
We're AZ's wildlife agency! Proud to #ConserveAndProtect our state's 800+ species 🐾 Social media community guidelines: https://xitter.cf/t.co/5HPIrjTN7u
Arizona
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Have you ever wanted to try hunting or harvesting your own food? 🍽️ Now's your chance, through our Outdoor Skills Network events!
Coming up in November, we've got youth deer and small game camps, mentored dove hunts, mentored predator hunts, and more! Register for an event now: bit.ly/3TwdlVH.

ALT Two large pots of food are cooking over an outdoor open flame. One pot contains a colorful stew with vegetables and beans. The other pot holds a thick, yellow mixture. Both pots are placed over hot coals, with one resting directly on a metal stand and the other beside it. A hand with rings is seen stirring the stew.
The Spring Draw results are out! 🤩 Head to your AZGFD portal account - it's the only source for finding out draw results and viewing bonus points. Learn more: azgfd.com/2026/10/23/spring-….
The Ben Avery Shooting Facility has classes for everyone! 🎯 🤩 See what else is coming up, including the next Annie Oakley course, and sign up now: bit.ly/4yTBvbH.
🐢 For National Reptile Awareness Day, here's a great outcome for a special Sonoran desert tortoise that wound up in the care of the AZGFD Tortoise Adoption Program, and why it's so important to leave wild desert tortoises alone:
Recently, the team from our Tortoise Adoption Program noticed specific markings on a tortoise that a member of the public had brought in. Upon further inspection by AZGFD biologists, it was determined the tortoise came from a study population of wild desert tortoises within @SaguaroNPS.
Because the tortoise was part of a recently completed radio-tracking study, biologists were able to successfully return the tortoise to its home within the park!
However, situations like this are rare. Usually, once a wild tortoise has been removed, we have no way of knowing where it came from and cannot return it.
Never take a wild Sonoran desert tortoise from its habitat. Instead, if you want to care for a desert tortoise of your own, we have many captive desert tortoises that have been surrendered to us and need forever homes! Adopt or donate to their care at azgfd.gov/tortoise.
Despite our recent rainfall, it's important to remember that a few days of heavy rain doesn't end the long-term drought we're experiencing. 😐 Unfortunately, the lasting effects of long-term drought still impact our state's wildlife. Here are some examples:
🐥 Less reproduction. The longer a drought lasts, the more stress it can place on wildlife, which lowers their success with reproduction.
🦠 Spread of disease. Fewer water sources cause wildlife to congregate in singular locations, increasing the risk of predation and spread of disease.
💦 Seeking water near humans. Wildlife may seek water in less safe places, like urban or agricultural areas.
Learn more about Arizona's long-term drought and what AZGFD is doing to mitigate its effects on wildlife: bit.ly/3NtsL6h.
🐟 🎣 Wondering which weeks we plan to stock fish in certain waters? Check out our fish stocking schedule: bit.ly/4hMYAXH.
🚨 The deadline to update your credit or debit card information for the Spring Draw is Monday, Oct. 19 at 11:59 p.m. (Arizona time). Learn more: bit.ly/3U3Ia49.
Planning to go waterfowl hunting? Remember: ducks float but you don't, so don't forget your life jacket! 🛟 🛶
Just because the weather is cooling off, doesn't mean you should relax. Wearing a life jacket could save your life! Your family and friends will thank you. 😊
📷 U.S. Coast Guard
Fingers crossed you're successful in your next hunt! 🤞 If you land a deer or elk, help us keep Arizona herds healthy from Chronic Wasting Disease - remember to submit a sample of your harvest. Here's how: azgfd.gov/cwd.
Our offices are closed today for the federal holiday. We'll return to normal business hours tomorrow, but you can always purchase your hunting or fishing license online at azgfd.gov!
Don't invite the wrong type of trick-or-treaters to your door! 🐗 🎃
As you're decorating for Halloween, keep jack-o-lanterns, uncarved pumpkins and cornucopias on indoor window sills. This will prevent hungry wildlife looking for an easy meal from showing up. Learn more: bit.ly/4hGX6gB.
Genuinely asking: Could your routine use something a little slower? 🐢
Sonoran desert tortoises naturally spend much of their time resting or in their burrows and are well adapted to life in the desert. Basically, they’ve got the slow part down.
Make room for a little more slow. Adopt a tortoise or donate to support their care: bit.ly/3oslhr4
🐾 New black-footed ferrets released in Arizona! 🐾
Here's some positive conservation news: we recently released 18 black-footed ferrets into the wild in Yavapai and Coconino counties. Read more about this latest batch of ferrets that will help increase the wild population: bit.ly/4jl98hU.
Moving native fish (a.k.a. translocation) is one of our key tools to build species resilience — establishing new populations, boosting numbers and strengthening genetic diversity.
Since 2010, AZGFD wildlife biologists have completed 664 translocations of 19 native species at 190 Arizona waterbodies! Translocations helped Apache trout recover, expanded Gila trout habitat, and created new populations of spikedace and roundtail chub, among many great examples.
But leave this work to the pros. Illegally moving fish can introduce disease, destroy habitats and undo years of hard-earned conservation work.
Read more in the latest issue of Arizona Wildlife Views: bit.ly/4yVI11J.
Did you forget to apply to the Spring Draw? 🫢 You still have until 11:59 p.m. TONIGHT (Oct. 6), so hurry and apply! ➡️ bit.ly/3QG8Nr3
The Spring Draw closes TODAY! This is your last chance. If you haven't applied yet, you have until 11:59 tonight. Apply now: bit.ly/4gX6Ow7.
🚨 The Spring Draw closes TOMORROW! Don't miss your chance to put in for spring turkey, javelina, bison, and raptor capture. Hurry and apply now: bit.ly/3USoq3K.
Only TWO DAYS LEFT to apply for the Spring Draw! Take your shot and apply now, before it’s too late: bit.ly/4AmeTSQ.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department advises bear hunters to confirm whether annual harvest limits have been met in their desired game management units before heading out for nonpermit-tag hunts that open today. If annual harvest limits have already been met, a unit will not open, even if a hunt is scheduled according to the regulations. Read more: bit.ly/4yvwVkb.





















