Opportunities From: Arizona Game and Fish Department

Robbins Butte Youth Dove hunt is Sept. 6, 2025. We will need help the days leading up to the event and the day of. Activities include:

- Cleanup and setup of main meeting area/compound at wildlife area.

- Trimming trees and mowing.

- Preparing fields and setting up shooting stations. 

- Mentoring hunters.

- Other activities during event.

- Event clean-up

This is a labor intensive effort to manually/mechanically remove stream side and in-stream vegetation to improve angler access and trout habitat in Silver Creek for the upcoming Catch & Release season.  This event happens regardless of weather.  Equipment provided rakes/pitch forks. Please bring your own sun protective clothing, lunch, and plenty of fluids, eye/ear protection, gloves, and waders (optional). Well water is available on site.

Are you passionate about the outdoors and Arizona’s incredible wildlife? Want to make a real impact in just one day? Join us for a Trail Maintenance Day at Raymond Wildlife Area!

When: Saturday, September 20th
Where: Raymond Wildlife Area - 10 Buffalo Range Rd, Flagstaff, AZ 86004
Time: 8am - 2pm

The Yeager Canyon Trail is in need of some care. We’re stepping in to:

Outline the trail with rocks
Remove plants and brush
Spread gravel to restore the path

All tools and materials will be provided, but we recommend you bring your own work gloves if you own a pair. Be sure to wear closed-toe shoes, long-pants, a hat, and sunscreen. Don’t forget sunscreen, snacks, and water!

Who We Need:
We’re looking for 10 or more volunteers who enjoy the outdoors, are comfortable doing physical work, and want to help create safer, more accessible trails for the community! Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Register Here:
Sign up through our official volunteer portal [Insert Link to Portal].

Questions? Contact Stevie Kelso (928.890.7495, skelso@azgfd.gov)

We are looking for volunteers to help the FishAZ Network gear up for a very busy season of youth fishing clinics around the state! Volunteers will help with cleaning and organizing the warehouse, prepping rods and reels, and maintaining other fishing equipment used to introduce kids (and the general public) to fishing and aquatic conservation. This behind-the-scenes work is essential to making public clinics safe, smooth, and successful. AZGFD staff member Chase, an expert in statewide aquatic wildlife efforts, will share an overview of the FishAZ program and its benefits to Arizona’s lakes, rivers, and native fish species.

What to Bring:

Comfortable clothing for indoor/outdoor activities

Refillable water bottle

Sunscreen and a hat

Enthusiasm!

Experience/Qualifications:

Why It Matters:
Maintaining fishing gear and organizing equipment is critical to delivering safe, high-quality clinics that introduce youth and families to outdoor recreation. Your time helps extend the reach of FishAZ programs statewide—ensuring more people experience the joy of fishing, learn about and conserve Arizona’s aquatic ecosystems.

Use this Opportunity when attending meetings or trainings associated with the Volunteer Program.

We are looking for volunteers to help transport tortoises from various regions to the Wildlife Center at AZGFD headquarters as needed. "Tortoise season" is generally March-October.  This opportunity will vary as tortoises are surrendered or found all over the state, all days of the week. Our goal is to get surrendered tortoises from all regions to the Wildlife Center in Phoenix within 48 hours.

Volunteer must effectively communicate and interact with the Tortoise Adoption Program coordinator and regional staff to coordinate transport. 

To start, volunteers will be using their own vehicle and gas to transport tortoises. If they decide to continue with the program, they can move through training to driving a state vehicle. 

To drive a state vehicle, volunteers must pass a drivers license check; will be required to complete required online state driving course to drive agency vehicles; sitting for several hours while driving; must follow tortoise handling guidelines and possess good judgment to transport live animals.

Interested in volunteering with the Desert Tortoise Adoption Program? Complete and submit the online application form. Once your online application is complete, Wildlife Center staff will be notified. 

Help protect Arizona's wildlife population! Check the water levels and help refill water catchments.

