The Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) is disappointed to see the recent lawsuit challenging Arizona Game and Fish Department’s (AZGFD) management of mountain lion hunting and seeking to suspend the state’s mountain lion hunting season.

AWF takes concerns over wildlife populations seriously and has carefully reviewed the harvest and population data that AZGFD uses to make its management decisions. Based on the available data, we do not believe there is any risk that Arizona mountain lions will become extinct in the next 25 years, as referenced in the lawsuit.

Decades of Scientific Data Prove Stability

AZGFD has maintained publicly available mountain lion harvest data since 1958. This data, collected from a mandatory physical inspection of all hunter-harvested mountain lions, demonstrates that Arizona's mountain lion population remains stable and healthy. 

Key scientific indicators from this decades-long data collection show:

• Stable Trends: Arizona mountain lion harvest rates have remained steady for nearly 70 years.

• Healthy Populations: Neither total female nor adult female harvest rates exceed levels that would indicate a declining population.

• Peer-Reviewed Proof: A peer-refereed scientific model (Howard et al. 2020) used by AZGFD demonstrates that Arizona’s mountain lion population is robust and in no jeopardy.

Flawed Interpretation and Rejected Expert Review

Prior to filing the lawsuit, AWF was asked to review the alternate model that formed the basis of the conclusion that the Arizona mountain lion population was headed for extinction. AWF convened a panel of four professional wildlife biologists to conduct a thorough, independent review. Their responses were provided, pointing out errors in both methodology and how AZGFD's data was interpreted. Despite this expert independent scientific feedback, those inputs were ignored and the lawsuit was filed.

The Success of Regulated Harvest

"AWF strongly supports sound, science-based management of all wildlife," said Glen Dickens, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and the President of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. "Regulated harvest based on scientific approaches does not put mountain lion populations in jeopardy. In fact, regulated harvest has never resulted in an unsustainable wildlife population anywhere in North America. The work to protect and manage Arizona’s wildlife using the best available science is never done, and AWF encourages the professional biologists at AZGFD to ensure their mountain lion population models include the latest available data and are shared with the public.”

This week, legislation was introduced that would eliminate protections for two of Arizona’s most renowned public lands: Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument and Ironwood Forest National Monument.

These proposals stand in direct opposition to the overwhelming support Arizonans have expressed for keeping national monuments intact. In a poll run by the Grand Canyon Trust, a vast majority of Arizonans — 88% — support the Antiquities Act. This law has allowed presidents of both parties to designate existing national public lands as national monuments since 1906. Ironwood Forest National Monument, designated 25 years ago, protects 129,000 acres of the Sonoran Desert, safeguarding one of the richest stands of ironwood trees, critical wildlife habitats, and more than 5,000 years of cultural history. Its significance was reaffirmed just last week when the Tucson City Council passed a resolution supporting continued protection for the monument.

Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument was established in 2023 after decades of advocacy from Tribal Nations and Arizona communities. The nearly one-million-acre designation protects ancestral homelands, the Colorado River watershed, and outdoor recreation opportunities while continuing to allow hunting, hiking, and existing grazing and mining permits.

Efforts to dismantle these monuments disregard years of community engagement and collaboration and compromise that went into defining the monuments and their management plans.

“Attempts to repeal these designations ignore the clear will of the public and sidestep the process that created them,” said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “National monuments like Ironwood Forest and Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni–Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon were created to protect cultural heritage, wildlife, and water supplies while preserving access for hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationists. Removing protections would put all of that at risk.”

These monuments are more than protected landscapes; they are living testaments to Arizona’s cultural, ecological, and recreational heritage. Eliminating them would erase decades of work by Tribes, local governments, conservationists, sportsmen, and community members who came together to ensure these lands remain accessible and intact for future generations.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation strongly opposes Secretarial Order 3442, signed this week by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, which undermines the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). For over 50 years, the LWCF has been a bipartisan commitment to conserve wildlife habitat, safeguard waters, protect cultural heritage, and expand public access for hunters, anglers, hikers, and all outdoor enthusiasts. Its mission has always been straightforward: reinvest revenues from offshore oil and gas development into the conservation of America’s land and water.

