Payson Wildlife Fair this Saturday! 🌲 🎣 🦉

Arizona Game and Fish Department sent this bulletin at 04/28/2025 05:02 PM MST

Payson Wildlife Fair this Saturday, May 3

Free outdoor fun (including fishing - no license needed!) for all from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Green Valley Park

kids fishing at Green Valley Lake in Payson, Arizona

PAYSON, Ariz. — Whether it’s catching a rainbow trout, taking aim with a bow and arrow, or getting up close and personal with live critters, the family-friendly Payson Wildlife Fair will offer a variety of outdoor fun Saturday, May 3, at Green Valley Park.

The annual event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., is a cooperative effort between the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD), Tonto National Forest, and the Town of Payson Parks and Recreation Department. Admission is free.

The fair will feature an archery range, fly-casting demonstrations, booths from several local and state organizations, food trucks, and lots of live wildlife. AZGFD staff members will be on hand to share and discuss the department’s various programs. There may even be a visit from Smokey Bear!

Green Valley Lake will be stocked with rainbow trout in advance of the fair. Bait and loaner fishing rods will be provided — and, as a bonus, a fishing license is not required for fair attendees! The Mogollon Sporting Association has a special sponsorship this year for youth, so be sure to check in with the fishing booth for more details.

The fair celebrates Arizona’s great outdoors and emphasizes the importance of conserving the state’s diverse wildlife species.

“It’s the perfect day to get out in the cool pines,” said Alex Flickinger, AZGFD public affairs community liaison. “We’ll have a freshly stocked lake, interesting wildlife to see up close and learn about, yummy food trucks, and fun for everyone!”

Click here for Google Maps directions.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives no general fund tax dollars. The majority of funding to manage more than 800 native wildlife species comes from Arizona's hunters and anglers.

The Arizona Game and Fish Department receives Federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age and sex pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To request an accommodation or informational material in an alternative format or to file a discrimination complaint please contact the Director’s Office at (602) 942-3000 or by mail at 5000 West Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086. Discrimination complaints can also be filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of Diversity and Inclusive Workforce, Attention: Public Civil Rights and Disability Coordinator, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.

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