Monitor Water Catchments

Repair Water Catchments

Volunteers will use their own transportation

Catchments are located in Northwestern Arizona, south of the Colorado River

Steps to Become a Water for Wildlife Volunteer

Fill out Volunteer Registration Form

Water for Wildlife - Water Catchments

Fence Work

Vehicle Maintenance

Regional Support

Region 1 Volunteer Waitlist

Welcome to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Program!  We appreciate your interest in volunteering to help support the Department's wildlife conservation efforts in Region 4.

New Volunteer Checklist

Sign up 

Respond to this volunteer opportunity

When you respond, please add any details you would like to share with our staff, such as activities you are interested in 

Complete the electronic volunteer registration form.  You will be asked to complete the form after when you respond to this opportunity.

Welcome to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Program!  We appreciate your interest in volunteering to help support the Department's wildlife conservation efforts in Region 2.

New Volunteer Checklist

Assist with all aspects of animal care for tortoises at adoption facility e.g. feeding, cleaning, and transport. "Tortoise season" is generally March-October.

Interested in volunteering with the Desert Tortoise Adoption Program? Complete and submit the online application form. Once your online application is complete, Wildlife Center staff will be notified. 

Welcome to the Arizona Game and Fish Department Volunteer Program! 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering in Region 5 - Tucson

Let's Get Started!  New Volunteer Checklist

Become a Fan of Region 5 to receive emails about upcoming opportunities!

If you are interested in becoming involved with any of the following:

Then you will need to complete the Volunteer Registration Form: Click Here for Instructions.  The OHV Safety Education Program Manager will contact you with information about the next step.

If you are interested in volunteering with Scholastic Clay Target Program, please contact Megan Lopez: mlopez@azgfd.gov.

Arizona Outdoor Sports Scholastic Clay Target Shooting Club Volunteer Coaches. 

If you are interested in volunteering with Scholastic Clay Target Program, please contact Megan Lopez at mlopez@azgfd.gov. 

Thank you for your interest in becoming a volunteer at the Ben Avery Rifle and Pistol Range! 

Current Volunteer Opportunities:

Volunteers, please complete the following steps to begin volunteering at the Rifle & Pistol Range:

Region 2 Raymond Wildlife Area

The Arizona Game and Fish Department is recruiting for two Becker Lake host volunteer positions located at the Becker Lake Wildlife Area near Springerville, Arizona. The chosen candidates for these two lake host volunteer positions will work together to help distribute information on the regulations, methods to catch fish, and proper release techniques to anglers visiting Becker Lake. The hosts will work closely with Department staff on messaging how and why the Department manages Becker Lake as it is currently managed and will be a crucial link between the angling public and Department staff to assist with management of this important fishery. In addition to working closely with anglers, these positions will also inform non-angling users of the Becker Lake Wildlife Area of wildlife area rules. While these host positions will not have law enforcement abilities, the hosts play a valuable role in monitoring and reporting violations to wildlife managers or local law enforcement. As part of these two volunteer positions the Department provides two concrete RV or travel trailer camping spots with electrical hookup, sewer and water for use by volunteers free of charge. Hosts will need to provide their own RV or travel trailer.

Spend your summer surrounded by nature! Join us as the beautiful Sipe Wildlife Area as a Volunteer Camp Host. Help the volunteer team to open and close the visitor center, maintain hummingbird feeders, assist with light landscaping, and provide a warm welcome to visitors.

20–25 hours/week

Schedule shared with team (center open daily, 8am–5pm)

Full hookups: electric (30 amp), water

Now through October 15

Bird lovers and nature enthusiasts encouraged to apply!

