Arizona GFC to Meet Oct. 4 to Discuss Hunting/Fishing Access Issues Related to Federal Government Shutdown

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission will hold a public meeting tomorrow (Friday, Oct. 4) at 9 a.m. at the Arizona Game and Fish Department headquarters at 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, Arizona 85086. Members of the commission will attend either in person or by telephone conference call. The commission will discuss and may vote to take action on the following item:

Maintaining hunting and fishing access to federal lands/facilities closed as part of the government shutdown.

Presenter: Gary R. Hovatter, Special Assistant to the Director. The commission will be briefed on additional closures, additional information the Game and Fish Department has garnered about federal closure guidance, and hunter/angler responses to the closures. The commission may give direction to the department to approach federal agencies about using department resources to maintain hunting and fishing access to now-closed federal lands/facilities, including Bartlett, Roosevelt, Apache, Canyon and Saguaro lakes.

The meeting will be webcast at www.azgfd.gov/commissioncam. Members of the public who wish to speak to the commission may submit a Speaker Card (Blue Card) at the meeting. The ability to speak to the commission is not available for those viewing the webcast.

The notice/agenda for the meeting can be found at www.azgfd.gov/inside_azgfd/meeting_agenda.shtml.

Arizona Game and Fish Department

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is a state agency of Arizona, headquartered in Phoenix. The agency is tasked with conserving, enhancing, and restoring Arizona's diverse wildlife resources and habitats through aggressive protection and management programs. It also provides wildlife resources and safe watercraft and off-highway vehicle recreation for the enjoyment of, appreciation by, and use by present and future generations.