This approach has worked. LWCF has helped protect national treasures like the Grand Canyon, while also supporting national forests, local parks, trails, and community recreation areas across the country. In 2020, the Great American Outdoors Act permanently dedicated $900 million in offshore energy revenues to LWCF every year, strengthening its ability to deliver conservation and recreation benefits nationwide.

“LWCF is a groundbreaking investment in conservation and outdoor access,” said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “Secretarial Order 3442 would add an unnecessary layer of red tape, giving state governors and county officials veto power over projects that already undergo rigorous public and internal review. And just as troubling is that it opens the door for the mass transfer or disposal of federal public lands — something the American public has repeatedly and resoundingly rejected when it’s attempted without public input taken into account.”

LWCF already has a strong, transparent process that includes public input and ensures projects meet conservation and access goals. Bypassing that process through executive or secretarial orders is not only unnecessary, but it risks undoing decades of conservation progress and weakening the public’s voice in decisions about our shared lands and waters.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) strongly opposes new language introduced in the Senate’s budget reconciliation bill that would mandate the sale of an estimated 2 to 3 million acres of federal public land, including parcels in Arizona.

A similar provision was recently removed from the House version of the bill following widespread pushback from hunters, anglers, hikers, and public land advocates. The striking of that amendment was a positive step toward preserving the integrity of public land management. Unfortunately, the proposal has resurfaced in the Senate version, renewing serious concerns about its potential impact on public lands.

As currently written, the Senate provision could allow private interests to nominate public lands for sale at auction. The parcels could then be purchased by industrial developers, foreign investors, or whoever is the highest bidder. 90% of the revenue from those sales would be directed to the U.S. Treasury, not back to the management of public lands.

“This legislation disregards the existing legal framework that already allows for land sales when they are warranted; a process that includes public input, environmental review, and transparency,” said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “What’s being proposed here is vague, rushed, and sidesteps critical public involvement. Arizonans and Americans deserve better.”

Public lands are vital to Arizona’s outdoor heritage and recreation economy, supporting hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, kayaking, wildlife watching, and more. If sold off, these lands would be lost to future generations.

“We will continue to advocate for responsible, science-based land management policies that honor public input and protect Arizona’s landscapes,” Cravens added. “Public lands belong to the people, and we intend to keep them that way.”

The Arizona Wildlife Federation thanks the more than 500 individuals and 25 Arizona-based sporting and outdoor recreation organizations who previously voiced their opposition by signing letters to Arizona’s Congressional delegation. Their advocacy was instrumental in the removal of the House provision, and AWF encourages continued public engagement as this legislation moves forward.

The Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) is encouraged by the recent decision to remove a provision from the House budget reconciliation bill that would have directed the Bureau of Land Management to sell or exchange hundreds of thousands of acres of public land in Nevada and Utah. As originally written, the provision would have bypassed longstanding public participation requirements and redirected proceeds into the general treasury, rather than putting those funds into managing the land.

This outcome demonstrates the importance of maintaining transparency and public involvement when it comes to changes in public land ownership. We support the use of existing legal processes to address the current backlog of proposed sales and exchanges, which ensures decisions are made with input from the communities, landowners, and public land users most directly impacted.

When thoughtfully implemented, sales and exchanges can improve public land management, increase access for outdoor recreation, and benefit local communities.. But large-scale disposals without public input disregard the necessary thoughtfulness required for proper and scientific land management.

“The value of our public lands cannot be overstated — they provide space to hunt, fish, hike, and camp while safeguarding wildlife habitat and supporting the economy,” said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director for the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “We’re encouraged to see decisions being made that respect existing land laws and ensure the public has a voice in shaping the future of these shared spaces.”

The Arizona Wildlife Federation remains committed to collaborative conservation and to working with policymakers, agencies, and community members to ensure public lands remain accessible, well-managed, and intact for generations to come. AWF would like to thank the over 300 individual supporters and 25 Arizona sporting and outdoor recreation organizations who signed on and sent letters to our Arizona Congressional delegation. Your voice was heard!

Arizona’s public lands are the foundation of our outdoor traditions, supporting world-class opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and countless other recreational activities. These lands are not just open spaces—they are critical habitat for over 800 species of wildlife and the driving force behind Arizona’s $14 billion outdoor recreation economy, which supports over 110,000 jobs and fuels small businesses across the state.

