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In October 1923, representatives from four sportsmen and conservation clubs met in Flagstaff to establish the Arizona Game Protective Association (AGPA), the organization that would eventually become the Arizona Wildlife Federation.
Among those helping guide the effort was renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, who had already spent years working in Arizona and New Mexico and helping organize sportsmen around wildlife conservation.
What They Set Out to Do
Manage Wildlife Through Science
Secure proper and scientific management of Arizona's fish, wildlife, and other natural resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
Establish Professional Wildlife Management
Create a Game and Fish Commission and Department staffed by qualified professionals, free to work without political obligation or interference, and with the regulatory authority needed to manage wildlife effectively.
Build a Conservation Ethic
Educate the public about sportsmanship and the need for responsible natural resource management.
A Campaign That Changed Wildlife Management in Arizona
At the time, Arizona's system of wildlife management looked very different from the one we know today. The AGPA worked to establish a commission-based system grounded in professional, science-based management.
The First Attempt
The AGPA proposed creating a commission-based system of wildlife management with regulatory authority and professionally trained staff.
The effort failed.
The Campaign Continues
The growing organization returned with another proposal to reform Arizona's system of game and fish management.
Referendum No. 302 did not receive enough votes to pass.
Referendum No. 314
The conservationists persisted. Referendum No. 314 appeared on Arizona's general election ballot on November 6, 1928.
This time, the measure passed.
Its passage cleared the way for legislation establishing a Game and Fish Commission with broad regulatory powers and a Department staffed by trained personnel.
From the AGPA to the Arizona Wildlife Federation
The organization continued growing alongside Arizona's conservation movement.
In 1951, the Arizona Game Protective Association became Arizona's state affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation. The organization later adopted the name Arizona Wildlife Federation, but its fundamental purpose remained closely connected to the principles established by its founders.
Building Upon Our Legacy
More than a century after that first meeting in Flagstaff, the Arizona Wildlife Federation continues to carry forward the same basic principles that shaped the organization at its founding.
We support science-based wildlife management, professional and effective public institutions, healthy habitat, public access to the outdoors, and an informed public that understands the value of conservation.
Advocacy remains central to that work. AWF engages in state and federal policy affecting wildlife, habitat, public lands, hunting and fishing, outdoor recreation, water, and the long-term stewardship of Arizona's natural resources.
We also work beyond the policy arena by helping people build stronger connections to Arizona's wildlife and landscapes, supporting habitat restoration, sharing reliable conservation information, and creating opportunities for Arizonans to participate directly in conservation.
The issues facing Arizona today are different from those our founders confronted in the 1920s, but the responsibility is much the same: support sound management, protect the systems wildlife depend on, and ensure that conservation remains a public trust carried forward for future generations.
More Than 100 Years of Conservation
The issues facing Arizona have changed considerably since 1923. The principles behind AWF have not.
Wildlife conservation works best when it is grounded in science, supported by effective institutions, and strengthened by an informed and engaged public.
That was the work our founders began more than a century ago. It is the work we continue today.
