|
|
 |
|
|
Accomplishments
|
|
 The first major project of the AWF after its founding in 1923 was legislation to get politics out of wildlife management. They accomplished this by drafting a state game code which provided for a Commission/Department form of wildlife administration. It wasn't willingly accepted by the politicians of that day, including the governor, but was finally adopted by referendum in 1928.
Neither the governor nor his henchmen were willing to accept this accomplishment, and in 1930 tried to again take control of Game and Fish. With the help of its affiliate organizations the AWF managed to beat back this effort. Despite other attempts over the years, including the most recent effort some 15 years ago, we continue to have essentially the same type of administration as was established about 70 years ago.
In 1958, through efforts of the AWF, the game code was revised to its current form without altering the Commission/Department structure.
The AWF supported a revision of the state water code to specifically establish wildlife as a beneficial use of water. This made possible the development of many fishing lakes, especially on the Mogollon Rim.
The AWF supported the introduction of pronghorn antelope to the Arizona Strip, the Fort Apache Indian Reservation, and other historic pronghorn habitats. The introduction of the Merriam Turkey into suitable habitat, including the Kaibab Plateau, was also strongly backed by the AWF.
The AWF was also instrumental in the establishment of the federal Kofa Game Refuge for the protection and management of the desert bighorn, leading eventually to the opening of this magnificent big game species to limited hunting.
AWF members were also involved in the development of Arizona's buffalo herds and in the re-introduction of elk in this state.
Since the creation of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission the AWF has worked closely with the sitting governor in screening and endorsing qualified individuals as Commission members.
The AWF and the Arizona Cattle Growers Association established a Stockmen-Sportsmen Committee to address the problem of vandalism on the rangelands of the state.
The AWF worked closely with the Department and Commission, the University of Arizona and the Wildlife Management Institue to establish a Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit at the University.
|
Recent Projects of the AWF |
|
For a summary of our 2005 work projects, click here: AWF Work Projects.
Believing firmly that habitat is the key to abundant and healthy populations of fish and wildlife, the AWF conducts a strong habitat improvement program. Working cooperatively with Arizona Game and Fish, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management and other entities, the AWF has contributed manpower and funds to hundreds of projects over the years.
Each year, AWF in conjunction with Arizona Game & Fish offers the Becoming an Outdoor's Woman program. This three-day event introduces women to such outdoor skills as fly fishing, paddling, rock climbing and bird watching.
In recent years AWF's volunteers have removed miles of barbed wire fencing and fence posts from the Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge. Such fencing is a hazard to deer and Pronghorn Antelope which can become fatally entangled in it.
AWF volunteers have also donated thousands of man hours to projects at Saguaro Lake and Bartlett Lake aimed at improving aquatic habitat for largemouth bass, catfish, crappies and other fish species. This was primarily a Tonto National Forest project with the AWF contributing more than 1000 volunteers. Tonto personnel calculated that those volunteers donated more than $100,000 worth of labor to the Bartlett project alone.
The AWF was a major contributor of both time and effort to develop and build a desert nature trail in Papago Park, donating many hours of labor as well as soliciting donations of plants and organizing volunteers to work on the project.
On the Prescott National Forest AWF volunteers gave several weekends of their time to the construction of a silt retention dam on Walnut Creek northwest of Prescott.
Raptors have been the beneficiary of another AWF project at Eldorado Park in Scottsdale. AWF volunteers, including several members of the board, constructed boxes for barn owls and American kestrels in a project intended to attract these interesting rodent predators to an urban environment.
The AWF was also involved in a cooperative campaign with other conservation groups called Carlotta Stoppers aimed at preventing establishment of a mine in Pinto Creek, a stream that drains into Roosevelt Lake.
|
|
|
