
camping as the outdoor activity they are interested in the most. Source: The Outdoor Foundation
tips for bird watching Camp Like a Local
You’ll enjoy the neighbors: bugling elk, grazing deer, soaring eagles
B
ird watching is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States—second only to gardening. Whether you are a serious or a casual birder, or somewhere in between, bird watching is a hobby you can do wherever you are. I can honestly say I have never been anywhere where there weren’t any birds. The state of Arizona is an amazing place to observe birds—over 500 different species of birds have been documented in the state. One of the reasons Arizona is home to such a rich diversity of birds is because of our varied habitats—from low deserts to vast expanses of ponderosa pine forests at the higher elevations. Northern Arizona is home to a wide variety of birds. Some common birds include ravens, crows, doves and finches. Other varieties which are less abundant are more difficult to find and require more effort to see them include the California Condor and the American threetoed woodpecker. The basic tools for bird watching are a good pair of binoculars and a bird book to aide in bird identification. Field guides such as the Sibley Guide or the National Geographic Guide to Birds of Western North America are very
helpful. When selecting binoculars for bird watching, I would recommend a pair with either eight- or ten-power magnification with a 42mm objective lens. Stalking birds is an exciting adventure, as you never know what you might see from one day to the next depending on your location. Like any outdoor activity, the more time you spend in nature the more likely you will encounter a wide variety of birds. Many bird species are fairly tolerant of humans sharing their space. Hunters, while not specifically seeking out wild birds, often have close encounters with our feathered friends. If you are hunkered down and fairly motionless, wild birds actually become curious and will come to you to see what you are doing. If you are interested in learning more about birds in northern Arizona, I invite you to visit Jay’s Bird Barn where we are wild bird and optics experts. Eric Moore is the owner of Jay’s Bird Barn, a backyard wild bird and nature gift store located next to Michael’s in the Varsity Plaza Shopping Center, and has been an avid birder for over 50 years.
E
xperiencing Northern Arizona’s backcountry doesn’t have to mean packing like a wilderness ranger and driving for hours across narrow winding roads that feel like they are surfaced with a series of speed bumps. Most of us are well aware that local knowledge is highly prized when it comes to great restaurants and nightclubs; it’s also valuable for finding the best scenic locations that aren’t overrun by visitors. When looking for the serenity and natural beauty of Arizona’s majestic ponderosa pine forests, Flagstaff residents have discovered backcountry camping just up the road at Arizona Nordic Village. Fifteen miles north of Flagstaff on Highway 180, just minutes from town really, yurts and cabins are set up and ready to use. Imagine no tangled tent poles and strings! Some of the facilities are closer to the lodge and very convenient for setting up camp. Some require a hike through the woods...and what a reward when you get there! By the way, your gear can be shuttled in for you. The 12-foot Morning Glory Backcountry Yurt, for example, is about three miles in
with an elevation gain of about 1,000 feet. Most campers find the experience extremely enjoyable, especially when they wake up to the tranquility of wildflowers and butterflies in a lush high-country meadow at the base of the impressive San Francisco Peaks. Large and small yurts and log-sided cabins offer access to miles of well-marked hiking and biking trails, wildlife viewing, dark skies and breathtaking views. Each is equipped with beds or mattress pads, wood stoves, picnic tables and nearby portable toilets. Finding your backcountry, off-the-grid experience doesn’t have to be complicated or take a lot of time to get there. This summer, make the most of your cool northland temperatures and nearby wild areas while much of the state is sizzling with envy. And if you can get away for a mid-week staycation, special rates apply. Breathe in nature. Breathe out everything else. We’ll leave the stars out for you. For more information, check in with your book club members or coffee group, or visit ArizonaNordicVillage.com.
Processing Wild and Domestic Animals
CAMP LIKE A LOCAL
Quality Cuts
and Meet Your Neighbors:
Packaging Sausage
Simple Satisfaction Guaranteed or Your Money Back!