For more info or to apply, contact:

Ron Logan, Region 1 Property Manager

OFFICE: 928-333-4518

CELL: 480-662-5767

rlogan@azgfd.gov

Page Springs Fish Hatchery, located at 1600 N Page Springs Road in Cornville, AZ, is looking for a couple interested in committing 20 hours a week as volunteer hatchery hosts for the months of November through April.  Hatchery host tasks include cleaning the visitor center, welcoming visitors to the hatchery and maintaining hatchery grounds. Our hatchery hosts will assist with fielding questions from the general public, recording visitor data, maintaining the cleanliness of the visitor center and restrooms, stocking brochures and regulations, and giving small informal tours. They will also help with maintaining the grounds by completing such tasks as raking leaves, trimming shrubs and bushes, pulling weeds, weeding flower beds, sweeping walkways, and picking up trash. In exchange, the hatchery will provide RV water, sewer, and electric hook ups. The hatchery is open daily from 7am-3:30pm year round, except Thanksgiving and Christmas. Knowledge of the Verde Valley and surrounding area is desired. Those that enjoy fishing, hunting and bird watching are encouraged to respond.  Our staff will help educate you on the facility and wildlife in our area. Deadline for this opportunity is October 31, 2023.  

Arizona Trapper Education Course

06/24/2023 - 09:00 AM to 04:00 PM

Assist with general upkeep and maintenance at the wildlife area.  Potential needs include:  Cleaning Kiosk Bathrooms, Stocking Toilet Paper, Weeding and Trimming, Painting, Litter Removal, Vegetation clearing around picnic tables and trails, tree trimming and general area maintenance. Volunteers will use their own transportation.

The hosts will work closely with Department staff to perform maintenance of the Whitewater Draw area including, but not limited to: removal of weeds, trash clean up, and maintenance. As part of the volunteer position the Department provides RV or travel trailer camping spots with electrical hookup, sewer and water for use by volunteers free of charge. Hosts will need to provide their own RV or travel trailer.

Camp hosts duties may include:

Learn more about Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area by clicking here.

Questions? Contact Justin Ladd, Area Manager:

602.690.3100

jladd@azgfd.gov

Assist AZGFD biologists with surveys and monitoring for native snails (like springsnails and land snails) and invasive snails (like apple snails) at locations around Arizona. 

Native snail surveys require some hiking and 4WD travel to get to survey locations, while invasive snail surveys typically involve kayaking or paddle board use on rivers and lakes. Most surveys are single day outings from the Department headquarters. Required: ability to swim and hike and paddle sport experience on moving water.

Questions? Contact Jeff Sorensen at jsorensen@azgfd.gov.

This opportunity is supported by Friends of Northern Arizona Forests. Please connect with the group for more details and to volunteer. 

RIPARIAN FENCE EXCLOSURES

These fences surround sensitive areas including springs, riparian areas and meadows to keep elk, deer, livestock and motorized vehicles out, allowing natural vegetation to flourish. The fences must be eight feet high to be effective against wildlife. Fences designed just to keep out motorized vehicles are typically a log-worm design and can be very attractive. FoNAF builds and maintains these types of fences on both districts.

PRONGHORN FRIENDLY FENCES

Many right-of-way and pasture fences were built using three, four or even five strands of barbed wire. These present a challenge to pronghorn antelope that do not jump over fences but scoot under them. The Flagstaff Ranger District in a joint effort with Arizona Game and Fish Department convert these fences to be what is termed "pronghorn friendly.” That involves replacing the bottom strand of barbed wire with smooth wire, placing it at least eighteen inches above the ground. FoNAF is assisting in this effort.

Coach training opportunities including online coach training and range day training.

Page Springs Fish Hatchery, located at 1600 N Page Springs Road in Cornville, AZ, is looking for individuals interested in helping with grounds and trail maintenance.  Tasks include cleaning the outside of the visitor center building, raking leaves, trimming shrubs and bushes, removing weeds, sweeping walkways, and maintaining the nature trail.  The hatchery is open daily from 7am-3:30pm year round, except Thanksgiving and Christmas.  Our staff will help educate you on the facility and trails.   

Assist AZGFD biologists with monitoring for native land snails on your own time!

