Current Through November 6: Comment Period
AZGFD Seeks Public Comment On Notice Of Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking
Comments will be accepted through Nov. 6.The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is seeking to amend the previously published Notice of Proposed Rulemaking within Articles 1, 2, 3, and 6.
The intent of the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking was to enact amendments developed during the latest Five-year Review Report. After receiving feedback from stakeholders and members of the public, the Commission is removing proposed changes to the use and sale of live baitfish. Amendments to R12-4-314 (Possession, Transportation, or Importation of Aquatic Wildlife) and R12-4-411 (Live Bait Dealers License) are removed from this Notice of Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking.
In addition, the rulemaking clarifies that the use of a pneumatic weapon using bolts or arrows during an archery-only hunting season is limited to persons who possess both a crossbow permit issued under R12-4-216 and a Challenged Access/Mobility Permit (CHAMP) issued under R12-4-217.
Visit www.azgfd.com/about-arizona-game-fish/commission-public-information/rulemaking/, or https://azsos.gov/rules/arizona-administrative-register, to view the Notice of Supplemental Proposed Rulemaking.
- Email: rulemaking@azgfd.gov, or msumner@azgfd.gov.
- U.S. Mail: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Attn.: Celeste Cook, Rules and Policy Manager, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086.
- Telephone: Michael Sumner, Regional Supervisor (Yuma), 928-341-4040.
The public can submit comments through the Department’s AZGFD Rulemaking Contact Form, as well. The Commission also will be available to receive public input at its Jan. 19 meeting at Department headquarters in Phoenix.
Current: Catch And Release
Silver Creek Catch-And-Release Season Has Begun
Anglers are reminded that even though the Silver Creek Fish Hatchery near Show Low is currently closed for renovations, the Silver Creek property is still open for fishing.
Silver Creek switched to its catch-and-release season regulations, in effect until March 31. During this time, only artificial flies/lures and barbless hooks are allowed.
Due to an ongoing landscape-scale habitat restoration project on the hatchery property and surrounding Arizona state trust lands, anglers might see heavy equipment and the area may temporarily seem to be less tranquil than in previous years. However, this project is anticipated to be only a month or two from being wrapped up, so noise disturbance will be short term.
The Silver Creek Hatchery is located east of Show Low about 5 miles on Highway 60. A valid fishing license is required for all anglers 10 years of age and older. Click here to view the 2023-24 Fishing Regulations (special regulations for Silver Creek are on page 12).
Current: Small Game Hunting
It’s That Time Of Year To Get Out For Small Game
AZGFD simplifies 2023-2024 waterfowl regulations. This is the time of year that Arizona’s small game and waterfowl hunters have been waiting for.
In addition to the start of tree squirrel and band-tailed pigeon seasons Friday, Sept. 29, hunters can pursue dusky grouse through Nov. 5 and chukar until Feb. 11, 2024. The season for cottontail rabbit runs through June 30, 2024, and the start of the season for Gambel’s and scaled quail has begun.
For more information, hunters should check out the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) small game forecast at www.azgfd.com/hunting/hunt-draw-and-licenses/species-hunt-information/small-game-forecast/. Also visit www.azgfd.com/species-category/game/.
In the meantime, waterfowl hunters will be pleased to know that AZGFD recently completed a simplification of the “2023-2024 Arizona Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations.”
In response to hunter requests, the department not only combined the previous “Mountain” and “Desert” zones into one statewide zone, but also shifted the entire state to a later start date for the 107-day season that runs from Oct. 23 through Jan. 31, 2024.
The “2023-2024 Arizona Waterfowl and Snipe Regulations” are posted at www.azgfd.gov/Hunting/Regulations/.
November 7:Election Day
Election Day in the United States is the annual day for general elections of federal public officials. It is statutorily set by the U.S. government as “the Tuesday next after the first Monday in November”, i.e., the Tuesday that occurs within November 2 to November 8.
For federal offices (president, vice president, and United States Congress) and most gubernatorial offices (all except for Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Virginia), Election Day occurs only in even-numbered years. Presidential elections are held every four years, in years divisible by four, in which electors for president and vice president are chosen according to the method determined by each state. Elections to the US House of Representatives and the US Senate are held every two years; all representatives are elected to serve two-year terms and are up for election every two years, while senators serve six-year terms, staggered so that one third of senators are elected in any given general election. General elections in which presidential candidates are not on the ballot are referred to as midterm elections. Terms for those elected begin in January the following year; the president and vice president are inaugurated (sworn in) on Inauguration Day, which is usually January 20.
November 11: Veterans Day
Veterans Day (originally known as Armistice Day) is a federal holiday in the United States observed annually on November 11, for honoring military veterans of the United States Armed Forces (who were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable). It coincides with other holidays including Armistice Day and Remembrance Day which are commemorated in other countries that mark the anniversary of the end of World War I. Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 when the Armistice with Germany went into effect. At the urging of major U.S. veteran organizations, Armistice Day was renamed Veterans Day in 1954.
Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May. Veterans Day commemorated the service of all U.S. veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who have died while in military service. Another military holiday that also occurs in May, Armed Forces Day, honors those currently serving in the U.S. military. Additionally, Women Veterans Day is recognized by a growing number of U.S. states that specifically honor women who have served in the U.S. military.
Congress amended the bill on June 1, 1954, replacing “Armistice” with “Veterans,” and it has been known as Veterans Day since.
Legally, two minutes of silence is recommended to be observed at 2:11pm Eastern Standard Time.
November 23:Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Liberia, and unofficially in countries like Brazil and the Philippines. It is also observed in the Dutch town of Leiden and the Australian territory of Norfolk Island. It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year (Similarly named harvest festival holidays occur throughout the world during autumn, including in Germany and Japan.). Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and around the same part of the year in other places. Although Thanksgiving has historical roots in religious and cultural traditions, it has long been celebrated as a secular holiday as well.
