Hot Issues

Forest Service Releases Request for Proposals Related To Four Forest Restoration Initiative The Southwestern Region of the Forest Service issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) on June 15, 2011, related to the landscape-scale forest restoration effort known as the Four Forest Restoration Initiative (4FRI).   The RFP seeks industry partners to work with the Forest Service in accomplishing a large, landscape-scale, multi-year forest restoration project in northern and central Arizona.  The objective of the project is to treat 300,000 acres of ponderosa pine forest by thinning and harvesting mainly small-diameter trees over a 10-year contract period.  This will be the largest restoration contract ever awarded by the Forest Service.     Read more HERE.

Wolf Delisting Legislation Introduced S 249, The American Big Game and Livestock Protection Act, returns management of wolf populations to state wildlife agencies.   Senator John McCain and Senator Jon Kyl both signed on as original co-sponsors along with Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah (the bill's prime sponsor) and Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Michael Enzi (R-Wyoming), Mike Lee (R-Utah) and James Risch (R-Idaho).   H. R. 509, sponsored by Congressman Denny Rehbert of Montana, amends the 1973 Endangered Species Act by specifying that "the Act shall not apply to the gray wolf (canis lupus)". Fifteen co-sponsors from twelve different states included: Rep. Rob Bishop (R-Utah) Rep. Dan Boren (D-Oklahoma) Rep. Leonard L. Boswell (D-Iowa) Rep. Paul C. Broun (R-Georgia) Rep. Dennis A. Cardoza (D-California) Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) Rep. Dean Heller (R-Nevada) Rep. John Kline (R-Minnesota) Rep. Raul R. Labrador (R-Idaho) Rep. Cynthia M. Lummis (R-Wyoming) Rep. Jim Matheson (D-Utah) Rep. Mike Ross (D-Arkansas) Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska) To learn more and track these bills, visit the the Thomas Library of Congress website HERE.

Follow legislation that impacts wildlife and sportsmen’s issues AZ Game & Fish department provides information on congressional and state legislation that has potential consequence to the Department's ability to manage the state's wildlife and wildlife resources HERE. AZ Sportsmen for Wildlife maintains a list of bills HERE.   For information about a specific bill in the Arizona legislature, visit the following website and enter the bill number: http://www.azleg.gov/alistoday.asp