Download the free iNaturalist app to your Apple or Android smartphone or tablet. Create an iNaturalist account and link to the Department's "Land Snails of Arizona" project. Make sure your device has its GPS location enabled. Go for a hike and look for snails--ideally right after it rains. When you find snails or shells, use the app to photograph what you found and the nearby habitat. Add a few notes on where you are and the weather condition, and the app will upload your new records via WiFi to a cloud-based database. It's easy! 

When you finish submitting observation records on the app, be sure to report your volunteer hours (including travel time to and from the site). Recording your hours in a timely manner allows us to leverage your work for federal and state grant funding ~$35 per hour. Not only does your work directly benefit wildlife, but leveraging funds allows conservation dollars to go even further. Instructions can be found here. 

An in-person training will be scheduled for late-January 2024, but is not required to begin. To register, or for questions about this project please contact Jeff Sorensen at jsorensen@azgfd.gov.

Additional details: Don't hike alone! Bring water, snacks, and protection from the sun or rain. Let someone know when you will be leaving and when you will return. 

The Silver Creek Archery Range is an unmanned archery range operated by the Arizona Game & Fish Department. The range provides a vital space for archery enthusiasts and promotes outdoor recreation in the community.

Volunteer duties may include changing targets, maintaining landscapes and trails, building targets, and more. By volunteering, individuals not only contribute to the upkeep of this essential resource but also gain hands-on experience, fostering a deeper connection to nature and the local community. Your involvement for as little as 1 hour a week will ensure the range remains accessible and enjoyable for all, making a lasting impact on the archery community and promoting responsible outdoor practices.

Respond above, or reach out to Matt Schwarzkopf, at mschwarzkopf@azgfd.gov or (623) 236-7395.

FY24 Trapper Education Course

New Instructor Training

Sterling Springs Hatchery is the westside hatchery egg hatching facility and supplier of all fingerlings to both Page Springs and Bubbling Ponds hatcheries.  We are looking for volunteers interested in working with fish and learning about intensive fish culture techniques.  We perform a variety of duties from feeding fish, cleaning rearing units, transferring fish between raceways, and loading trucks with fingerlings to be transferred to Page Springs or stocked into lakes and streams. This is an opportunity to experience the day-to-day care of live animals and to maintain a fish hatchery.  Other hatchery work includes groundskeeping and building maintenance, which provides other opportunity to expand your knowledge and skill base.  Sterling Springs is nestled in upper Oak Creek canyon.  

Volunteers will assist with unloading tree trimmings from trucks and trailers and then transport those trimmings to a bundling station. With enough trimmings in a bundling station volunteers will use steel straps to secure them and then tie sandbags to the bundle. From there the bundle is loaded onto the brush boat, driven out to specific coves and dropped in the lake. Other duties will include prepping equipment and general maintenance of the site.

 Monday, Tuesday & Wednesdays:

Location: Lake Havasu, Partners Point (34.442687662266245, -114.31549400016199)

Impact of work: Brush bundles not only provide habitat for the fish we are familiar with to use but it also provides nutrients for the macroinvertebrates that provide food for smaller fish. This type of impact is crucial for desert reservoirs with little submerged habitat and nutrient inflows.

For questions before registration, please contact Payson Ham, Aquatic Wildlife Program Manager (520) 310-2227 or pham@azgfd.gov.

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Project Volunteers

Click here for the Project Flyer- may remains the same, details are for previous activity.

Click Here to Return to ADBSS Welcome Page on Galaxy Digital

Click Here for the ADBSS User Group Join Link

AES community hours will be posted here. 

Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Project Volunteers

Click here for the Project Flyer

Click Here to Return to ADBSS Welcome Page on Galaxy Digital

Click Here for the ADBSS User Group Join Link

This opportunity is located at 2080 N Page Springs Rd. Cornville, AZ 86325.  The tasks include raking, digging, removing weeds and invasive species, planting seeds, watering, using a weed trimmer or mower, trapping gophers. Needed tools and equipment are provided.  Please bring your own work gloves.  You will also be required to communicate with and follow instructions by hatchery staff.  It is in an area with little shade.  Personal breaks from the sun are required.  Early morning work is advised.  Work hours are available between 06:30-15:00.