Bugling Elk, Grazing Deer, Soaring Eagles
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9900 E. Wapiti Trail | Flagstaff, AZ | www.gameprocessing.com | 928-527-1538
Wake up to ponderosa pines and cool mountain air in the foothills of the San Francisco Peaks.
Your backcountry experience is calling.
• Hosting Firearm Shows around Arizona • • Working with vendors around the state • • New and used firearms, ammo, Buy Sell Trade • • New inventory, 10% over cost, we can locate and find used firearms at fair pricing • • FFl transfers • • We offer top dollar on used firearms •
Hwy 180, 15 miles north of Flagstaff
ArizonaNordicVillage.com
928-220-0550
ARIZONA COLLECTIBLES & FIREARMS 928-310-8544
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
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Fishing
tiger trout
reel spinners A cross between the female brown trout and the male brook trout, the tiger’s color, markings and tail shape can vary, but generally it has a dark, maze-like pattern of patches over a brownish, gray or silver body. In Arizona, the species can be 3 to 25 inches long and weigh up to five pounds. Tiger trout are produced in hatcheries and are sterile. The hybrid was stocked in Marshall Lake southeast of Flagstaff in May. In addition to Marshall, anglers can try for tiger trout in Becker, Carnero, Willow Springs and Woods Canyon lakes. The Arizona Game and Fish 12
Department plans to introduce it at other lakes along the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains and around Anderson Mesa and Kaibab National Forest. “Tiger trout seem to display the aggressiveness, growth potential and preference for eating other fish that brown trout do, and they have the beautiful markings and fight of a book trout,” wrote Andy Clark, assistant chief of fisheries for the Arizona Game and Fish Department, in the most recent edition of Arizona Wildlife Views Magazine. Why did the game and fish department bring in this hybrid trout?
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
Photos by George Andrejko, courtesy of Arizona Game and Fish Department.
The hybrid tiger trout was first introduced to four Arizona lakes by the Arizona Game and Fish Department in 2016 and the fish is being stocked in lakes again this year.
Fishing It’s important to provide a fresh opportunity for sport fishers in order to recruit new anglers and keep experienced ones fishing, according to Clark. He wrote that straight rainbow trout in several lakes along the Mogollon Rim just don’t grow much. They are stocked at a “catchable size,” which is from 8 to 12 inches. If they don’t get caught by a lucky angler and they survive the winter, spring surveys have shown they still are within an inch of what they were when stocked the previous summer. Tiger trout however is a good fighting fish that eats unwanted fish species and is limited in the ways it can impact threatened and endangered species. Tiger trout numbers can be controlled because it is a sterile fish.
Also, a survey done in the fall of 2016 showed many of the tiger trout stocked into Woods Canyon and Willow Springs lakes had lived through the summer and grown well. Tiger trout tend to forage in shallower water than rainbow trout and favor clear water over murky or muddy water. Nymph patterns seem to work very well when fly fishing for tiger trout. They also readily take streamers and minnow patterns. Spinners and small lures work well when using spinning tackle. Because they are aggressive feeders, most light spinning or fly tackle fished on or near the surface will work. Similar to brook and brown trout, tiger trout flesh is firm and flaky but it is not regarded by most as great table fare.
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
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Licensing
Hunting, Fishing in Arizona?
You Need a License Everyone needs a license to hunt wildlife in Arizona. A valid Arizona hunt or combination hunt and fish license plus any required hunt permit tags, nonpermit tags or stamps must be in your possession.
RESIDENT NON-RESIDENT
Combination Fish & Hunt
$57
$160
Neither a short-term combination hunting and fishing license nor an apprentice hunting license is valid for big game. Youth ages 10–17 must purchase a youth combination hunting and fishing license. A person under 10 may hunt wildlife other than big game without a license only when accompanied by a properly licensed person 18 years of age or older. No more than two unlicensed children may accompany any license holder. No one under the age of 14 may hunt big game without having completed a hunter education course. No one under age 10 may hunt big game in Arizona.
