Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife

Public Policy Statement and General Guidelines

Whereas Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife represents the interests of sportsmen and women to conserve wildlife and its habitat in Arizona and throughout the western United States, and

Whereas the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife mission is to be an effective force in determining political, legislative, educational and administrative issues that promote wildlife and wildlife habitat, and

Whereas Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife is dedicated to preserving hunting and fishing traditions at all levels of government,

Therefore be it resolved that:

• AZSFW will advocate for public policy issues of importance to preserving
  Arizona’s wildlife populations and its habitat.

• AZSFW will advocate for issues that positively impact Arizona’s wildlife and
  wildlife habitats.

• AZSFW will advocate for policies that reflect the role hunting and fishing plays
  in a comprehensive wildlife management program.

• AZSFW will work diligently with its membership throughout the state to ensure
  its members have a voice to identify short term and long range issues that impact
  Arizona’s wildlife and wildlife habitat and dedicate itself to designing strategic
  solutions to effectively address such issues.

Be it further resolved that the AZSFW Legislative Committee shall operate within
the confines of the Public Policy Statement & General Guidelines as approved by
the Board of Directors and listed below:

• Aggressively work with the Governor and engage in the Advise and Consent
  process to ensure the appointment of Game & Fish Commissioners that meet
  AZSFW Qualifications.
• Actively participate in any modifications to Arizona’s State Trust Land Laws and
  Constitution and take appropriate action to support, oppose or seek alternative
  resolutions to address the needs of Arizona’s wildlife including the ability to
  preserve critical wildlife habitat.
• Oppose any legislation or rule that allows for the creation of land owner tags for
  big game, while endeavoring to identify ways to address legitimate landowner
  depredation issues
• Support legislation and or rule making that allows the Game & Fish Department
  to be more effective in enforcement against “unlicensed” or “out of season”
  taking of wildlife
• Oppose legislation that diverts any monies from the Game & Fish Department to
  other general fund uses
• Actively support solutions to ensure sportsmen’s public access to all public
  lands
• Support changes to State Trust Land Enabling Act that will benefit wildlife and
  continue to protect the public lands trust
• Support measures to retain game and fish employees, including salary
  adjustments and enhancements
• Vigorously support state’s rights to manage wildlife
• Oppose laws, rules or administrative orders that limit or otherwise prohibit active
  management of the state’s wildlife
• Monitor modifications to public land management designations and how that
  affects wildlife and sportsmen and respond accordingly.
• Work in concert with the Arizona Game & Fish Department and Arizona Game &
  Fish Commission for the benefit of wildlife, habitat and sportsmen
• Support laws and rules that protect public lands from destruction by motorized
  vehicles
• Support and promote a sportsmen’s code of ethics
• Support measures that further retention and recruitment of hunters and anglers,
  especially for development of youth

Revised and Approved at the November 2, 2007 AZSFW BOD Meeting