​The Game Commission hosted a meeting in Red River last Friday. Surprisingly, there was a fresh face at the Commissioner’s table. Governor Lujan Grisham appointed UNM professor Dr. Christopher Witt to serve as the Commissioner for District 5 (ABQ metro). With Dr. Witt’s appointment we now have a full 7-member Commission for the first time in more than a year.
 
The Commission meeting was long, and the agenda was full of important topics. Let’s jump right in. Several agenda items described below are now open to public comment on the Dept. website. You are encouraged to voice your opinion at Proposals Under Consideration - NMDGF.
 
APPROVAL OF THE STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN (SWAP)
The Commission unanimously approved the State Wildlife Action Plan, better known as the SWAP. The SWAP is a non-regulatory document that is required for the Dept. to receive Federal Government funds used to help conserve Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). The Dept. receives approximately $1 million annually through this State Wildlife Grants Program. The document also allows the Dept. to access an additional $10 million in general fund money authorized by the NM Legislature.
 
To qualify for the program the SWAP document must address eight elements including Identifying SGCN and key habitats (including threats to habitat and conservation actions required) and the document must develop a monitoring plan, coordinate with interested federal, state, and Tribal entities, provide for public participation, and make a schedule for the next comprehensive review. The SWAP is organized into NM’s 6 major ecoregions and uses the National Vegetation Classification System to describe key habitats.
 
Over the drafting process a total of 32 organizations participated in the core team (including organizations across the spectrum from Defenders of Wildlife to NM Cattle Growers Association). The core team met 5 times from December 2023 - February 2025. The core team members reviewed draft versions of the SWAP and submitted a finalized document of 756 pages. The final document includes a list of SGCN, the Conservation Actions, three chapters related to threats, climate change, and regional conservation, and a table regarding SGCN monitoring activities. 
 
The renewal of the SWAP is an important funding source for SGCN conservation which does not require the use of sportsmen licenses dollars. Since the origination of this document in 2006, the SWAP has been instrumental in helping the Dept. prevent federal listing of endangered species (recent examples would be the Rio Grande Chub and Sucker). The document has also helped to facilitate the delisting and downlisting of several NM species. The Gould’s Turkey was recently delisted, and the Dept. is now able to offer hunting opportunities for this species. The Rio Grande and Gila Cutthroat Trout are also examples of conservation success stories under the SWAP.
 
The renewed SWAP goes into effect in the 2027 budget year, with the next revision of the document scheduled to begin sometime around 2033.
 
INITIAL DISCUSSION OF A PROPOSED SHED HUNTING RULE
The Dept. provided a presentation on their preliminary recommendations to establish a Rule regarding Shed Hunting. In Senate Bill 5 (which was passed by the NM Legislature in January) the Dept. is obligated (starting in 2026) to charge a non-resident license fee of $200 for “shed hunting”. The legislation also specified that “a shed hunter license shall not be required for shed hunting by a NM resident.” These two additions to the Game and Fish statute require that the Game Commission promulgate a Rule to define “shed hunting.” This presentation was the Dept.’s first stab at creating a Shed Hunting Rule.
 
The Dept. is proposing that Shed Hunting be defined as the “possession of more than 2 obviously shed antlers found in the field”. To clarify, if this proposal is passed by the Commission than beginning in 2026, any non-resident who comes to New Mexico and collects more than 2 shed antlers would be required to purchase a non-resident shed hunting license or face disciplinary action. The Dept. is proposing that a violation of this Rule would result in a penalty assessment in the amount of $325 (there would also be a court option).
 
The current Dept. proposal does not specify any type of shed hunting season. According to the Dept. there is no biological need to institute a season. This proposal is currently open to public comment on the Dept. website. NMCOG will be making official comments regarding the Rule creation, and we would love to have your feedback on the issue. Please send your thoughts regarding this proposal to [email protected].
 
APPROVAL OF THE ANNUAL MIGRATORY BIRD RULE
The Commission unanimously approved the Dept.’s proposed changes to the annual cycle of the Migratory Bird Rule. The Rule is amended annually in compliance with federal guidelines proposed by the Central and Pacific Flyways and USFWS. The Commission approved the following changes.

• Change the regular waterfowl season dates
• Change certain season dates to be later in the year because of calendar shift
• Increase sandhill crane permits in MRGV and SW draw hunts by 12 total (which will be distributed throughout existing hunts)
• Increase Northern Pintail bag limit from 1 to 3 per USFWS regulatory framework

You can view the complete changes made to the Rule at 19.31.6 Mig. Game Bird underline strikethrough 2025.docx (bag limit and date changes begin on page 3).
 
RESULTS OF THE CUSTOMER AND COMMUITY SURVEY
In 2025, the Department commissioned ongoing and repeating quantitative research to help inform public relations and hunter/angler recruitment efforts as well as to track progress. The initial phase of research looked at both Dept. customers and non-customers to determine awareness and satisfaction levels, attitudes toward conservation, outdoor participation trends, hunting and fishing trends and customer demographics. Findings were pretty much on par for what you would expect from hunter/angler respondents as well as non-hunter/angler respondents. The Dept. plans to conduct this research on an annual basis. You can read a complete copy of the community survey HERE (report begins on page 2).
 
ODDS AND ENDS
The Dept. additionally provided the Commission with their initial presentation on the Dept.’s mandate (under Senate Bill 5) to establish a 25% discount to their license fee for any NM resident who is eligible for the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. They also presented their proposed changes under SB5 to the Vendor Fee (will increase from $1 to $2). The Commission approved the 2026 entities that will receive the two bull elk licenses reserved for wish granting organizations (United Special Sportsman Alliance & SafariWish). Finally, the Commission approved the Dept.’s 2027-2031 Capital Project Plan. A rather vague list of priorities can be found HERE (starts on page 2).
GENERAL PUBLIC
Although not an official agenda item at this meeting, both NMCOG and Trout Unlimited made comments regarding the Fisheries Rule (which is currently open to public comment). NMCOG sent a preliminary letter to the Commission regarding our proposed changes. You can read NMCOG’s preliminary recommendations letter on our website at Angler Advocacy - NM Outfitters. The Commission will discuss the Fisheries Rule at their August meeting.
 
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Although it was also not on the agenda, the Commission provided a follow up to the Jicarilla Apache Nation’s April presentation regarding mule deer management in GMU 2B. The Commission has decided to accept the Jicarilla’s recommendation and will use the authority under the “Director’s discretion” to reduce November rifle mule deer licenses in GMU 2B by 20% for the 2026 license year (including the November private land hunts). They will also reconsider the Dept.’s mule deer management strategy to move from “opportunity” to “quality” when the Rule opens in March 2026. The Jicarilla Chief of Conservation, Bernard Inez, stated that the Jicarilla would appreciate it if the 20% reduction apply to all GMU 2B rifle hunt codes (not just the November hunt codes). The Jicarilla also invited the Commission to host a special meeting at the Jicarilla Apache Nation sometime soon.
 
