Commissioners’ Forum
Want to know the Arizona Game and Fish Commission’s stance on various issues affecting wildlife conservation and outdoor recreation? This page includes links to official commission resolutions, policies, editorials, and other commission activities.
Meet Commission Chair James Goughnour
Hot Issues
Wildlife Management
AZGFD is leader in science-based wildlife management – by Commission Chair James Goughnour
Read the article “Mountain lion population bouncing back” by mountain lion biologist Brian Jansen, Ph.D. Arizona Daily Star, June 7, 2022.
Read the article “Mountain lion populations are best managed by professional biologists” by mountain lion biologist Brian Jansen, Ph.D. posted April 20, 2022. An abbreviated version of this article ran as an op-ed in the Arizona Republic, April 6, 2022.
Mexican Wolf Recovery
Mexican wolf recovery sees progress despite debate over underlying science (Guest column by Arizona Game and Fish Commission Chair Jim Goughnour, Jan. 25, 2022)
Accurate coverage of the Mexican Wolf recovery needed (Guest column by Arizona Game and Fish Commissioner Vice Chair Todd Geiler, Nov. 9, 2022)
Trail Cameras
Information on new trail camera rule (rule effective Jan. 1, 2022)
Trail camera discussion on Blood Origins podcast with host Robbie Kroger and Arizona Game and Fish Commissioners Kurt Davis (Chair) and Jim Goughnour.
Trail camera discussion on The Go Show: Host Mike Russell interviews Arizona Game and Fish Commission Chairman Kurt Davis.
Trail camera article in Arizona Daily Star.
Trail camera op-ed by Commissioners Todd Geiler and James Goughnour.
Resolutions
Commission Resolution imploring the federal government to meet it’s obligation to control the overpopulation of wild horses, and remove unauthorized feral horses to reduce adverse impacts to wildlife, wildlife habitat and public safety
A resolution concerning the implementation of federal initiatives, loss of multiple-use public lands, 2021
Commission Resolution concerning the loss of multiple-use public lands due to special land-use designations.
Commission Resolution imploring the federal government to meet its obligation to control excessive populations of feral burros to reduce adverse impacts to wildlife habitat and public safety
Congressional Testimony
Testimony of AZGFD Director Larry Voyles before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (“Conservation, Consultation and Capacity: States’ Views on the Need to Modernize the Endangered Species Act”). May 10, 2017.
View the video. Director Voyles’ testimony runs from 1:04:45 to 1:09 54, followed by a Q & A.
Letters
Editorials
Bison Management
- Game and Fish supports Grand Canyon Bison Management Act – by James R. Ammons
- Bison Op-Ed, December 2015
Burro Management
Monument Designation
- Say no to the proposed Grand Canyon Watershed National Monument
- Arizona Horizon (Eight/KAET TV) – video
- Chairman speaks at Rep. Paul Gosar’s public listening session in Kingman
- Consider fire danger Op-Ed, June 2016
- Stop and consider: A “monument”-al mistake?
Wildlife Management
- A Sheep on Every Mountain – Safari Club International, “Hunt Forever” blog
- Arizona’s nongame wildlife management helps grow bald eagle, and others, to record numbers
- Realigning for better wildlife management
- Trail cameras used for take of wildlife raises public concerns – Dr. Todd G. Geiler of Prescott and James E. Goughnour of Payson
Hunting & Angling
Travel Management
Heritage Fund
- Why Arizonans Support SB 1361 – by Kurt Davis
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