Combination hunt and fish license offers best value of the season

Combination hunt and fish license offers best value of the season

Hunting and fishing recreation offer families an outdoor adventure

The frenetic activity of the holiday season probably has most of us ready for a break. And what better way to get away and recharge than a fun, relaxing trip to the great outdoors?

A hunting and/or fishing license is your passage to escape to the open spaces of the desert uplands or to a local fishing hole to spend some quality time with family and friends. The memories from an exciting outdoor adventure will far outlast any shopping trip.

Arizona is blessed with a wide variety of wildlife, incredible landscapes, and vast amounts of public lands. Hunting and angling are healthy activities that allow you to experience all that our state has to offer.

A general hunting license, fishing license, or combination hunt and fish license is all you need to start enjoying your wildlife-related outdoor adventure. The combination hunt/fish license also includes the trout stamp and offers savings over the cost of the licenses and stamps purchased separately.

Below are just some of the great hunting and fishing activities in season now in Arizona.

Hunting – Hunting opportunities in December are extensive, especially in the small game arena. There are three species of quail (Gambel’s, Mearns’ and scaled), mourning dove, cottontail rabbits, two types of jackrabbits (black-tailed and antelope), two types of tassel-eared squirrels (Abert’s and Kaibab) along with red and grey squirrels, as well as many varieties of ducks and geese. Many of these game animals can be found in the same areas offering a mixed bag and exciting hunting adventure, not to mention the great meal they provide. (Note, dove and waterfowl require special stamps.)

Fishing – Fishing this time of year brings fresh stocked rainbow trout to many of Arizona’s waters, including those in the urban lakes program. These hearty, feisty-fighters provide great angling fun and good eating when you are tired of turkey leftovers. In addition to trout, anglers can find bass, catfish, sunfish, and crappie. For a great hike and scenic trip, try Wet Beaver Creek, West Clear Creek, or maybe even Oak Creek. If you want to stay close to the Phoenix metro area, try the Lower Salt River, Tempe Town Lake, or one of the many urban program waters. Other good bets are Canyon Lake and Saguaro Lake in central Arizona, Dead Horse Ranch State Park near Cottonwood, the Verde River from Cottonwood to Camp Verde, Goldwater Lake outside of Prescott, and the Colorado River along Casino Row in northwestern Arizona. (Remember, an urban fishing license is required for the urban program waters.)

Licenses are available at all seven Arizona Game and Fish Department offices and more than 300 license dealer across the state. Keep in mind that 2009 class A fishing licenses and class U urban fishing licenses are half-price right now and good through the end of 2009.

Resident license fees:

Child ages 10-13 – hunting $15, combination hunt and fish $20.
Youth ages 14-20 – combination hunt and fish $26.50.
Adult ages 21 and up – hunting $32.25, combination hunt and fish $54.
Family of four combination hunt and fish license $137.20 (a savings of $24).*

*Note – Hunt and fish combo license includes trout stamp.
For more information on licenses, visit www.azgfd.gov/eservices/licenses.shtml.

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