EXECUTIVE SESSION
When the Commission returned from their executive session, which is closed to the public, Commissioner Salazar-Hickey proposed a motion that Chairman Stump sign an easement for the energy company NextEra to construct and operate an electric transmission line across the Black Hills Wildlife Management Area in Roosevelt County (part of the Prairie Chicken WMAs). This transmission line construction has been in the works for many years. 

The Game Commission hosted a meeting in Roswell, NM on Friday April 25th. The meeting was well attended by the public. Many of which were members of the Jicarilla Apache Nation who were in attendance to support the Jicarilla Game Department’s presentation regarding mule deer in Unit 2B. The meeting was long but most of the agenda items were for discussion purposes only and will be voted on during future commission meetings.
 
JICARILLA PRESENATION REGARDING MULE DEER MANAGEMENT IN GMU 2B
The Jicarilla Apache Game and Fish Department provided a presentation to the Game Commission regarding their concerns about how NMDGF management of the mule deer population in GMU 2B is impacting the mule deer population on the adjacent Jicarilla Apache reservation. The Jicarilla has experienced a dramatic decline in the migratory mule deer population on their 850,000-acre reservation over the past 10 years. They attribute this decline to being partially due to drought but also partially due to over harvest by hunters in GMU 2B. The Jicarilla are requesting that the NMDGF reduce mule deer licenses in 2B by 20% for the 2026 hunting season and additionally move from an “opportunity” management strategy to a “quality” management strategy when the NMDGF Mule Deer Rule opens next year. NMCOG has heard similar complaints from the outfitting industry over the past few years and drafted a letter of support for the Jicarilla proposal. The Game Commission is considering the proposal and will provide a follow-up presentation at their June meeting. 
 
CATRON COUNTY MEXICAN WOLF UPDATE
The Catron County Commission provided the Game Commission with a presentation related to continued community problems with the Mexican Wolf reintroduction. County Commissioners Buster Green and Audrey McQueen gave detailed statements regarding their personal interactions with the wolf. Livestock owners in Catron County continue to lose livestock, including horses, to wolf kills every year. The County Commission described various requests they’ve made to alleviate wolf pressure which were submitted to the US Fish and Wildlife Service but have been declined or not responded to. They are now requesting that the Game Commission help Catron County by possibly capping the number of cross-fostered wolves as well as by providing additional collaboration to ranchers about where wolves are being released. They are also asking for additional collar information so that ranchers will have better access to real time data regarding the current location of wolves. NMDGF Wildlife Chief Stewart Liley explained to the Commission that the Dept. has very little control over the particulars of the wolf reintroduction because it is a federal program managed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Dept. is currently engaged with the USFWS and will continue to do what they are authorized to do under federal authority to help reduce conflict. The Dept. and Commission did agree to pay closer attention to the situation in Catron County and will work with the federal government to push the program towards downlisting as soon as possible so that expanded take provisions can be authorized for livestock owners.
 
INITIAL DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE FISHERIES RULE
The Dept. provided an initial presentation regarding possible changes to the next 4-year cycle of the Fisheries Rule. This is just the first step in the rule making process. Now is the time for anglers to submit comments regarding any changes you would like to see made to the rule. Now is also the time for NMCOG to gather data from our fishing outfitters regarding any problems and potential solutions that could be incorporated into the Fisheries rule. Please email [email protected] with comments regarding the below changes to the Fisheries Rule OR anything else that you would like to see changed in the NM fishing industry. Below is a list of initial proposed changes:

• Clarify the definition of Barbless Lure or Fly to make consistent and to exclude natural or artificial attractor scents from the definition
• Add Jack’s Creek (Pecos), Rio San Antonio (near Lagunitas Lakes), and the upper Rio Chiquito to the list of Catch and Release, Artificial Fly or Lure Only, and unlimited non-native trout harvest to support resident Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout populations
• Remove the reference to Santa Cruz Lake, Bonito Lake and Spring Lake as closed to ice fishing and refer to signage by specific landowners
• Prohibit the use of Bait Fish in the Bureau of Land Management Overflow Wetlands to protect Pecos Pupfish from potential introduction of Sheepshead Minnow
• Expand Director’s authority to suspend angling limits, methods, and size limits or to close a water due to water shortage, eradication needs, or other management needs.
• Add Jackson Lake to the list of lakes where trolling motors are permitted.

 
INITIAL DISCUSSION OF POTENTIAL CHANGES TO THE UPLAND GAME RULE
The Dept. provided an initial presentation regarding possible changes to the next 4-year cycle of the Upland Game Rule. This is just the first step in the rule making process. Now is the time for hunters to submit comments regarding any changes you would like to see made to the rule. The Dept. will host a hybrid public meeting on May 21st @ 6pm. The Dept. is currently accepting public comments. Email your comments to [email protected]. Below is a list of initial proposed changes:

• Adjust hunt dates according to calendar shift
• Explore changes to the Bernardo Youth Pheasant Hunt to increase R3 opportunities
• Divide Dusky Grouse into North and South zone and set possession limits
  • North - 3 birds/day, 6 in possession
  • South - 1 bird/day, 2 in possession

 
SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION OF CHANGES TO THE MIGRATORY BIRD RULE
The Migratory Bird Rule is amended annually in compliance with federal guidelines proposed by the Central and Pacific Flyways and USFWS. The Dept. is currently accepting public comments but will close soon! Email your comments to [email protected]. This Rule will be approved by the Commission at their June meeting. Proposed changes to the Rule are outlined below:

• Changes to regular waterfowl season dates based on public comments and calendar dates
• Change certain season dates to be later in the year because of calendar shift
• Based on population survey data, increase sandhill crane permits in MRGV and SW draw hunts by 12 total, to be distributed among existing hunts
• Bag limit for northern pintail to increase from 1 to 3 per USFWS regulatory framework

​ODDS AND ENDS
The Dept. additionally provided the Commission with presentations on recent hunter/angler license revocations, their annual financial audit, and a review of the 2025 Legislative Session; including an initial discussion of possible changes resulting from SB5 (which will include the drafting of a Shed Hunting Rule). SB5 will continue to be further discussed by the Commission during future meetings prior to the first effective date of the law (April 1st, 2026).
​
GENERAL PUBLIC AND COMMISSION COMMENTS
During Commissioner comments, Commissioner Pack requested that future Commission official minutes include a written detailed summary of the public comments made during meetings. Previously minutes have referenced the recorded webcast but have not included a text summary. Brandon Wynn was the only general public commenter, and he gave his usual ranting statements against the EPLUS program, as he does at each Commission meeting. 