Youth Combination Fish & Hunt
$5
$5
14
To hunt big game, anyone 10–13 years of age must have in their possession a valid combination hunt and fish license, a valid hunter education course completion card, plus any required permit tags or non-permit tags. Arizona hunting/fishing licenses may be purchased online at www.azgfd.gov. If you purchase a license online, you must print the license from your home printer. The Arizona Game and Fish Department will not mail your license to you. Licenses also can be obtained from any license dealer or an Arizona Game and Fish Department office. The
Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
General Fishing $37
$55
General Hunting $37 not available
Short-term Combo $15/day $20/day Community Fishing $24 $24 Migratory Bird Stamp $5 $5 Flagstaff location is at 3500 S. Lake Mary Road, (928) 774-5045. If you are applying for a big game permit-tag or bonus points on a paper application, you may purchase your general hunt (residents only) or combination hunt and fish license while you are entering your
application for the draw. The license will not be issued and mailed until the draw is complete. To obtain hunting, fishing or combination licenses and other special permits, or for more information, visit www.azgfd.com.
Reading Books for
Anglers, Hunters & Campers
want to explore Arizona’s rivers, streams and lakes to catch fish and enjoy the outdoors. The guide fills 336 pages with maps, photos, directions and tips. It includes color illustrations of the state’s sport fish. Available from the Arizona Game and Fish Department, www.shoparizonahighways.com and online book retailers. (Arizona Highways and Arizona Game and Fish Department)
“Flyfisher’s Guide to Arizona” by Will Jordan Noted fly fisher Jordan has spent years fishing Arizona and calls fishing opportunities in the state “seemingly endless.” Arizona has more trout waters “than most anglers could thoroughly explore in a lifetime,” he writes. The guide covers the Colorado, Little Colorado, Verde, Salt and Gila rivers and their watersheds plus Lees Ferry. Jordan also writes about lakes in the Flagstaff and Williams area, Indian reservations and warm water fisheries. There are more than 25 detailed maps, hatch charts, recommended flies and hub city information. Available from www.wildadvpress.com and online book retailers. (Wilderness Adventure Press)
“Arizona Highways Wildlife Guide: 125 of Arizona’s Native Species” by Brooke Bessesen
“Arizona’s Official Fishing Guide: 181 Top Fishing Spots, Directions & Tips” by Rory Aikens Published by Arizona Highways and the Arizona Game and Fish Department, this comprehensive book is for fishing enthusiasts of all skill levels who
A new publication from Arizona Highways, this guide features the state’s most frequently viewed mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish. Naturalist Bessesen gears the book toward hikers, campers and wildlife and outdoors enthusiasts. Available from www.shoparizonahighways.com and online book retailers. (Arizona Highways)
“The Complete Guide to Hunting, Butchering, and Cooking Wild Game: Volumes 1 and 2” by Steven Rinella with photography by John Hafner. With an insightful hook in the opening chapter — “Gear is like booze. As you get old, you realize that quality is more important than quantity.” — Rinella starts off his big game book with a bang. The hunter, outdoor writer and host of the “MeatEater” podcast gives detailed information on gear, tactics and strategies, species and methods, as well as butchery and cooking. The two well-illustrated volumes, one covering big game and the second small game and fowl, are easy yet all-inclusive reads for beginning and experienced hunters alike. Available from online book retailers. (Spiegel & Grau)
“Vintage Trailer Voyeur: A Peek Inside the Unique Custom Trailer Culture” by Vicki Ocken Take a fanciful journey into the world of vintage camping trailers through the stories of their owners. Almost 400 photos offer a peek at the rare, the unique, the coveted and the just plain adorable. Tag along to a vintage trailer rally, visit an all-girls camp and check out the decor of these jewels — original birch paneling, chenille bedspreads and a periodperfect Dixie stove — to a Sharkstream trailer-as-artinstallation. Those with the conviction that trailers deserve to be loved and lived in will enjoy exploring the possibilities as they search for, renovate or simply dream of living in their own little piece of history. Available from www.schifferbooks.com and online book retailers. (Schiffer Publishing) Northern Arizona Fishing, Hunting & Camping – Summer 2017
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