Arizona
Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee (HPC)
Special Big Game Tag Funds Allocation
By Bob Meulengracht
On January 30, 2010, MDF was represented by Board Member Bob Jacobs and Director of Field Operations Bob Meulengracht at the Arizona Habitat Partnership Committee (HPC) Special Big Game Tag Funds allocation meeting.
This meeting is designed to allow the conservation groups that auction/raffle these special licenses a voice in how the funds are distributed.
Along with MDF the following groups were represented at the meeting: Arizona Antelope Foundation (AAF), Arizona Deer Association (ADA), Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society (ADBSS), Arizona Elk Society (AES), National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF).
The meeting was hosted by the Game Branch of the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) at their headquarters just north of Phoenix. Collectively the group evaluated over 100 projects from all over the state.
Projects included habitat manipulation, new water development, water development restoration, research, land acquisition, etc. Projects also ranged from single species (i.e. Bighorn Sheep Mineral Supplement/Management) to multiple species (i.e., water development for mule deer, whitetail deer, pronghorn antelope, javelina, etc.).
In total, almost $1.1 million was allocated to over 50 different projects for the benefit of wildlife in and around the state of Arizona.
Mule deer will specifically benefit from the allocation of over $300,000 for the following projects:
- West Cottonwood Guzzler Redevelopment
- Ohaco Ranch – Fuel for High Point and Ellsworth Wells
- High Point Water Maintenance System
- Pat Springs Pipeline O&M
- Ida Grassland Maintenance
- Mt. Dellenbaugh Catchment Redevelopment 2010
- Cane Springs Wildlife Habitat Improvement
- Orme Ranch Water Development Phase 2
- Vulture Mountains #4 Mule Deer Catchment Redevelopment
- 544 Trough Replacement
- Sonoran Desert National Monument – Digital Trail Cameras
- Mountain Lion Management in SW Arizona
- Chappo Betty Water Development, Rose Tree Ranch
- 75 Well and North Pipeline, Phase 1
- Upper John’s Well
- Johnson Peak/John Long Prescribed Burn
- Elkhorn Water Enhancement
- Silverbell Pipeline Project
- W. Patagonia Development Phase 2
- Catchment 749 Redevelopment
- Teacup/Tecolote Development Phase 2
- Hackberry Wash Development Phase 2
- 96 Hills Mountain Range Water Catchments
- Cherry Prescribed Fire
- Black Mesa Catchment
- Buckaroo Flats Juniper Maintenance
- Ellinwood Grassland Maintenance / Bosco Tank
- Diamond Butte Catchment Maintenance
- Houston Mesa Tank Maintenance
- Unit 9 and 10 Predator Density Reduction
- Body Condition Analysis Fir Unit 12A Mule Deer
MDF is proud to be a part of not only raising a part of these funds but also having the opportunity to distribute funding to these worthwhile wildlife projects.