Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-17 AT 02:24PM (MST)[p]Fellow sportsmen and parents:

Not many are aware that the Arizona Game & Fish Department is proposing to eliminate the youth muzzleloader hunt with the whopping 25 tags in Unit 16A, the Hualapai Mountains.

Here is some history about this hunt.

The hunt was started in 1999 at the bequest of local sportsmen who were muzzleloader enthusiasts who wanted to pass on this form of hunting to their kids.

But as time went on, the hunt became more popular with other sportsmen both in state and out of state as it was held over the Christmas vacation, a time when even those youth who were engaged in athletics would have the opportunity to hunt deer.

Then at the request of the Region 3 folks, they added a provision that those with a muzzleloader deer tag could also purchase a companion javelina tag!

Then some folks decided that this was a "trophy hunt" and the kids shouldn't be in the field at that time. That was and still is BULL! Sure there were a few larger bucks taken, but by far the majority were spikes, forkies and small three points.

Several attempts have been made before to eliminate this hunt. They FAILED because the sportsmen of the state got involved and contacted the Department and the Commissions and told them that since there was NO BIOLOGICAL REASON to eliminate the hunt (40-50% hunt success) that the hunt should stay as it was.

The Commissions responded to the public input and decided the hunt would stay.

That is until this year when the department is once again proposing in their hunt guidelines to eliminate this hunt!

There has been some who have wanted the Department and Commission to increase the youth tags from the current 5% of the tags to a higher percentage.

The Department is proposing under the new guidelines, which will be voted on in September, to increase the total number of tags from 5% to 8%! I applaud them for this effort, as it is true the youth are the future of outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing.

But does the Christmas break and the 25 associated tags need to be eliminated? Many around the state don't think so and I hope you are one of them. The school administrators like the idea of the kids not missing school, parents like it because its around the Christmas holiday when many are off work. It is a win-win for everyone EXCEPT maybe the AZGFD!

As an interesting sidebar to this issuer, I asked "If this hunt were to be eliminated, would the unit then be opened to over the counter archery tags and hunters?"

The answer was, "probably" which in government speak means "YES!"

Does the archery community really think that opening the archery deer hunt in the Hualapai Mountains in December at the expense of taking away the kids muzzleloader hunt is a good trade off? I sure hope that with over 44 units open across the state for December archery hunters, that they don't think so.

And don't forget, Unit 16A is OPEN for archers in January, AFTER the season for the 25 youth hunters is over!

I recently asked Amber Munig from the AZGFD how many comments the Department has received on this issue. She said 12.

Wow--that to me is amazing! If the Department and Commission doesn't get at least 100 comments about this issue, it WILL BE GONE not only for the next 5 years, but probably FOREVER!

You've got until August to make comments on this. All it takes is just 5 minutes to sit down at a computer and write a response to the Department's proposal.

PLEASE SEND YOUR COMMENTS TO: [email protected]
and let's keep the limited opportunities for our young hunters in place!

It is going to be up to YOU! If you don't let them know that you oppose this, then I guarantee you it will be gone!

I personally have no dog in this fight. My grand kids live out of state and don't put in for this hunt. But if you have kids or grand kids that want to hunt with a muzzleloader during the Christmas break, then do it for them!

RE: Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

Don I read your article on the Daily Miner, thank you for fighting the good fight and bringing this to light. I realize this question may place you in a difficult position so I will understand if your reply is a little guarded.

Why do you believe there has been such little outcry by organizations like MDF and the Mojave Sportsman Club? From the outside looking in, this is a backyard issue and one their members should be active on.

Isn't that the purpose of such organizations or have they simply become lazy and misguided? Have local sportsmens politics become a secondary priority to social events like raffles, group dinners, and getting hammered?

It seems like you still have time, can you lobby both of these organizations, kick the fire so to speak to wake them and remind them why they exist?

RE: Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

FYI,I attended the MSC monthly board meeting last night and the BOD voted UNANIMOUSLY to send a letter in opposition to the Department'proposal.

That's a good move,in my opinion.

Terry Herndon, the Regional Director for the Mule Deer Foundation sent in a letter of opposition on this.

Amber Munig, the departments big game supervisor said that she wasn't sure if the letter represented the opinion of the MDF or if it was just the personal opinion of Terry.

I have asked the Arizona Deer Association and the Arizona Sportsmen For Wildlife Conservation (AZSFWC) to look at this and comment if they feel it is appropriate. It will be on the July agenda for the AZSFWC.

I have posted this information on Monster Mulies and Coues Whitetail.

Hard to believe that the Department has only received 12 comments on this.

I truly believe if they don't get at least 100 comments, then this muzzleloader hunting opportunity for youth will be gone forever!

Remember to send comments to
[email protected]

RE: Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-17 AT 01:36PM (MST)[p]Thank you for your response Don, for what was stated and not stated. Perhaps, and this is just a suggestion, an opposition letter could be drafted, circulated to members of opposition organizations, signed by individual members, then delivered to AZFGD. There is still time and the people power to do so.

This may aid Ms. Munig clear her confusion as to whether or not a letter in opposition from the President of the MDF chapter was personal or represented it's entire membership.

At the end of the day it is always a numbers game and pumping those numbers from 12 to 1,200+ adds more weight. Keep up the good fight Don, your actions are commendable.

RE: Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

Thank you!Good idea, I'll work on it!

RE: Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

Don I noticed this is not posted in the AZ forum... your efforts might garner more notice from people that don't venture into the political fray. Good job and good luck with your efforts I support you.

RE: Should AZGFD eliminate the Youth muzzleloader deer hunt in Unit 16A (Hualapai Mountains)

It's on there now!