Arizona is considering changes to how it handles its conservation tags. Historically, certain tags are auctioned off by conservation or wildlife organizations to raise money that goes directly back to habitat restoration, water catchment redevelopments, translocations, disease testing and more.

This model has been in place since 1984 and has worked well. Tags auctioned off to the highest bidder provide a hunter with an amazing opportunity and 100% of the revenue is returned to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD) to use for a variety of conservation projects decided upon through a collaboration with the Habit Partnership Committees comprised of AGFD officials, landowners, hunters and other invested members in the local community.

However, members of the Arizona Game and Fish Commission have stated that “they believe all auction tags should be eliminated” even though they “don’t really know what a different plan looks like at this time,” according to HOWL for Wildlife. There is the potential that at the next commission meeting, which is scheduled for TOMORROW (Friday, March 15), a decision about the future of auctioned conservation tags could be decided without any backup plan or scientific study as how this would radically impact Arizona game management and conservation projects across the state.

Those opposed to the potential change include scholars, wildlife professionals and past commissioners who believe the commission is “incorrectly interpreting the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.” Specifically, HOWL for Wildlife says that the commissioners are “not telling the public that existing license and tag fees in the State of Arizona do not cover all wildlife-related expenses in Arizona” nor was the Special Big Game Tag program established to “provide needed funding.”

HOWL for Wildlife urges anyone with an interest in Arizona hunting and conservation make their voices heard before tomorrow’s meeting.