Second quarter grant applications were presented and voted on at the May 27, 2025 AZSFWC Board meeting. Funding for the grants is available through sales of our special Conserving Wildlife license plate. More information about the license plate and how you can obtain one can be found HERE.
Five grants were approved and included the following:
$10,000 was awarded to the Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society for the Cienega Pipeline Extension Project. This project aims to provide a reliable year-round water source for wildlife. Three extensions off the current Cienega Pipeline will be added affecting approximately nine square miles of habitat. With reliable water up above the traditional San Francisco drainage, the forage should be more than doubled for sheep, deer, elk and turkey. AZ Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, the Southeast Sportsmen group and the Alliance for Wildlife & Conservation will provide volunteer labor for the project. Matching funds and in-kind donations will be provided by Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society, Eastern Chapter of Wild Sheep Foundation, Dallas Safari Club New Mexico, New Mexico Chapter of the Wild Sheep Foundation, Arizona Southeast Sportsmen, USFS Clifton Ranger District, and Wildlife Water Works.
$22,500 was awarded to Conservation First USA for an Educational Video about Feral Horses in Arizona. The unchecked spread of feral horses is one of the greatest threats to wildlife and wildlife habitats across Arizona. Intense sociopolitical
pressure and seemingly unending litigation are preventing land management agencies (primarily the US Forest Service) from managing these invasive animals as they are authorized and mandated to do under Federal law. The result has been
massive, ongoing damage to native ecosystems and the game and nongame wildlife (including threatened and endangered species) that depend on them. Reversing this situation will require greater education of, and engagement by the conservation
community and public at large. This project will be the first mass-media outreach addressing the adverse impacts of feral horses in Arizona. Funding partners include Conservation First USA, AZ Deer Association, and AZ Elk Society.
$10,000 was awarded to the White Mountain Clay Target Club to purchase ammunition for their White Mountain Clay Busters 2025 program. The White Mountain Clay Busters are part of the Scholastic Clay Target Program which benefits hundreds of local youths by learning firearm safety, responsibility, sportsmanship, self-confidence and teamwork. This grant will provide much needed funding for a growing program dedicated to the promotion and preservation of shooting sports. Funding partners for in-kind and direct costs include White Mountain Clay Target Club, Scheels and Midway USA.
$9,623 was awarded to AZ Council of Trout Unlimited to fund their 2025 Arizona Fish Camp. This joint venture with the Grand Canyon Council of Boy Scouts of America will provide education while inspiring youth to become our next generation of conservation leaders and natural resource advocates. Attendees to the week-long camp will learn about conserving, protecting, and restoring our aquatic resources while learning and enjoying the sport of fishing and fly tying. Volunteers from state-wide chapters of Trout Unlimited will participate. Funding partners for in-kind and direct costs include Grand Canyon Council Boy Scouts of America, AZ Fly Shop and an AZ Game & Fish Local Sportsmen’s grant.
$45,000 was awarded to the Arizona Elk Society for the Partridge Creek Grassland Restoration Phase 2. The Partridge Creek allotment is located on the western most edge of the south Kaibab National Forest, managed by the Williams Ranger District. Historically, this area was a grassland and grassland savannah type ecosystem; however, juniper trees have invaded into this system. Due to this conversion, the Williams Ranger District of the Kaibab National Forest has implemented a forest wide grassland restoration initiative. Through mechanical thinning treatments (via mastication) we expect to improve pronghorn line of sight and winter big game habitat quality due to increased grass, forb, and browse production following mastication treatments. These increases will provide improved nutrition for migrating and resident ungulates. An additional important outcome is improved connectivity through converting old multi strand barb wire fencing in conservation critical areas to improve the ease of shuffle into recently treated locations. Funding partners include AZ Game & Fish Department Habit Partnership Committee, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and AZ Elk Society.