ACCESS TO STATE & FEDERAL LAND MAY NOT BE A PROBLEM TO YOU GUYS THAT LIVE AROUND THE BIG CITY BUT DOWN HERE IN THE RURAL AREAS THE RANCHERS THINK THEY OWN THE LAND THAT THEY LEASE. AS I HAVE MENTIONED BEFORE I HAVE CUT LOCKS TO ENTER STATE & FEDERAL LAND AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO. ONE RANCHER TOLD ME HE HAD A GUN I TOLD HIM I DID ALSO AND HAD USED IT BEFORE ON OTHER AZZHOLES.
Arizona Sportsmen Open Access to State and Federal Land
AL FEHR·THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018
FOLLOWING IS THE LETTER BEING EMAILED TO THE AZ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, GOVERNOR, AZGFD AND STATE LAND DEPT. COMMISSIONERS:
November 15, 2018 Arizona State Legislature Members of the Senate and House of Representatives 1700 W Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85007 To Whom This May Concern, I was informed that for you to read this I needed to get your immediate attention. So, if votes are important to you, we are requesting you take a minute and read this in its entirety. Normally I would never start off like that but the approximately 305,214 licensed hunters and the many individuals that hold state trust land recreational permits are being impacted by the increasing practice of ranchers denying access to state trust and federal land. These individuals are erecting fences, locking gates or building berms across roadways, and this is not referring to private land. This is referring to land that legally licensed hunters and the many permit holders have a right to access. This issue has been addressed numerous times in the past by individuals without success. Their efforts seem to have been unorganized and somewhat sporadic. In response to this, a group has been founded on social media to organize Arizona sportsmen and hopefully address and work towards a resolution to this issue. Everyone’s goal is to make this group and its efforts one of the largest sportsmen social media groups in Arizona. In an attempt to address the issue, many of us have filed or voiced our concern to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) without any results. They seem to be lacking the necessary support to address the issue. I personally called last week and requested to talk with the game warden for hunt unit 32 about hunting law. I was informed that the AZGFD Phoenix Office had sent out a directive to all game wardens, stating they were not required to return ANY phone calls to hunters. They didn’t want them wasting their time answering questions from any hunter. If we can’t turn to the regulatory agency responsible for hunting regulations, then who do we turn to? Fortunately, the warden for that area did in fact return my call. Referring to legal access, we (numerous members of the group) have reviewed Arizona Administrative Code 12-4-110 Referring to AZGFD. It is very clear that legally licensed hunters and those with recreational permits are not to be denied access. Many members have provided AZGFD with specific information as to the locations and ranchers that are denying access. Unfortunately, it seems AZGFD is reluctant to take corrective actions or enforce this policy, this reluctance seems to stem from a lack of support at the legislative level. Again, we are wondering who we need to contact. We have also reviewed Arizona Administrative Code 12-5-705 referring to State Land Department and the associated grazing leases. This policy states that grazing leases are for the sole purpose of grazing animals and other uses of the land by individuals are permitted. Unfortunately, it does not address ranchers locking gates, erecting fences or denying access. When we contact the State Land Department we are instructed to contact AZGFD. At this present time, we are seeking and requesting legislative support in addressing this issue and bringing changes that will support the multiple use of this land. We are suggesting and requesting ONE simple change to the State Land Departments 12-5-705 policy that would bring a lasting resolution to this problem. We request that the grazing policy be changed to include the requirement that, anyone holding a grazing lease that denies legal access to state trust land shall be fined a minimum of $500.00 per incident (thus adding to the State Trust Land Fund) and/or have their grazing lease revoked. This would also ensure that the policy be enforced. Please keep in mind that if a legally licensed hunter breaks a policy or law regarding state trust land, said individual is subject to being heavily fined and/or have their hunting rights revoked for up to 5 years and possibly even permanently. Why are ranchers that ignore the administrative codes or laws exempt from legal action? Being an administrator for the group and having read the comments and members voicing their frustrations, I feel Arizona sportsmen have a need to organize to get issues addressed and resolved. We are not going to go away, and we will pursue this issue until it is resolved. We as a group will grow and eventually have the strength in numbers that we can impact many electoral processes and votes in Arizona that have an impact on sportsmen and outdoorsmen. The social media group Arizona Sportsmen for Open Access to State Trust and Federal Land was founded approximately one month ago and is growing. All members and future members will be given copies of any correspondence and they will be updated regularly as to the progress of this issue. An online petition will also be formed requesting these land access laws are enforced upon ranchers and land leasers. I thank you in advance for your time and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns. I will respond as soon as possible. Sincerely, Allen Fehr Al Fehr / Administrator Arizona Sportsmen for Open
