Game & Fish Office

General information

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is the state agency charged with conserving the entire range of wildlife within our borders, from big game such as elk and deer to smaller mammals, reptiles and fish. The Department is one of the nation’s leading proponents of the “North American Model of Wildlife Conservation,” which relies on sound science, public participation, active habitat management, strict regulation and active law enforcement to sustain wildlife populations.

The Seven Core Concepts of the North American Model are:
1. Wildlife is held in the public trust.
2. Commerce in wildlife is regulated
3. Hunting and angling laws are created through public process
4. Hunting and angling opportunities for all
5. Hunters and anglers fund conservation
6. Wildlife is an international resource
7. Science is the basis for wildlife policy

Whether or not you participate in hunting and angling, people interested in wildlife and its future should understand the role sportsmen play in conservation. Hunters, anglers and shooters actively support wildlife conservation by buying licenses and paying taxes on hunting, fishing and shooting equipment. If hunting and angling were to end, funding for wildlife conservation, including enforcement of all wildlife laws, would be in jeopardy.

Along with helping ensure the future of our wildlife assets, Game and Fish oversees other outdoor recreational activities in the state. The Department is responsible for registering Arizona watercraft, enforcing boating safety laws and educating the public on safe boating practices. Game and Fish also enforces the state’s Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) laws. We are a proud member of Arizona’s law enforcement community.

Conserving Arizona wildlife, managing delicate habitat, catching poachers, regulating hunting and fishing, patrolling the state’s lakes and rivers, protecting endangered species, and helping boaters and off-roaders enjoy Arizona’s wildlife and an array of outdoor recreational opportunities is all in a day’s work for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.