April 2025

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).
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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.