Proposals to sell off public lands jeopardize these irreplaceable benefits, stripping Arizonans and all Americans of their collective ownership and access to the lands that define our way of life. Instead of short-sighted land sales, Congress should prioritize collaborative conservation efforts and investments in public land management to ensure continued access, economic growth, and wildlife protection.

“The value of our public lands cannot be overstated—they provide space to hunt, fish, hike, and camp while safeguarding vital wildlife habitat and supporting Arizona’s economy,” said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “Selling off these lands is not going to solve the housing crisis or balance the federal budget — it will permanently take away opportunities for outdoor recreation, conservation projects, and sustainable, long-term economic growth. We urge Congress to reject these proposals and invest in keeping our public lands intact for future generations.”

Public lands belong to all Americans, and their responsible management benefits everyone. The Arizona Wildlife Federation stands with sportsmen and women, outdoor enthusiasts, and local businesses in opposing any efforts to sell off these lands. We call on all of Arizona’s elected leaders to defend the landscapes that fuel our economy, support our communities, and define our outdoor heritage.

Recent orders issued by the Secretary of the Department of the Interior pose a serious threat to America's public lands. These actions elevate drilling and mining activities as the favored uses of our public lands. They walk back common-sense nonpartisan reforms that protect wildlife and public access for outdoor recreation including hunting and fishing, while putting the cost burden of clean-up on the shoulders of American taxpayers.

The secretarial orders specifically target regulations that have helped balance conservation with responsible development, including the Bureau of Land Management’s Public Lands and Renewable Energy Rules. These regulations reflect years of careful work to balance the values of wildlife, cultural sites, and outdoor recreation spaces with other land uses including grazing, mining, oil and gas extraction, and renewable energy development.

“America’s public lands — including our national monuments, wilderness areas, and other treasured places — are vital to our way of life,” says Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation, “These recent orders prioritize extraction over conservation and access while sidestepping the public’s right to have a say in how our lands are managed.”

A particularly concerning provision calls for a 15-day review of all public lands including national monuments, wilderness areas, and wildlife refuges, which could open up these areas for extraction without public input. This expedited process ignores years of detailed agency analysis and public review, including thoughtful discussion and debate, and explicitly seeks to undo the vital protections put in place by those public processes to safeguard America’s unique lands and wildlife.

“A central part of the American identity is our public land. People want to see these places managed responsibly so they can continue to enjoy them and see their children and their grandchildren explore them,” Cravens says, “We hope Secretary Burgum will reconsider his approach and listen to the public who depend on these lands for their livelihoods and outdoor traditions.”

The Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF) proudly hosted its 6th Annual Camo at the Capitol event at the Arizona State Capitol this past Tuesday, bringing together over 20 conservation and sporting organizations and key decision-makers to discuss critical issues impacting Arizona's wildlife and public lands.

"Camo at the Capitol is an incredible opportunity for sportsmen and women to come together, learn about the issues affecting our wildlife and public lands, and engage directly with decision-makers who shape the policies that impact conservation efforts," said Michael Cravens, AWF's Advocacy and Conservation Director.

The event provided attendees with valuable insights into current legislative issues and advocacy strategies to support wildlife conservation and public lands. Throughout the day, participants engaged in informative discussions covering a wide range of topics, including effective ways to engage with legislators, key legislation AWF is currently tracking, and what is expected in the legislative session. Informational handouts addressed critical issues such as Arizona's water challenges, best practices for solar implementation, a breakdown of public land designations, and much more.

Camo at the Capitol wasn't all business though! Attendees also enjoyed a taste of the wild with a delicious lineup of game meals prepared by participating organizations. These included Abert’s Tassel-eared squirrel with sun-dried tomato and basil stuffed mushroom caps, dove and duck chili, mule deer tacos, wild goose Reubens, elk meatballs, and wild turkey nachos, capped off by some fresh espresso. Participants also took part in fly-casting demonstrations!

