Sept. 5, 2014

PHOENIX - The next meeting of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission will be Sept. 6-7 at the Show Low City Council Chambers at 181 N. 9th St. in Show Low, Ariz. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. both days.

The public is invited to either attend the meeting in person, view it live via video stream at any Game and Fish regional office (Friday only), or view it over the web at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the Commission may submit Speaker Cards (Blue Cards) in person at the meeting or from any regional Game and Fish office (Friday only). The ability to speak to the Commission is not available for those viewing the webcast online.

Items on the Friday, Sept. 6 portion of the agenda include:
Consideration of several of the following consent agenda items:
Updates on the department's shooting sports activities; information, education and wildlife recreation activities; law enforcement program; lands and habitat program; and, nongame program.
A request to approve entering into negotiations for a property exchange at the Page Springs Fish Hatchery.
A request to approve an agreement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the department to act as a cooperating agency in the development of the draft Environmental Impact Statement regarding the proposed revision of the 10(j) rule and associated management plan for Mexican wolves.
Presentation of a policy on how the department handles self-reported wildlife violations.
A request to approve the Article 4 Live Wildlife Five-year Rule Review Report for submission to the Governor's Regulatory Review Council (GRRC).
Update on state and federal legislation of importance to the department and its business.
A request to approve the use of rotenone to remove non-native fish based on the environmental analyses conducted under the department's Fossil Creek Watershed Treatment Plan.
Consideration and possible approval of planning principles and key objectives for the Mexican Wolf
Reintroduction Project in Arizona, which will serve as a framework for developing the department's comments to upcoming comment/scoping and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposed rules.
An update on the pilot Big Boquillas Ranch Access Program.
An update on the department's progress toward implementing license simplification in the online license sales and draw systems.
A request to approve an amendment to Final Notice of Exempt Rulemaking that would increase the timeframe during which a customer may select a future license start date from 30 days to 60 days.
Presentation of a proposal to trade (for translocation) Gould's turkeys for pronghorn with New Mexico as a one-time exchange.
Selection of the 2013 Commission Award recipients.
Hearings on license revocations for violations of Game and Fish codes, and civil assessments for the illegal taking and/or possession of wildlife (time certain at 2 p.m.).

Items on the Saturday, Sept. 7 portion of the agenda include:
A "Pinetop Community Forum" to discuss current and future matters and collaborative work involving the department and the local community (this item begins at 8 a.m. and will not be webcast). Topics of discussion on this item will include:
An overview of the Pinetop Region's habitat restoration projects, nuisance black bear management, alternative energy development projects, a status report on Apache trout recovery, a discussion of community based fishing plans, the benefits and opportunities for wildlife-related recreation in the White Mountains, and, Pinetop Region Volunteer Program.
Consideration of alternative names for the department's nongame branch (this item is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. and begins the webcast of the rest of the commission meeting on Saturday).
A request for the commission to amend Commission Order 40 (fish) for 2014 bag and possession limits, special regulations, and specific closures for sport fishing.
Presentation of the proposed hunt guidelines for fall 2014 through spring 2016.

To view a copy of the full meeting agenda, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission and click on the "commission notice/agenda" link.