Commission to consider approval of final hunting and fishing license structure/fees, hunt guidelines and spring draw schedule.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. - The next Arizona Game and Fish Commission meeting will be held Friday and Saturday, Aug. 2 and 3, at the Flagstaff City Hall Council Chambers, 211 W. Aspen Avenue, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001. The meeting begins at 8 a.m. on both days. On Saturday, the community forum begins at 8 a.m. and the public is encouraged to attend. But the Commission will not take any action on agenda items until the official meeting begins at 10:30 a.m.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person, view the live-streaming video at any Game and Fish office, or watch the webcast live 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. This feature is not available to webcast viewers at other locations.

Items on the Friday portion of the agenda include:

Announcement of the 2013 Heritage Grant award recipients.
Briefings on state and federal legislative issues; Scholastic Clay Target Program; and stewardship of Commission-owned or managed properties.
Consideration of a land exchange of a parcel at Page Springs Fish Hatchery for adjacent riparian area.
Request for approval of the Article 4 Live Wildlife Five-year Review Report.
Review of an agreement with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the department to act as a cooperating agency on the Environmental Impact Statement for the revision of the 10(j) rule and Management Plan for Mexican wolves.
Presentation of the Mexican wolf planning principles and key objectives for the reintroduction program that will serve as a framework for the department's future involvement in the program.
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.).
Consideration of commission policy on the department's law enforcement response to sportsmen's self-reported accidental/unintentional violations.

On Saturday, the department will host a Flagstaff community forum. Department staff, along with community leaders and members, will provide the commission with an overview of ongoing collaborative projects occurring in the region. Open discussions of topics will take place on presentations by the Northern Arizona Fly Casters Club and Coconino Sportsmen's Club, as well as discussion on an education partnership between the department and Northern Arizona University, the Northern Arizona Shooting Range, the Diablo Trust and watchable wildlife programs at Rogers Lake.

After the community forum, the regular commission meeting will begin with agenda items including:

Briefings on shooting sports, information and education programs, wildlife recreation, law enforcement, and lands and habitat.
Consideration of the spring 2014 hunting seasons, dates, bag/possession limits, permit numbers, and open areas for spring turkey, javelina, buffalo, bear (Commission Orders 5, 6, 8 and 9). Review of the hunt permit-tag application schedule for spring 2014 hunts.
Consideration of waterfowl and snipe hunt seasons, dates, bag/possession limits, open areas (Commission Orders 21 and 22).
Request for approval for the license and fee structure notice of final exempt rulemaking. The full agenda is available at www.azgfd.gov/commission. Click on "commission agenda."

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission is the policy-setting board overseeing the Arizona Game and Fish Department. It is composed of five members (serving staggered five-year terms) appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. No more than one commissioner may be from any one county. No more than three may be from the same political party. Since its inception in 1929, this organizational structure has served as a buffer for the best interests of science-driven wildlife conservation during eight decades of back-and-forth political change. For more information on the Commission, visit www.azgfd.gov/commission.