AWF extends a special thanks to the following participating organizations for their support and dedication to conservation: the Tucson Chapter of Safari Club International (AZSCI), the Phoenix Chapter of Safari Club International (AZSCI), Arizona Antelope Foundation, Arizona Elk Society, Audubon Southwest, Arizona Trail Association, Arizona Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Hispanics Enjoying Camping, Hunting, and the Outdoors (HECHO), Arizona Chapter of National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), Southern Arizona Quail Forever (SAQF), Arizona Ducks Unlimited, American Rivers, The Wilderness Society, Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS), Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership (TRCP), Arizona Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers (AZBHA), the Peregrin Fund, North American Non-Lead Partnership, Arizona Predator Callers, Arizona Trappers Association, and Sky Island Falconry Experience.

AWF also extends gratitude to the legislators who took the time to share their insights and perspectives with attendees on the Capitol lawn, including Senator Tim Dunn, Representative Frank Carroll, Representative David C. Farnsworth, Senator Analise Ortiz, Senator Priya Sundareshan, Representative Alma Hernandez, and Representative John Kavanagh.

The decision by Arizona officials to support a Utah lawsuit – questioning the constitutionality of the federal government owning unappropriated public lands – poses a disturbing risk to wildlife, recreation, and our sporting heritage in Arizona and across the nation. Despite support for this lawsuit from Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen and Speaker of the House Ben Toma, their stance does not reflect the views of Arizonans,  an overwhelming majority of who support protecting and conserving public lands. These lands sustain iconic western species like bighorn sheep, mule deer, and pronghorn, support a huge outdoor recreation economy, and are vital for Arizona’s rich outdoor heritage.

"Arizona's public lands provide vital habitat for wildlife, migration corridors, and countless opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, bicycling, kayaking, you name it," said Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation (AWF). “The stakes in this case extend far beyond Utah and the outcome of this lawsuit threatens to set a precedent that could undermine public access and conservation priorities for generations.”

The lawsuit seeks state control over 18.5 million acres of federal public lands in Utah, but the outcome could have severe implications for Arizona’s iconic landscapes and outdoor traditions. If successful, the lawsuit could pave the way for the privatization and development of public lands, threatening the integrity of wildlife habitats, and limiting public access. These lands belong to all Americans and provide essential ecological, recreational, and economic benefits, which are at risk if ownership shifts to states with a mandate to maximize revenue. States also face immense challenges managing lands on a scale comparable to the federal government, including critical wildfire suppression, habitat conservation, and public access maintenance. 

For over 100 years, the Arizona Wildlife Federation has championed the right of all Americans to access and enjoy Arizona’s unique landscapes. This commitment is precisely why AWF stands firmly against Utah’s lawsuit, which threatens to undermine public land protections and the outdoor heritage that Arizonans value deeply. 

“Arizona’s public lands are irreplaceable,” said Scott Garlid, Executive Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation. “We urge Arizona officials who have extended their support of this lawsuit to listen to the overwhelming voices in Arizona who want to keep our public lands in public hands.”

On Tuesday, September 24, Michael Cravens, Advocacy and Conservation Director of the Arizona Wildlife Federation, was honored as the 2024 Leader of the Year in Public Policy (Government category) by the Arizona Capitol Times. This prestigious annual award recognizes individuals who have significantly contributed to statewide growth and enhanced the quality of life for all Arizonans.

Michael, along with his wife, two young children, and their German short-haired pointer, proudly call the mountains of Arizona home. When he’s not exploring the state’s stunning public lands in pursuit of rising trout or healthy game to feed his family, he is working tirelessly to safeguard the access and environments that make these pursuits possible.

Michael earned this recognition for his dedicated advocacy at the State Capitol, where he passionately champions Arizona’s wildlife, habitats, and outdoor recreation opportunities. 

He unites diverse stakeholders and strives to ensure that elected officials and decision-makers clearly understand what must be done to protect our wildlife and how each person can play a vital role in that mission. Michael inspires others to care and diligently keeps them focused on the critical tasks ahead.

In addition to his role with the Arizona Wildlife Federation, he serves as the Vice Chair for Arizona Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.

We couldn’t be prouder of Michael and are honored to see his remarkable contributions formally recognized by the Arizona Capitol Times.

The Arizona Capitol Times is a weekly publication focused on state politics and government, based in Phoenix, Arizona.