Ongoing Drought Endangering Arizona Elk and Deer Wildlife Populations Near the Grand Canyon

August 10, 2006
Section: Sports
Edition: Final Chaser
Page: C8

GROUPS RALLYING TO AID ELK

DeWayne Smith, Special for The Republic

Elks groups are working with Game and Fish
to get water to where elk, such as this bull, can get to it.

Arizona Republic - So far this year, 100,000 gallons of water has been hauled to catchments for the benefit of wildlife in game management unit No. 9, a vast area known for trophy elk and deer below Grand Canyon National Park northwest of Flagstaff.

Despite trucking the water, the need for more is growing due to drought, a burgeoning elk herd, porous limestone soil that allows water to percolate into the soil, deteriorating earthen waterholes and wildlife drinkers have brought the situation to a head. Well water is extremely deep and expensive to access.

Hunter conservation organizations such as the Arizona Elk Society and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have joined forces with the Arizona Game and Fish Department in a four-pronged offensive to renovate existing water guzzlers, trick tanks and catchments, build new catchments and stock tanks, install a permanent water supply and seal old dirt stock tanks from leakage.

"We have already started," Greg Stainton of the Arizona Elk Society said. "We've already built two catchments and are working on others. The smaller ones held 8,000 gallons and the new ones will hold 22,000 gallons."

The first phase of the project (10 catchments) will cost about $400,000, money in hand from the two elk organizations and funds derived from auctions and raffles of highly prized elk-hunting permits. The entire project will cost approximately $2 million.

The work is being done on federal land, mostly U.S. Forest Service. Water guzzlers are watering devices that involve a large corrugated metal apron that directs snowmelt and rain into a pipe that fills up several storage tanks. A drinker, designed to keep refilling, is installed for the benefit of and access by animals.

"The beauty of this project is that it is being done by volunteers and the funds have been coming from hunters and wildlife conservationists," Stainton said. "It is projects like this one that tells everyone that hunters aren't always out to just kill something. They make improvements that benefit all wildlife."

Part of the plan involves piping reclaimed effluent from Tusayan, but it will be awhile before that plan gets the blessing of the Forest Service as well as the funds to get the job done.

"The pipeline will serve a number of tanks and will allow the Game and Fish Department to use personnel on other projects rather than using them and more than $100,000 to haul water," John Goodwin of the Flagstaff game department office said.

The overall plan also calls for watering holes to be dispersed throughout the unit to keep elk and other species from crowding watering areas and degrading the habitat.

Persons wishing to donate to the project can find additional information by calling the Elk Society office at (623) 594-7074 or go to www.arizonaelksociety.com.

The group is also offering a Youth and Adult Elk Hunting Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona next week:

What: Elk Hunting Clinic, sponsored by the Arizona Elk Society.

When: Aug. 19, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Doors open at 8.

Where: El Zaribah Shriner's Auditorium, 552 N. 40th St.

Admission: $25 for adults; $15 for youths under 17. Lunch is included.

Agenda: The clinic will feature a number of elk hunting experts, including professional guides, callers, biologists and others who will offer tips and suggestions on calling, hunting, judging trophies and how to understand elk behavior and locate prime habitat. Featured speakers include champion caller J.R. Keller of Hunter's Specialties and professional guide and outfitter Steve Chappell of Primos Game Calls. Also scheduled to attend are experts from the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Information: (480) 882-9477 or go to http://www.arizonaelksociety.com/elkclinic.html.