Big Game Hunter Donation Fund

See how your hunter donations fund numerous projects for wildlife across the State!

What is the Big Game Donation Fund and how can you help

There are many factors that affect game populations, but one of the most critical is habitat quality including browse and water availability. Allocation of hunting permits is a direct reflection of population size and habitat conditions that drive populations. On each year’s big game hunt applications, hunters are given the opportunity to make a donation to the Big Game Donation Fund to help fund wildlife projects to improve habitat conditions including increasing water availability around the state. All of the projects that are accomplished with these funds benefit Arizona’s big game species. However, benefits to small game and non-game species are always taken into consideration and projects are designed to maximize benefits to all wildlife species.

These projects are accomplished on federal, State Trust, and deeded properties.

What types of projects do your donations go to?

WILDLIFE WATERS PROJECTS

With the scarcity of water being a limiting factor to many game species in arid habitats of Arizona, wildlife waters projects are the most common restoration projects your hunter donations will go to. These projects can be anything from removing sediment from existing dirt tanks to adding new drinkers with new pipeline to wells and adding larger storage tanks. Below are some examples of the most common water restoration projects.

GRASSLAND RESTORATION PROJECTS

North America's central grasslands are one of the most threatened ecosystems due to shrub encroachment and invasion of non-native grasses. The Department regularly implements grassland restoration projects to restore historical grasslands to previous conditions and improve forb and browse species production benefiting many species. Some things that are involved in a grassland restoration project include:

Where are these projects?

Wildlife projects occur all over the state and depend on opportunity and need. The map below shows the most recent projects that have been completed.

  • Toggle layers on and off in the Layer List.
  • Click on a Game Management Unit to see how many projects have recently been completed as well as some additional information about the unit.
  • If you zoom in or out, use the Home button to return to the full extent.

Wildlife habitat projects funded by Hunter Donations 2018-2022

Species that Benefit

Species will vary depending on which part of the state you are looking at. Currently species benefiting from these projects include:

and MANY MORE!!!

Get Involved!

Now that you know what the Landowner Relations Program and the Big Game Hunter Donation Fund is, it's time to get involved!

You can also still donate during the draw application for the draw 3 times annually (dates pending Commission approval see  Draw Page  for details):

· Pronghorn antelope, elk - February

· Deer, fall turkey, fall javelina, bighorn sheep, fall bison, sandhill crane - June

· Spring javelina, spring bear, spring turkey, spring bison - October

Get hands on by volunteering through the  Adopt-A-Ranch Program  that offers hands on ranch maintenance with support from the Department. Maintenance may include cleaning out water troughs or installing new ones, as well as several other wildlife beneficial projects.

Share this page and information with your friends and family and let them know how they too can support wildlife for future generations!

and MANY MORE!!!