8 gauge approved for use in Arizona starting July 1, 2013

[Phil C]

Some of you are aware that I have been working with the Arizona Game and Fish Department for the last 3 years trying to get the gauge restriction lifted, this would allow me use of an 8 gauge for hunting in Arizona. Today I came back from training our English Pointers to find the following email.


Hello Phil,
Just a quick note to let you know that the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) approved the Article 3 rule making; R12-4-303 is amended to remove the shotgun gauge restriction.

YAY!!!

Please note, the new rules become effective on July 1, 2013, until that time it remains unlawful to use your 8 gauge to hunt.

Thank you so much for your patience and kindness; it has been a pleasure to correspond with you!!

Take care!
Sincerely,

Celeste :?)

Celeste Cook |Arizona Game and Fish Department | Rules and Risk Unit

5000 W. Carefree Highway | Phoenix | AZ 85086

I am very excited and will start hunting in Arizona for Predators starting July 1 and will do my best to harvest game when ever possible with one of my 8 gauges. I recently acquired a Parker 8 gauge on a 7 frame to keep my W C Scott and Son company. Brad Bachelder has my Parker and it will not be ready until possibly Fall. In any case I will do my best to use the Parker to harvest a turkey in Arizona this fall.
I also want to commend Celeste Cook with the AZ Game and Fish for her diligence in keeping me informed through out this whole process.
Happy in AZ,
Phil

[Autumn Daze]

Phil, A great step in the right direction. Congratulations

[Mills]

Congratulations! Now if we can get them legalized for duck hunting.

[OH Osthaus]

good thing you didn't post this yesterday

no one would have believed you


nice work -

[Paul P.]

We can only pray that other states follow the lead.
Thanks for the news Phil.

[MarketHunter]

I'm pleased that this has happened, it's an interesting change.

The problem with making them legal for hunting waterfowl (federal) is that it would become a public issue and the anti crowd would never let it happen.

If the newspaper crowd had ever gotten ahold of this in Arizona there would have been no way it would have gotten passed. It never got public so it slipped through, that's a good thing. If I was anybody involved, I wouldn't talk to much about it for awhile till it's had time to settle in.


DLH

[Mills]

I would like to hunt ducks with an 8 gauge once. I have even thought of asking the State and Federal game wardens if I could just pay the fine in advance.

[WHO]

Thanks for the great news Phil! I can't wait to hunt turkeys with the 8 gauge. It will be a very special hunt for me.

[George M. Purtill Member #28]

Originally Posted by Mills Morrison

I would like to hunt ducks with an 8 gauge once. I have even thought of asking the State and Federal game wardens if I could just pay the fine in advance.

Or in your case as mine we could plead insanity. With Connecticut's current good time credits we would be released before we get to the police station.

[charlie cleveland]

congratulations phil...and the state of arizonia....i m sure you done a lot of work to get this done i commend you for the effort and being sucessfull.... nothing like taking critters and turkeys with a 8 bore unless it was with a four...ha charlie