Remove weeds using a line trimmer, mower, shovel, loppers, hedge trimmers, hand pulling, and other equipment around ponds, parking lot, and along nature trail.  Trim trees impeding the nature trail walk way.  Some weeds must be bagged to be discarded in the dumpster.   The weeds to be bagged will be identified by hatchery staff.  They include sand burrs, goat heads, star and bull thistle, etc.  At times, there is a need to remove aquatic vegetation from ponds and water conveyance ditches.   Also, there is a need for spreading wood chips along the nature trail designated areas.  This opportunity is located at 1925 N Page Springs Rd Cornville AZ.  Tools and equipment will be provided. Volunteers are required to dress appropriately wearing long pants, long sleeves, close toed shoes, and a hat.  It is recommended that volunteers bring their own gloves, safety glasses and hearing protection.  However, these items will be provided if needed.  Bring plenty of water, food, and sunscreen.

A hatchery host is needed to greet visitors and provide information regarding visitor behavior, opportunities, guidelines and a hatchery overview.  The host will spend much of the time near the visitor entrance, and be able to move around the hatchery as needed.  The host will also be required to monitor visitors around the facility, pick up any trash, and help maintain the grounds particularly around the parking lot and ramada.  At times when there are few visitors the host will be called upon to help with other groundskeeping and tasks around the hatchery.  There may be an opportunity for the host to live on site in their own RV for a limited time.  Reference and background checks will be conducted.  A written agreement of conduct must be understood and signed to live on site. This will be discussed when the site is available.  The host will be required to follow the guidance and direction of the hatchery manager and staff.

Trapper Education Courses

Use this category to submit hours for any Hunter Education-related volunteer work (field, classroom, planning, etc.).

To date, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has remained undetected in Arizona, but detections have been found in several neighboring states (Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, California). Your responsibility as a volunteer will be helping support these efforts by transporting samples, providing CWD education, and taking samples yourself (once trained!). As a volunteer, we hope you will learn more about cervid biology, chronic wasting disease, and how the Wildlife Health Program operates.

Though weekly hours commitment may vary depending on need, hunts, and staff availability, we expect volunteers to contribute at least 20 hours over the course of the surveillance period. Our goal is to have a strong reliable network of volunteers throughout the state with primary focus around Flagstaff, Prescott, Kaibab Plateau, Payson, Pinetop-Lakeside, Globe, Phoenix, and Tucson. There are two primary roles listed below which can both assist with education at CWD workshops. That said, we welcome help wherever and whenever possible!

Transportation Volunteer: Transport samples (sealed) between businesses, regional offices and headquarters. This position requires the use of a personal vehicle and will not be reimbursed for mileage. Shifts will vary depending on exact needs, but should not typically exceed 8 hours.

Sample Collection Volunteer: Sample incoming cervid carcasses (once trained). Sampling shifts will typically range from 8 to 12 hours, though depending on staffing availability shorter hours may be possible.

Interested? Complete and submit the online application form. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, please allow at least two weeks for a response. For questions, email Wildlife Health intern Kai Heiner at kheiner@azgfd.gov. 