The NM State Game Commission hosted their first meeting of 2025 on Friday Jan. 10th in Santa Fe. The agenda was mostly routine except for one REALLY BIG change regarding pronghorn in the northeast. If you read nothing else, please read the update on landowner pronghorn hunts in GMUs 41, 47, 56, 57, 58, & 59, written in bold under “Pronghorn License Changes”.
 
AQUATIC SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED (SGCN) INITIATIVES
Fisheries chief Kirk Patten provided the Commission with an update regarding the Department’s conservation work for aquatic species of greatest conservation need. The Dept., in conjunction with other federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental partners, have worked continuously over several decades through longstanding initiatives, to benefit Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, Rio Grande Chub, Rio Grande Sucker, and Pecos Pupfish. Pecos Pupfish (a species that were proposed endangered 25 years ago) were successfully downlisted to threatened in 2024. Chief Patten happily reported that through the successful conservation efforts of NMDGF, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that an ESA designation for Rio Grande Chub and Rio Grande Sucker fish (separate species) is not warranted at this time. The USFWS additionally determined that an ESA designation on Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout is also not warranted. This is due to the overwhelming success of Dept. conservation efforts which have resulted in a 16% expansion of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout populations statewide over the past 20 years.
 
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD RULE
As is done every year during the first Commission Meeting, the Dept. initiated opening the Migratory Game Bird Rule. This is an annual rule which is amended each year in conjunction with the USFWS recommendations for the pacific and central flyways. Hunting season dates will be adjusted according to the federal framework, which will be released in the coming months. One big change that is anticipated for all flyways but especially for NM is an adjustment to the pintail bag limit, which will allow for more consistent management with less anticipated swings in future bag limits. In collaboration with the USWFS framework, the pintail bag limit will be increased to 3 (from 1). Sandhill crane populations continue to increase in NM. NMDGF will get allocation numbers from the USFWS in mid-April and determine changes in sandhill crane license allocations. This agenda item was for discussion purposes only. The Migratory Bird rule is now open and will soon be available for public comment. The Dept. will be hosting several public meetings across the state in the coming months.
 
HABITAT STAMP PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Dept. provided an update on the Habitat Stamp Program including a summary of the program’s accomplishments since it was reauthorized by the Commission in 2021. The Habitat Stamp Program began in 1986 and was intended to initiate habitat projects across NM on federal lands. The program is authorized under the Sikes Act. Anyone who hunts or fishes on federal land in NM must purchase a $10 habitat stamp. The revenue collected through the program is then used to conserve those habitats. The program is entirely funded by hunters and anglers.
 
The program is guided by a Commission appointed Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). The annual budget of the program is between $1.5 and $2 million. Projects are brought to the CAC (by commissioners and the general public) and the CAC ranks those projects once a year to determine which projects will receive funding priority. Because the program is substantially funded by anglers, at least 50% of the funds must be applied to fishing projects. The Dept. has 4 years to spend the money allocated to any one project. Since 2021, the Dept. has completed 41 habitat projects including 52 miles of fence removal, 62 acres of stream and lake rehabilitation, and over 10,000 acres of habitat have been restored.
 
PRONGHORN LICENSE CHANGES
NMCOG has heard from many concerned outfitters regarding the pronghorn antelope population in northeast NM over the past few years, and with more frequency recently. The good news is that the NMDGF is finally taking our concerns seriously. The Dept. has made some major changes to the number of antelope licenses that will be issued in 2025 in Game Management Units 41, 42, 47, 56, 57, 58, & 59. These changes have already been made and are printed in the 2025 NMDGF Rules and Regulations booklet which was published on the Dept. website last week. The reason that these changes were made without public comment or Game Commission input is that by law the Director has the ability to reduce licenses by 20% if the species is, for any reason, experiencing a rapid decline in population. The Dept. has determined that the situation in the northeast is dire enough to warrant this immediate 20% reduction in hunting licenses.  
 
Wildlife Chief Stewart Liley provided a presentation to the Commission regarding the status of the northeast pronghorn antelope population. Recent ariel surveys indicate that both density and group size continue to decrease. According to Chief Liley, fawn mortality is likely the reason for the loss of the herd in NE. Department data shows that there has not been a substantial decline in buck to doe ratios and it is rather the fawn to doe ratio that is the concern. Fawn to doe ratios have been very low since 2020 with an estimated just 12% of the fawn crop surviving to adulthood. The cause of this mortality is likely due to drought. The northeast has experienced several years of very severe drought which correlates with the Dept.’s data showing a high level of fawn mortality due to abandonment and of “unknown” causes. While the NMDGF believes that hunter harvest has had a minimal impact on the decline, since NM is heavy on buck harvest (we harvest very few female antelope), buck numbers are really the only aspects where the Dept. can even try to help reverse the decline. And therefore, buck licenses are being reduced by 20% for both draw and private land hunts in 2025 (female harvest is also being eliminated). The hope is that this change will help maintain buck to doe ratios and promote maximum breed back and fawn recruitment. But really, only well-timed rain will be the herds savior!
 
While these changes will come as music to the ears of many folks who have been worried about the northeast pronghorn herd for years, the changes won’t come without business model adjustments for outfitters. As part of the 20% reduction in tags, the antelope licenses issued on private land (previously unlimited, over the counter) are now capped. That means that when private land antelope licenses go on sale July 1st there will be an inevitable mad dash by all outfitters (who hunt antelope in the northeast region) to buy every private land license they need for 2025. Once the cap is met, there will be no more private land antelope licenses sold for the northeast hunts (this will additionally eliminate an outfitters ability to sell 2025 antelope hunts after July 1st).  Caps are determined on a GMU basis and are listed below. It is extremely important that outfitters (and their hunter clientele) understand that for the 2025 season when you buy a private land antelope permit in the following GMU’s they are licenses. Meaning, just like draw licenses, these license sales are final! If an outfitter has an antelope client that cancels last minute, their private land antelope license cannot be refunded or exchanged (except for death or hospitalization). I repeat; all private land outfitters in the following GMUs will need to notify their 2025 antelope clientele that once the license is purchased, they are locked in and cancelling their trip after July 1st will be very difficult. This is the first time that the NMDGF has put a cap on license sales over a large geographic region. If you have questions or would like further information, please contact NMCOG at 505-440-5258.
 
GMU 41 – 190 total private land licenses available
GMU 42 – 54 total private land licenses available
GMU 47 - 71 total private land licenses available
GMU 56 - 383 total private land licenses available
GMU 57 – 36 total private land licenses available
GMU 58 – 185 total private land licenses available
GMU 59 – 246 total private land licenses available
 
ODDS, ENDS, & PUBLIC COMMENT
In Executive Session the Commission voted to approve their hunting easement with the NM State Land Office. The agreement remains unchanged as it relates to hunter access to state trust lands. The Commission also heard a lengthy update on the status of wildlife corridors in NM. As directed by statute the NMDGF and NMDOT have collaborated to draft a well thought out plan regarding why and where best for NM to build wildlife corridors. Next step is finding the money to set the plan into motion. Public comment consisted mostly of support for wildlife corridors as well as support for the habitat stamp program. 