Arizona Sportsmen Open Access to State and Federal Land
AL FEHR·THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2018
FOLLOWING IS THE LETTER BEING EMAILED TO THE AZ HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SENATE, GOVERNOR, AZGFD AND STATE LAND DEPT. COMMISSIONERS:
November 15, 2018 Arizona State Legislature Members of the Senate and House of Representatives 1700 W Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85007 To Whom This May Concern, I was informed that for you to read this I needed to get your immediate attention. So, if votes are important to you, we are requesting you take a minute and read this in its entirety. Normally I would never start off like that but the approximately 305,214 licensed hunters and the many individuals that hold state trust land recreational permits are being impacted by the increasing practice of ranchers denying access to state trust and federal land. These individuals are erecting fences, locking gates or building berms across roadways, and this is not referring to private land. This is referring to land that legally licensed hunters and the many permit holders have a right to access. This issue has been addressed numerous times in the past by individuals without success. Their efforts seem to have been unorganized and somewhat sporadic. In response to this, a group has been founded on social media to organize Arizona sportsmen and hopefully address and work towards a resolution to this issue. Everyone’s goal is to make this group and its efforts one of the largest sportsmen social media groups in Arizona. In an attempt to address the issue, many of us have filed or voiced our concern to the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) without any results. They seem to be lacking the necessary support to address the issue. I personally called last week and requested to talk with the game warden for hunt unit 32 about hunting law. I was informed that the AZGFD Phoenix Office had sent out a directive to all game wardens, stating they were not required to return ANY phone calls to hunters. They didn’t want them wasting their time answering questions from any hunter. If we can’t turn to the regulatory agency responsible for hunting regulations, then who do we turn to? Fortunately, the warden for that area did in fact return my call. Referring to legal access, we (numerous members of the group) have reviewed Arizona Administrative Code 12-4-110 Referring to AZGFD. It is very clear that legally licensed hunters and those with recreational permits are not to be denied access. Many members have provided AZGFD with specific information as to the locations and ranchers that are denying access. Unfortunately, it seems AZGFD is reluctant to take corrective actions or enforce this policy, this reluctance seems to stem from a lack of support at the legislative level. Again, we are wondering who we need to contact. We have also reviewed Arizona Administrative Code 12-5-705 referring to State Land Department and the associated grazing leases. This policy states that grazing leases are for the sole purpose of grazing animals and other uses of the land by individuals are permitted. Unfortunately, it does not address ranchers locking gates, erecting fences or denying access. When we contact the State Land Department we are instructed to contact AZGFD. At this present time, we are seeking and requesting legislative support in addressing this issue and bringing changes that will support the multiple use of this land. We are suggesting and requesting ONE simple change to the State Land Departments 12-5-705 policy that would bring a lasting resolution to this problem. We request that the grazing policy be changed to include the requirement that, anyone holding a grazing lease that denies legal access to state trust land shall be fined a minimum of $500.00 per incident (thus adding to the State Trust Land Fund) and/or have their grazing lease revoked. This would also ensure that the policy be enforced. Please keep in mind that if a legally licensed hunter breaks a policy or law regarding state trust land, said individual is subject to being heavily fined and/or have their hunting rights revoked for up to 5 years and possibly even permanently. Why are ranchers that ignore the administrative codes or laws exempt from legal action? Being an administrator for the group and having read the comments and members voicing their frustrations, I feel Arizona sportsmen have a need to organize to get issues addressed and resolved. We are not going to go away, and we will pursue this issue until it is resolved. We as a group will grow and eventually have the strength in numbers that we can impact many electoral processes and votes in Arizona that have an impact on sportsmen and outdoorsmen. The social media group Arizona Sportsmen for Open Access to State Trust and Federal Land was founded approximately one month ago and is growing. All members and future members will be given copies of any correspondence and they will be updated regularly as to the progress of this issue. An online petition will also be formed requesting these land access laws are enforced upon ranchers and land leasers. I thank you in advance for your time and please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, comments or concerns. I will respond as soon as possible. Sincerely, Allen Fehr Al Fehr / Administrator Arizona Sportsmen for Open