Background

Since its discovery in 1967, Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) presents perhaps the single greatest threat to our country and state’s cervid (deer, elk, moose, caribou) populations. CWD is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) which results in erratic behavior, neurological irregularities, and eventually death. Unlike many other contagious diseases, CWD is caused by a misfolded protein called a prion. When misfolded prions are introduced to healthy animals, they induce that animal’s health prions to misfold themselves. The course of infection for CWD can take up to two years before death with animals frequently being killed by predators, hunters, or vehicles due to decreased cognitive ability. Recognition of CWD can be difficult particularly due to the slow advancement of the infection in animals. For this reason, Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) runs a CWD surveillance program to promote early detection of the disease in the state. With your help, we intend to keep Arizona CWD free to protect our wildlife resources! Our current surveillance program relies on lymph node and obex brain stem samples collected from hunter harvests. Partnering taxidermists, meat processors, hunt guides, and hunters help provide these samples for us to monitor our deer populations. Additionally, a check station at Jacob Lake helps monitor the Kaibab plateau’s mule deer for CWD.

This volunteer opportunity will expose you to general fish husbandry skills such as feeding fish, cleaning rearing units, and general fish hatchery function.  

Join us July 25–27 at the Skull Valley Hunt Camp for a hands-on hunting skills camp! Volunteers are needed to help run stations, assist participants, and support activities that teach safe, ethical, and responsible hunting practices.

Location: Tonto Mountain Tank Camp, Skull Valley, AZ

Make a difference—share your passion and skills with the next new and beginning hunters!

Details forthcoming for Desert Fence Busters' 25/26 season projects.

The Desert Fence Busters members share a common goal of improving landscape connectivity to benefit wildlife. Friends of Ironwood Forest and BKW are leading the organizational effort for this event with support from the rest of the partner organizations. The Desert Fence Busters collaborative includes the following partner organizations: Arizona Game and Fish Department, Arizona Wildlife Federation, BKW, Bureau of Reclamation, City of Tucson, Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection, Friends of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, Friends of Ironwood Forest, Mule Deer Foundation, Pima County, Saguaro National Park, and Tucson Audubon Society.

Volunteers with this group will go out in the desert to remove legacy fencing and improve wildlife connectivity across the landscape!

Project Begins: Saturday, September 20. Please meet at camp no later than 8:00AM. This is scheduled as a one-day project. There is also a prep day, September 12, which you are welcome to join by reaching out.

Project Location: We will be working on ASLD lands approximately 10 miles south of Interstate 40, at the Anvil Rock Road. Exit at Mile Marker 109, 20 miles west of Seligman, AZ.

Project Activity: September 12th, we will removing trees from the fence line. September 20th, We will removing old four strand non wildlife friendly fence. We will remove ~2 miles complementary to the last two miles of fence back in march.

Pronghorn Benefits: This effort is located in the heart of pronghorn habitat in Unit 18A. For five years cooperators have been removing page wire fence and modifying portions of fence with “Pronghorn Friendly” 4-strand fence. Fencing efforts are happening in conjunction with fawn enhancement, water distribution improvements, and habitat treatments. The AAF has planned to continue with 8 fence removal projects over the next 4-years to accomplish this work.

Currently there are 27 pronghorn radio-collared, which are providing invaluable information on the barriers much of the current fencing is creating for resident pronghorn.

Meals: Please provide your own lunch to eat in the field on Saturday. AAF will provide field water on the project day and dinner for all volunteers on Friday and Saturday nights and continental breakfasts on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

Contact: Please respond by clicking the green button above by Monday, September 15 so we can plan to have enough food and tools for everyone.

Directions to Camp: Campsite will be on Double O's private lands, approximately 9.5 miles south of Interstate 40 at Anvil Rock road Exit (MM 109). Access to the camp site is on a partially maintained road. The 9.5 mile drive to the campsite and campsite are trailer friendly.

From Phoenix Area:

Drive north on Interstate 17 to exit 262 (AZ-69) at Cordes Junction. Take AZ-69 to Fain Road (~20 miles) to AZ-89A in Prescott (~14 miles). Take AZ-89A north to I-40 (~44 miles) and I-40 west to Anvil Rock Road, exit 109 (~20 miles). At Anvil Rock Rd, travel south for 9.5 miles. There will be a wooden sign at a drive way that says "H Camp". Pull into the drive way about 200ft and set camp within the yard.

Please do not respond to this opportunity.