The Commission additionally approved the following schedule for their 2025 meetings.
April 25, 2025 (Friday) – Roswell
June 13, 2025 (Friday) – Red River
August 15, 2025 (Friday) - Reserve
November 7, 2025 (Friday) – Los Alamos
January 9, 2026 (Friday) – Santa Fe


COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION
​(You're encouraged to contact the Commissioners any time to voice your opinion)
Richard Stump - Chairman
Appointed at-large 
[email protected]


Sharon Salazar Hickey - Vice Chair
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe and Torrance counties
[email protected]


Tirzio Lopez
District 3: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Sandoval, Los Alamos
and Rio Arriba counties
[email protected]


Gregg Fulfer
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties
[email protected]


Dr. Sabrina Pack
District 2: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Dona Ana counties
[email protected]


Fernando Clemente Jr.
Appointed at-large 
[email protected]

​The New Mexico State Game Commission hosted a meeting in Silver City this past Friday to review Department of Game and Fish programs and divisions. This type of learning forum is not uncommon. They take place every few years and especially when there are new Commissioners appointed. However, what was uncommon about Friday’s meeting was an extended public comment segment which allowed for organizations to make 10-minute presentations and allowed individuals to speak for 5 minutes each. Typically, public comment is restricted to 2 minutes regardless of whether the commentor is representing an organization. There were a substantial number of folks signed up to give public comments which led to an extremely long (5 hour) public comment period and resulted in Friday’s Game Commission meeting lasting until well past 7pm (the meeting began at 8:30am). Although the Department presentations to the Commission covered everything from the Dept’s. mission, structure, budget, funding, Mexican Wolf program, fisheries program, and the Elk Private Land Use System (EPLUS); public comment centered around either EPLUS or the Mexican Wolf program.
 
NMCOG is happy to report that despite the NM Wildlife Federation’s email attempts to rally their anti-EPLUS troops, comments in favor of the EPLUS program outnumbered the haters 3:1.  Thanks to all the members of our EPLUS coalition for taking the time to make such eloquent comments in support of EPLUS. We’ve worked hard over the past 2 years to solidify our coalition and produce information that can be used by everyone wishing to learn about the many benefits of this great program. The result of 2 years of hard work conducted by our analyst (thanks Ed – you are a rockstar!) debuted on Friday and our coalition website finally went live. We encourage anyone who is interested in learning more about EPLUS, and why it’s great for NM, to check out home - EPLUS New Mexico (eplusnm.org)…. And we’d be remiss if we didn’t remind you that NMCOG is still in the process of conducting our comprehensive economic impact study, which will provide additional information on the economic benefits of EPLUS! That study will be completed by December 2024.
 
This edition of our Game Commission Recap is going to be a bit out of the ordinary. Given that all agenda items centered around individual Dept. divisions and programs, we felt it best for you to hear the presentations straight from the horse’s mouth. Below is a bullet point outline of the presentations made during Friday’s meeting along with their start times in the webcast. Fast forward to any of the presentations that interest you, but we strongly encourage you to listen to Chief Liley’s presentation on the Elk Private Land Use System…especially if you are someone who is opposed to the program! You might just change your mind. NM State Game Commission Meeting - April 19, 2024 (youtube.com)
 
Agency Mission, Statutory Framework (start time 1:20.45)
​Fisheries Management Division (start time 1:33.46)
Wildlife Management Division (start time 1:36.50)
Information & Education Division (start time 1:42.40)
Field Operations Division - Enforcement (start time 1:48.45)
Administrative Services Division (start time 1:57.17)
Information Systems Division (start time 1:58.39)
Human Resources Manager (start time 2:02.44)
Budget and Funding (start time 2:43.51) Overview of Mexican Wolf Program (start time 3:09.11) Overview of Fisheries Management (start time 5:07.01) Overview of the Elk Private Land Use System (start time 5:34.34) Public Comment Segment (start time 6:39.27)

Next Commission Meeting – May 16, 2024 (Hobbs, NM)
COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION
(You're encouraged to contact the Commissioners any time to voice your opinion)


Tirzio Lopez - Vice Chairman
District 3: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Sandoval, Los Alamos
and Rio Arriba counties
[email protected]


Gregg Fulfer
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties
[email protected]


Dr. Sabrina Pack
District 2: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Dona Ana counties
[email protected]


Sharon Salazar Hickey
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe and Torrance counties
[email protected]


Edward Garcia
District 5: Bernalillo county 
[email protected]


Fernando Clemente Jr.
Appointed at-large 
[email protected]


Richard Stump
Appointed at-large 
[email protected]

The New Mexico State Game Commission hosted their first meeting of 2024 in Albuquerque this past Friday. They were supposed to have held a meeting in January, but that meeting was abruptly cancelled to give the Governor time to appoint 2 additional commissioners. The reason for cancellation was a rumor but it appears to have been true considering there were magically 2 new commissioners at the meeting on Friday. The commission is now a full seven-member body for the first time since April 2021. The new commissioners are Richard Stump, a jeweler from Santa Fe who is also a horse trainer, lifelong sportsman, and a former hunting guide. And Sabrina Pack, a businesswoman from Silver City who does not seem to have any direct interests with the NMDGF other than a general love for wildlife.
 
The commission meeting was very routine. The primary agenda items were the annual initiation of the migratory bird rule and the commencement of the biennial review of NMDGF’s list of threatened and endangered species. One item that got punted to the next commission meeting was the election of a chair and vice chair. The commission has lacked a chairperson since the position was vacated by the sudden resignation of Deanna Archuleta during the 2023 legislative session. There are, of course, several rumors floating around as to why the commission hasn’t elected a chair. All rumors include some level of back-room politics. However, the truth of these rumors is of little concern to NMCOG. It makes no difference to us whether Tirzio Lopez becomes chairman or whether Sharon Salazar Hickey resumes the post. Or perhaps the position will be given to someone entirely new. It simply doesn’t matter, NMCOG will work equally diligent to form a relationship with whomever becomes chair.
 
As previously stated, Friday’s meeting was routine. However, you’d never know it from reading the NM Wildlife Federation’s latest work of fiction. Normally NMCOG would not stoop so low as to provide NMWF with any level of PR. However, their latest diatribe was so rot with propagandized misinformation it seems only right to set the record straight. NMWF took a 5-minute commission conversation at the end of the meeting (which was promoted by Commissioner Pack’s innocent desire to learn more about the issues related to the Dept. for which she is now a member of the governing body) and turned it into a 1300-word anti-EPLUS essay. Most egregiously, they used the article as an opportunity to, straight up, libel a good man who happens to be originally from Texas and who happens to own private property. A man whose monetary contributions of the last decade have done more to benefit the riparian ecosystem, the fisheries, and the community of Chama, NM than the NM Wildlife Federation has ever done since the dawn of time.
 
