This information is important for all hunters even though they may not be predator callers or trappers to be aware of and assist if possible.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is currently beginning a research project that will be ongoing for the next 2-3 years.

They will be placing in the field, scent stations. These stations will be in the following locations: Desert Scrub Habitat, Desert Grass Lands, Ponderosa Pines, Chaparral, Pinyon-Juniper and Great Basin Desert Scrub. The research in the desert areas will be conducted November - February and Pinion, Juniper, Ponderosa Pine and Great Basin Desertscrub areas will be conducted April - June. The stations will be in the following areas: Grand Canyon, Wilcox, Florence, Superior, Altar Valley, Bradshaw, Mazatzal and Pinal Mountains.

This project is part of a predator management study plan to monitor trends, populations, using number of visits index to relative abundance.

There will be 1200 scent stations, consisting of 120 lines. There will be 20 stations in each habitat scattered across the state. Each line will be three miles long with 10 stations in each transect. These stations will be right along side the road. There will be 20 transect lines in each habitat type, with transect lines set up at least 3 miles apart.

The stations will be a cleared circled area three foot in diameter. They will have thin layer of lime as a top coat. In the center will be a fatty acid scent tablet. This will be monitored and used to measure the rate of visitation by picking up the tracks in the lime.

What is your job as a sportsman? It is two fold, please make sure if you come across one of these stations you do not disturb the area. With that please let others know of this study so they two will not disturb or be alarmed if they come across a scent station.

Next the Department is also asking for voluntary submission of lower jaws of bobcats, coyotes & gray foxes. These will be analyzed and used for age evaluation purposes.

There will be a study plan available in the next month. Along with that there will be details forthcoming in regards to delivering the jaw samples to the regional offices.

Ted McKinney is in charge of this effort and project from the Arizona Game and Fish Department. He will be supplying me with all future information to help aide you in your efforts to help the Department in this Study Plan.

Please circulate this information any way possible to fellow sportsmen in our state.

I will keep you posted as information becomes available.

Please do your part as a sportsman to ensure the success of these efforts.

Sincerely , Cindy Seff