We oppose any further restriction or ban of trail cameras in the state of Arizona.

The Arizona Game and Fish Commission and Department refuses to listen to the majority of hunters who do not want any further restrictions or banning of the use of trail cameras. Their claims of public safety concerns are an outright lie as there aren't sufficient documented cases of violent contact over the placing or using of a trail camera to deem this trivial issue is an actual "increasing threat of breach of peace as social media surrounding the use of trail cameras indicate potential for violent confrontation." This falsification they used to open "Emergency Rulemaking" flies in the face of the Governor's executive orders on rulemaking restrictions and should immediately end this rulemaking request/session. Since when do we write laws based on social media arguments?

This rule will also force upon AZGFD law enforcement officers a regulatory burden, administrative delays, and cause legal uncertainties with the enforcement of it. It will waste their time. This also flies in the face of the Governor's executive order on rulemaking restrictions.

Their claims of using a trail camera interferes with "the principals of fair chase" are not backed by any respected hunting organization in America such as Pope & Young, Boone & Crockett, Safari Club International, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, Buckmasters, National Wild Turkey Federation, and more. Trail cameras do not guarantee a successful hunt. Animals are not 100% full-proof patternable based on past photographic evidence. A trail camera is only a tool to help scout for areas with the best concentrations of animals. It helps identify the most mature animals to be harvested, which actually fits perfectly with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

Their claims that trail cameras, and hunters checking on them, restricts wildlife's access to (and use of) water are completely unfounded and based on opinion only. There is no scientific proof of this. If placed trail cameras and checking them caused this, then why do sportsmen and women who use trail cameras get so many pictures of wildlife?

Their claims that conflicts exist with ranching lessees and landowners because cattle are being restricted to use of water is also a lie. Once again, anyone who has used trail cameras will verify that plenty of cattle show up on pictures as well, normally right after a camera has been reset. Ranching lessee partners with the Arizona Game and Fish Department have the obligation to share public land with hunters, just like hunters must share public land with them.

This proposed trail camera ban is an outright, gross overreach of authority. It is based on opinions of a minority few within the Arizona Game and Fish Department itself who want everyone to pursue game "The way our ancestors hunted." That philosophy just cannot be forced upon everyone in the technological era we are in, simply because a few of the managing individuals in the Arizona Game and Fish Department want it that way. We are a democracy in this state and country, not a benign dictatorship.

Any rule or law being proposed is discriminatory in that it is pinpointed at hunters only, allowing anyone else in the public to use trail cameras without restriction. This is a violation of Article 2, Section 13 of the State of Arizona Constitution which says "No law shall be enacted granting to any citizen, class of citizens, or corporation other than municipal, privileges or immunities which, upon the same terms, shall not equally belong to all citizens or corporations" therefore making this law/rule not only discriminatory, but also unconstitutional.

We ask that Governor Doug Ducey, and the Governor's Regulatory Review Council strike down any further rule regarding trail cameras.