There was absolutely no justifiable reason for the NMWF to publish such mean-spirited blather. And it only highlighted their obvious desperation to misinform resident hunters. Luckily many resident hunters are finally waking up to recognize the NMWF’s true colors…. Now on to what the commission actually discussed in their meeting on Friday.
 
INITIATION OF THE MIGRATORY BIRD RULE
The Migratory Game Bird Rule is amended annually to ensure compliance with Federal Flyway recommendations and guidelines. In New Mexico, season selections and bag limits are determined in conjunction with the Central and Pacific Flyways and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The Dept. is at the beginning of the review process for this Rule. Changes to the migratory bird rule will be determined over the next few months and presented to the Commission at a subsequent meeting. Public comment is now open, but NMCOG will wait to formalize our comments until after the Dept. comes out with their official recommendations.

BIENNIAL REVIEW OF STATE LISTED THREATENED AND ENDANGERED SPECIES
Every other year Department biologists determine for each listed species whether its status should be ‘uplisted’ from threatened to endangered, ‘downlisted’ from endangered to threatened, or remain unchanged from the previous review period. Adding or removing species to or from the state list is a separate process. The biennial review will take several months to complete and will then be open for a 90-day comment period prior to approval.
 
NEW APPOINTMENTS TO THE CITIZEN ADVISORY COMMITTEE
The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) is a volunteer working group that authorizes and prioritizes projects for the Habitat Stamp Program (HSP). The program’s purpose is to plan, develop, and coordinate conservation and rehabilitation projects on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) managed lands that benefit fish and wildlife populations. Each member serves a 5-year term. Newly appointed CAC members are as follows:
 
Lief Ahlm (At large position)
Manuel L’esperance (Farm and Ranch position)
Mark Cadwallader (District 1)
Mark Mattaini (District 3)
Ronald Loehman (At Large position)
 
2024 COMMISSION MEETING DATES AND LOCATIONS
The commission voted on the following schedule of dates and locations for future 2024 Commission meetings. All meetings will continue to be an in-person & virtual hybrid.
 
April 19th – Silver City, NM
May 17th – Hobbs, NM
August 15th – Red River, NM
November 8th – Las Cruces, NM
January 10th, 2025 – Santa Fe, NM
 
ODDS AND ENDS
During the meeting the Commission also heard a presentation from the Nature Niños, they approved the Hunters Education and Fishing License Application Rules (both rules underwent simple language changes), And they heard a presentation on the Dept’s fiscal year 2023 audit (of which there were no significant findings).

 he Game Commission hosted a meeting in Farmington on October 27th. Although a number of department employees and a few members of the public made the, in many cases several hours, trip to attend the meeting in person, only two commissioners were present. The other 3 commissioners attended via Zoom. All game commission meetings in this post-COVID era are “hybrid”. Yes it’s true that certain things have been made easier and more convenient through virtual meeting technology. Members of the public can comment on rule making from basically anywhere in the world. Meetings can have a greater range of participants. And sick days or snow days (sadly) are a thing of the past. However, much of this new found convenience seems to have also come at the expense of professionalism. Perhaps it’s the time consuming virtual snafus (“can you guys hear me okay”… “you’re cutting out”…”you’re on mute”), or that you frequently can’t see faces/body language, or perhaps it’s just the annoying impression that the person doesn’t seem to care enough to attend physically. There is just something more productive about being in the same room at the same time. Shout out to Commissioners Lopez and Clemente for going out of their way to attend the meeting in person.
 
BEAR AND COUGAR RULE APPROVAL
The Commission unanimously approved the next 4-year cycle of the Bear and Cougar Rule. Thankfully the Rule was approved without much protest. There were a handful of comments from the usual suspects (Animal Protection NM and the Sierra Club) voicing their opposition to the Rule and predator hunting in general but definitely not the level that the anti-hunting groups were hoping to generate. The new Bear and Cougar Rule will apply to hunting seasons 2024-2027. The full Rule can be read in its entirety on the NMDGF website. Below is a brief summary of the approved changes. BMZ = Bear Management Zone and CMZ = Cougar Management Zone.

• Increase the harvest limits in BMZ 1 (current: 158; approved: 168)
• Increase the harvest limits in BMZ 10 (current: 146; approved: 197)
• Move GMU 57 from BMZ 7 to BMZ 5, and move GMUs 56 and 58 from BMZ 7 to BMZ 6, thus dissolving BMZ 7.
• Increase the number of permits for bear draw hunts BER-1-103 and BER-1-104.
• Move the season start date for BMZs 12 and 13 from September 1st back to August 16th.
• Decrease the harvest limit in CMZ Q (current: 34; approved: 17)
• Allow licensed deer or elk hunters who draw WMA hunts to harvest a bear or lion during their hunt if the zone is open and if they possess a Bear and/or Cougar license.

 
FURBEARER RULE APPROVAL
The Commission unanimously approved to make the Furbearer Rule a “permanent” rule. Meaning that the Rule will no longer auto-matically come open every 4 years. This is not to say that the Rule will never be re-opened. The Commission can vote to open the Rule at any time. It just means that it will not be opened on a set schedule. The Dept. mentioned several reasons for making this change, the foremost being that NMDGF only allows harvest of a small amount of furbearers (a number further reduced by the 2022 trapping ban). It makes more sense for the rule to be considered permanent and for the Commission to have Dept. biologists provide annual reports, rather than the overly burdensome constraints of a Rule on an official cycle which is subject to a formal hearing. The Dept. further justified the change by explaining that if necessary the Director can reassess bag limits at any time with the concurrence of the Commission Chair.
 
HUNTER EDUCATION BRIEFING
The Department provided the commission with an update on their amendments to the Hunter Education Rule. Clarification is needed to address recent advances in technology which is allowing very young children to apply for the NM Big Game Draw. In 2023 a child as young as 3yrs passed an online hunter safety course and successfully drew (and supposedly harvested) big game. Some states that offer online Hunter Education courses do not set a minimum age and the NMDGF currently accepts a hunter training course of another state to meet the hunter training course requirements in New Mexico. Rule clarification is needed to ensure system integrity and hunter safety. The Dept. is proposing adding new language to the rule that clarifies students utilizing Out-of-State Hunter Education Certifications in New Mexico are restricted to hunters ages 9 and older. This change will help to address age requirements and should also help reduce the likelihood of parents or guardians submitting big game draw applications for very young children in an attempt to illegally hunt themselves on drawn tags. This proposal is currently open for public comment. Email your thoughts to [email protected]
 
ODDS AND ENDS
The commission also approved the annual depredation report, revocations report, and the application fora 157 acre Pheasant and Chukar hunting preserve on a private ranch east of Raton, NM. Also, the commission also approved the Draw application deadlines for 2024.

