Trail cameras can be a controversial topic within the hunting world, especially if you hunt public land and that land is home to record big game animals. This is the case with two specific units within Arizona: Unit 13B (the Arizona Strip), which is home to massive mule deer, and Unit 9—aka the best place in the state to hunt elk. In response to numerous complaints from hunters “regarding the large number of trail cameras being used by other sportsmen at developed waterholes” Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) officials created a Fair Chase Committee to investigate whether restrictions needed to be put in place over this specific type of trail camera use, the Daily Miner reports.
The Fair Chase Committee, which was comprised of AZGFD officials and local hunting guides, eventually recommended that there should be established restrictions to where trail cameras could be placed. This resulted in a proposal submitted by AZGFD, which would “eliminate live action trail cameras, and restrict passive cameras to being no closer than 1/4 mile (440 yards) from a developed water source,” according to the Daily Miner. However, once the proposal was open to public comments, most were against trail camera restrictions, despite the previous complaints about trail camera use.
During the June meeting, the Arizona Game and Fish Commission voted against changes in current trail camera use. However, there’s still another step before the decision is final: a supplemental rule making process, which includes a 30-day public comment period that runs July 13 through Aug. 13. The final rule will be voted on during the commission’s September meeting. If you are interested in weighing in, comments will be collected via email at rulemaking@azgfd.gov.
5 Comments
Eric Wilson
12/8/2020, 5:12:07 PM
Any change are not beneficial. Hunting cameras have detected the jaguars in AZ fish and game uses them i would rather have a camera then someone keep driving in to check just because deer are in area does not mean it will be kolled
Mike Stancill
7/17/2018, 7:15:08 PM
I think this sums up the AZGFD intent better rather than saying complaints from hunters. ""Every five years, there is an open review under Article 3 by the Department. There is a committee known as the “Fair Chase Committee,” which is made up of 12-15 persons both from inside and outside the Department. This committee reviews various rules, including the take of wildlife, and makes recommendations on any changes it feels is appropriate."" courtesy of the Kingman Daily Miner
Isaac Ramirez
7/2/2018, 6:54:17 PM
It’s kinda like the law of no four wheelers or utv’s off the road, I run into this every year especially during shed season I hike my butt off miles only to get back where I want to be to find it covered in four wheeler tracks when there is no road close by.