• Bear and Turkey 2/14/2024
• Big game 3/20/2024
• Crane and Pheasant 8/14/2024

The NM State Game Commission met on Friday July 21st at the Game and Fish office in Albuquerque. The meeting was short and the atmosphere was a bit awkward, which appears to be the way this Commission prefers to roll. 

PUBLIC COMMENT
The Commission started the meeting, as they normally do, with general public comment. Several days prior to the meeting Animal Protection New Mexico (APNM) sent an email to their members requesting they provide public comment in opposition to the Bear and Cougar Rule (which is currently open to public engagement and input on amendments for the next 4yr cycle). The email notice resulted in an abnormally high number of public comments made during the Commission meeting. All comments were in opposition to bear and cougar hunting. Some of the comments recommended that the Commission “lower the quotas”, “ban the use of dogs”, “live and let live”, “create policy that reflects the social values of the majority”, and several commentors mentioned that Bear/Cougar populations are “self-regulating” and therefore hunting is unnecessary. Obviously we disagree with all of these statements whole heartedly, but the point is that right now the anti’s are winning in the arena of public comment. 

It is time for our side to get busy commenting in support of the Department of Game and Fish when it comes to bear and cougar hunting! We may not agree with everything all of the time but in general the NMDGF does a fantastic job managing 
wildlife in the state of NM and they need to know that we support them. Remaining quiet or being constantly critical of every policy decision only plays into the hands of the anti-hunting public. Please provide public comment to the Dept. regarding the Bear/Cougar Rule. Feel free to let them know your true thoughts but lead with the positive and remember to let them know you support the hunting of bear and cougar. Send your comments to [email protected]

MIGRATORY BIRD RULE
The Commission unanimously approved the Migratory Bird Rule for Sept. 1, 2023-March 31st, 2024. This rule is approved annually in conjunction with the federal framework of the Central and Pacific Flyway Council. Amendments to the rule were recommended based on federal framework and public comments. Some public comments were not applicable because they would go against the federal framework. A copy of the newly approved rule can be found on the NMDGF website under Commission “hearing archives” (until Sept. when it will be moved to the hunting tag under “Rules and Penalties”). Approved changes to the rule are as follows:
Hunt dates were amended based on federal framework changes.
No changes were made to sandhill crane or dove 
Federal changes were applied to pintail
Bag limits remain the same for Central and Pacific Flyway birds in most instances. 

FURBEARER RULE 
The Dept. initiated the opening of the Furbearer Rule. The rule is currently on a 4 year cycle but the Dept. is proposing to make the rule “permanent”, meaning the rule remains closed unless specifically opened by the Commission. The Dept. mentioned several 
reasons for the change, the foremost being that NMDGF only allows harvest of a small amount of furbearers as it is and the 2022 trapping ban has only further reduced harvest. It makes more sense for the rule to be considered permanent and for the Commission to have Dept. biologists provide annual reports, rather than the overly burdensome constraints of a rule on an official cycle which is subject to a formal hearing including time requirements, public comment, and Commission action. The Dept. explained that if 
necessary the Director can set bag limits with the concurrence of the Commission Chair. Furbearer populations are currently stable and a recent study showed that even the swift fox population (which was previously a species of concern) was proven to be stable. Potential changes to the Furbearer Rule are open for public comment and will be approved by the Commission later this year. 

EXECUTIVE SESSION
At each meeting the Commission goes into Executive Session which is unavailable to the public and generally relates to ongoing legal matters which the Dept. and Commission are involved in. The only insight that the public is awarded in regards to the Commission Executive Session is a short description of cases discussed provided in the meeting agenda. At the most recent meeting the agenda referenced the NM Trappers Association lawsuit against the NM Attorney General and NMDGF Director Sloane. This means the NM Trappers Association has filed a formal lawsuit against the law passed in 2021 (and in effect April 2022) which banned trapping on all NM public land. NMCOG is anxious to see how the proceedings go and we have agreed to help the NM Trappers Association overturn the trapping ban in the legislature in the event they are able to successfully deem the ban wholly or partially unconstitutional. Like all lawsuits, there definitely won’t be anything quick about this legal process. But this lawsuit is good news and it’s a start... 

The NM State Game Commission hosted their first meeting of 2025 on Friday Jan. 10th in Santa Fe. The agenda was mostly routine except for one REALLY BIG change regarding pronghorn in the northeast. If you read nothing else, please read the update on landowner pronghorn hunts in GMUs 41, 47, 56, 57, 58, & 59, written in bold under “Pronghorn License Changes”.
 
AQUATIC SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED (SGCN) INITIATIVES
Fisheries chief Kirk Patten provided the Commission with an update regarding the Department’s conservation work for aquatic species of greatest conservation need. The Dept., in conjunction with other federal, state, tribal, and non-governmental partners, have worked continuously over several decades through longstanding initiatives, to benefit Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout, Rio Grande Chub, Rio Grande Sucker, and Pecos Pupfish. Pecos Pupfish (a species that were proposed endangered 25 years ago) were successfully downlisted to threatened in 2024. Chief Patten happily reported that through the successful conservation efforts of NMDGF, the US Fish and Wildlife Service has determined that an ESA designation for Rio Grande Chub and Rio Grande Sucker fish (separate species) is not warranted at this time. The USFWS additionally determined that an ESA designation on Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout is also not warranted. This is due to the overwhelming success of Dept. conservation efforts which have resulted in a 16% expansion of Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout populations statewide over the past 20 years.
 
MIGRATORY GAME BIRD RULE
As is done every year during the first Commission Meeting, the Dept. initiated opening the Migratory Game Bird Rule. This is an annual rule which is amended each year in conjunction with the USFWS recommendations for the pacific and central flyways. Hunting season dates will be adjusted according to the federal framework, which will be released in the coming months. One big change that is anticipated for all flyways but especially for NM is an adjustment to the pintail bag limit, which will allow for more consistent management with less anticipated swings in future bag limits. In collaboration with the USWFS framework, the pintail bag limit will be increased to 3 (from 1). Sandhill crane populations continue to increase in NM. NMDGF will get allocation numbers from the USFWS in mid-April and determine changes in sandhill crane license allocations. This agenda item was for discussion purposes only. The Migratory Bird rule is now open and will soon be available for public comment. The Dept. will be hosting several public meetings across the state in the coming months.
 
HABITAT STAMP PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Dept. provided an update on the Habitat Stamp Program including a summary of the program’s accomplishments since it was reauthorized by the Commission in 2021. The Habitat Stamp Program began in 1986 and was intended to initiate habitat projects across NM on federal lands. The program is authorized under the Sikes Act. Anyone who hunts or fishes on federal land in NM must purchase a $10 habitat stamp. The revenue collected through the program is then used to conserve those habitats. The program is entirely funded by hunters and anglers.
 
The program is guided by a Commission appointed Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC). The annual budget of the program is between $1.5 and $2 million. Projects are brought to the CAC (by commissioners and the general public) and the CAC ranks those projects once a year to determine which projects will receive funding priority. Because the program is substantially funded by anglers, at least 50% of the funds must be applied to fishing projects. The Dept. has 4 years to spend the money allocated to any one project. Since 2021, the Dept. has completed 41 habitat projects including 52 miles of fence removal, 62 acres of stream and lake rehabilitation, and over 10,000 acres of habitat have been restored.
 
PRONGHORN LICENSE CHANGES
NMCOG has heard from many concerned outfitters regarding the pronghorn antelope population in northeast NM over the past few years, and with more frequency recently. The good news is that the NMDGF is finally taking our concerns seriously. The Dept. has made some major changes to the number of antelope licenses that will be issued in 2025 in Game Management Units 41, 42, 47, 56, 57, 58, & 59. These changes have already been made and are printed in the 2025 NMDGF Rules and Regulations booklet which was published on the Dept. website last week. The reason that these changes were made without public comment or Game Commission input is that by law the Director has the ability to reduce licenses by 20% if the species is, for any reason, experiencing a rapid decline in population. The Dept. has determined that the situation in the northeast is dire enough to warrant this immediate 20% reduction in hunting licenses.  
 
Wildlife Chief Stewart Liley provided a presentation to the Commission regarding the status of the northeast pronghorn antelope population. Recent ariel surveys indicate that both density and group size continue to decrease. According to Chief Liley, fawn mortality is likely the reason for the loss of the herd in NE. Department data shows that there has not been a substantial decline in buck to doe ratios and it is rather the fawn to doe ratio that is the concern. Fawn to doe ratios have been very low since 2020 with an estimated just 12% of the fawn crop surviving to adulthood. The cause of this mortality is likely due to drought. The northeast has experienced several years of very severe drought which correlates with the Dept.’s data showing a high level of fawn mortality due to abandonment and of “unknown” causes. While the NMDGF believes that hunter harvest has had a minimal impact on the decline, since NM is heavy on buck harvest (we harvest very few female antelope), buck numbers are really the only aspects where the Dept. can even try to help reverse the decline. And therefore, buck licenses are being reduced by 20% for both draw and private land hunts in 2025 (female harvest is also being eliminated). The hope is that this change will help maintain buck to doe ratios and promote maximum breed back and fawn recruitment. But really, only well-timed rain will be the herds savior!
 
While these changes will come as music to the ears of many folks who have been worried about the northeast pronghorn herd for years, the changes won’t come without business model adjustments for outfitters. As part of the 20% reduction in tags, the antelope licenses issued on private land (previously unlimited, over the counter) are now capped. That means that when private land antelope licenses go on sale July 1st there will be an inevitable mad dash by all outfitters (who hunt antelope in the northeast region) to buy every private land license they need for 2025. Once the cap is met, there will be no more private land antelope licenses sold for the northeast hunts (this will additionally eliminate an outfitters ability to sell 2025 antelope hunts after July 1st).  Caps are determined on a GMU basis and are listed below. It is extremely important that outfitters (and their hunter clientele) understand that for the 2025 season when you buy a private land antelope permit in the following GMU’s they are licenses. Meaning, just like draw licenses, these license sales are final! If an outfitter has an antelope client that cancels last minute, their private land antelope license cannot be refunded or exchanged (except for death or hospitalization). I repeat; all private land outfitters in the following GMUs will need to notify their 2025 antelope clientele that once the license is purchased, they are locked in and cancelling their trip after July 1st will be very difficult. This is the first time that the NMDGF has put a cap on license sales over a large geographic region. If you have questions or would like further information, please contact NMCOG at 505-440-5258.
 
GMU 41 – 190 total private land licenses available
GMU 42 – 54 total private land licenses available
GMU 47 - 71 total private land licenses available
GMU 56 - 383 total private land licenses available
GMU 57 – 36 total private land licenses available
GMU 58 – 185 total private land licenses available
GMU 59 – 246 total private land licenses available
 
ODDS, ENDS, & PUBLIC COMMENT
In Executive Session the Commission voted to approve their hunting easement with the NM State Land Office. The agreement remains unchanged as it relates to hunter access to state trust lands. The Commission also heard a lengthy update on the status of wildlife corridors in NM. As directed by statute the NMDGF and NMDOT have collaborated to draft a well thought out plan regarding why and where best for NM to build wildlife corridors. Next step is finding the money to set the plan into motion. Public comment consisted mostly of support for wildlife corridors as well as support for the habitat stamp program. 

The NM State Game Commission hosted a “special” meeting on Friday June 17th to address the action items that were rolled over from the June 3rd meeting due to lack of a quorum. As Friday’s meeting started, like magic, a new commissioner appeared to fill the vacant District 1 position (Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties). Thank you, Gov. Lujan Grisham, for hearing our plea and finally appointing a fifth Commissioner. It felt like there was a collective sigh of relief from all of us regulars in the room who have witnessed the Commission tensions continue to build over the past few months. There are still two vacancies on the Commission but at least with 5 Commissioners motions will no longer die on a tie vote.

The new Commissioner is Gregg Fulfer of Jal, New Mexico. He is a former state senator and former Lea County commissioner. He has a degree in electrical engineering from NM State University and is a retired businessman. He previously owned and operated several successful electrical, oil & gas, and cattle businesses in New Mexico & west Texas. And he is now the lone Republican on the NM State Game commission. Congratulations on your appointment Commissioner Fulfer! Welcome aboard. NMCOG looks forward to working with you.

FURTHER DISCUSSION OF THE BIGHORN SHEEP RULE
48hrs prior to Friday’s meeting (and in compliance with the Open Meetings Act) the NMDGF posted a briefing to the Bighorn Sheep agenda item which indicated that the Commission would be discussing 2 amendments to the Bighorn Sheep Rule. The first was to place a once-in-a-lifetime constraint on Bighorn Sheep landowner permits and the other was to remove language that requires the funding generated from Bighorn Sheep raffle permits to be used for the “conservation of bighorn sheep”.

NMCOG sent a letter to the Commission prior to the meeting in opposition to both amendments. In opposition to the once-in-a-lifetime designation, we reminded the commission that “placing restrictions on any private land permits simply creates disincentive for landowners to participate in conservation programs.” NMCOG additionally took the liberty to immediately notify all the landowners who would be impacted by the amendment, and we encouraged those individuals to reach out to the Commission prior to the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting Commissioner Salazar-Henry motioned to amend the agenda to strip the amendment related to private land bighorn permits stating that she credits the folks at the Wedding Cake ranch for their enlightening discussion about the benefits of private land agreements which ultimately changed her perspective on the issue.  

In opposition to the language change, NMCOG urged the Commission to maintain the current regulation and argued that all “money generated through the Bighorn Sheep enhancement program should unarguably be fully dedicated to the conservation of NM’s wild sheep populations.” After a lengthy Commission discussion regarding the wording of the statute and how that relates to the Rule, the Commission voted 2-3 to deny a change to the current language which will continue to read “the drawing will be conducted by the department or an incorporated, non-profit organization dedicated to the conservation of bighorn sheep.” Commissioners Salazar-Henry and Lopez voted to change the language and Commissioners Archuleta, Fulfer, and Salazar Hickey voted against the motion. You can watch the recording of this discussion HERE the conversation begins at 2:17:00 and is roughly 45 minutes long.

APPROVAL OF THE STATEWIDE FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PLAN
The Commission voted unanimously to approve the 2022 Statewide Fisheries Management Plan which is a document that communicates the vision of the NMDGF regarding the priority of fisheries projects in the state. It additionally outlines efforts to expand or maintain recreational angler opportunities and describes how the Dept. plans to balances this recreational pressure with responsible fisheries conservation.

NMCOG was not at all opposed to this management document however, we did use the agenda item as a platform to express our extreme discontent with the Dept’s interpretation of the NM Supreme Court’s decision as it relates to recreational access to streambeds located on private land. We highlighted the high level of inconsistency between the Dept’s written management plan and the Dept’s newly adopted do-nothing enforcement philosophy as it relates to trespassers trampling riparian ecosystems on private land. Watch our comments HERE at 2:09:34

BUDGET OVERVIEW AND CAPITAL PLAN
The Department also presented the Commission with their current financial and license sales data. The presentation included revenue data related to license sales, federal revenue, and other revenue generated by the Department. The agenda item provided context regarding the financial position and stability of the Dept’s annual revenue, which is generated primarily by (no surprise) non-resident hunting license sales. Click HERE to view the Dept’s very informative presentation or watch the Dept. presentation HERE starting at minute 58.57. The Commission voted unanimously to approve the Dept’s 5-year capital plan and capital request to the Department of Finance and Administration. 

Next Commission Meeting – July 22, 2022 (Ruidoso, NM)
COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION
(You're encouraged to contact the Commissioners any time to voice your opinion)


Sharon Salazar Hickey - Chairwoman
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe
and Torrance counties
[email protected]


Deanna Archuleta - Vice Chairwoman
At - Large Position
[email protected] 


Gregg Fulfer
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties
[email protected]


Roberta Salazar-Henry
District 2: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Doña Ana counties
[email protected]


Tirzio Lopez
Appointed - Agriculture Position
[email protected]


OPEN
District 3: San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, Sandoval, Cibola, & Valencia counties


OPEN
District 5: Bernalillo County

The NM State Game Commission hosted a meeting in Eagle Nest last Friday. The entire meeting was complete mayhem, as is the usual with this Commission. Only 2 Commissioners attended in-person (the other 2 by zoom), the agenda was entirely rearranged at the start of the meeting, Commissioners were unprepared and visibly unknowledgeable regarding NMDGF game regulations, the Vice Chair left the meeting early (leaving the Commission without a quorum and prevented them from approving the FY 2024 Capital Plan - requiring Director Sloane to urge the Commission to schedule a special meeting since the Capital Plan has an approval deadline of July 1st), and motions made during the meeting were done so in an overly technical manner, which I speculate was, to intentionally confuse the other Commissioners as well as the public. There is a term for situations with this sort of prolonged chaos. But it’s a term better left unwritten in professional communication. Click HERE to experience the madness firsthand.

NOTE: The Deer and Elk Rules were not heard. Both are still open for public comment at [email protected] and [email protected]. 

REMOVAL OF SCOPES FROM MUZZLELOADERS
The Dept. did not provide an official update to this proposal however, the Commission did have an informal discussion on the topic. Commissioner Salazar-Henry had previously expressed opposition to the proposal given the high amount of public comment that has been generated over the last few months (both in opposition and in favor of the proposal). Director Sloane specifically asked the Commissioners if they intended to proceed with the proposal considering the Dept. would be forced to significantly reduce licenses across all species if the proposal were to fail (given the very high success rates of modern-day muzzleloaders with scopes).

Commissioner Salazar-Henry responded that she had done some research on the Colorado rule that bans scopes and was interested to learn that CO has never allowed scopes on muzzleloaders. She also learned that CO is considering banning scopes on all rifles due to their ability to allow a hunter to harvest game at very long range. It seems CO too is having trouble properly managing wildlife with such high hunter harvest rates. Commissioner Salazar-Henry directed the Dept. to continue with their proposal to ban scopes on muzzleloaders. Indicating that she agrees it is in the best interest of game management and that she will vote in favor of the ban. 

SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION EXOTICS RULE
The Dept. provided their subsequent update on the Exotics Rule. This means the window for providing public comment is closing fast. The Dept. will finalize their proposed changes over the next month and then post their final version of the Rule to the Register, where it must remain unchanged for 30 days prior to approval. The Exotics Rule will be officially approved by the Commission at their August meeting. Below are the Dept’s current proposed changes. You can still provide public comment regarding this proposal. Email your comments to [email protected]

BARBARY SHEEP

• Based on significant public feedback, the Department is no longer recommending combining hunt units: 29, 30, 32, 36, 37.
  • New recommendation is to maintain the split units as follows: GMUs 29, 30 and GMUs 32, 36, 37.
• The Department recommends increasing draw licenses by 20% across the board because of a general increase in Barbary sheep population and a significant increase on McGregor. 
• The Department recommends increasing the number of rifle hunts (from 5 to 8) while shortening the hunt length to accommodate more hunts. 
• The Department proposes to include all GMU 34 in the over-the-counter hunt area to address hunter confusion on the current split boundary. 
• The Department recommends opening all GMUs (outside of SE core areas) to OTC license holders. Currently some areas of the state, where desert bighorn sheep are located, are closed to Barbary sheep hunting. 
• The Department has worked with McGregor Range to propose an increase from 40 to 170 draw hunters. This proposal also includes adding a new Female/Immature bag limit. 

Special Meeting - Possibly June 17, 2022 (Santa Fe, NM)
Next Official Commission Meeting – July 22, 2022 (Ruidoso, NM)
​
COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION
(You're encouraged to contact the Commissioners any time to voice your opinion)

Sharon Salazar Hickey - Chairwoman
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe
and Torrance counties
[email protected]

OPEN
District 5: Bernalillo County

Roberta Salazar-Henry
District 2: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Doña Ana counties
[email protected]
Deanna Archuleta
At - Large Position
[email protected] 

Tirzio Lopez
Appointed - Agriculture Position
[email protected]

OPEN
District 3: San Juan, Rio Arriba, McKinley, Sandoval, Cibola, & Valencia counties

OPEN
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties