September Game Commission Re-Cap

The NM State Game Commission held their most recent meeting in Cloudcroft at The Lodge Pavilion this past Wednesday. The meeting was sparsely attended compared to the previous commission meetings held in more urban venues. Even though Bear, Cougar, and Trapping were all on the agenda; only several more hunters and trappers than usual showed up to defend their positions (which is the opposite of what you might expect to see at a meeting held in a rural setting). Yet, as usual, the anti-hunting/trapping crowd was solidly represented and provided public comment.
 
The moral of the story: The Commission continues to hear from many, many individuals in the anti-hunting community who wish to prevent all predator hunting and trapping. However, the Commission is not hearing from the pro-hunting/trapping community in nearly the same volume. If our industry continues to sit on the side-lines, hoping and praying that the Commission makes the right decision, we may be sorely disappointed in the end. PLEASE take the time to provide public comment to the Dept. in general support of predator hunting and trapping (click HERE). Also, please send the Commissioners an email reiterating your position (Commissioner email addresses provided below).   
 
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT DIVISION PRESENTATION
 
The Chief of Fisheries, Kirk Patten provided a comprehensive presentation on the condition of the fish hatcheries across the state. The presentation included an update on the condition of both game and non-game species as well as the condition of the Gila Trout population which is listed as “threatened” under the ESA. Chief Patten also gave an update on the condition of the “world class” fishery along the San Juan River and referred to the fact that much of the revenue generated through that fishery is derived primarily by non-resident anglers. Kudos to Chief Patten for this underlying plug for outfitters along the San Juan.  
 
The presentation additionally included a description of the most pressing needs of the fisheries division regarding needed infrastructure improvements at hatcheries across the state. Improvement needs are as follows:

• Renovation of Glenwood Hatchery to produce Gila trout
• Modernization of staff housing at all facilities
• Replacement of raceways at aging facilities
• Updates and rebuilding of visitor’s centers improvements to drinking water systems
• New hatchery building at Rock Lake Hatchery for warmwater production
• Addressing mine tailings used in the renovation of Lisboa Springs Hatchery in the 1980s

 
SECOND SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION ON THE BEAR AND COUGAR RULE
 
The Dept. provided a final updated presentation to the Commission on their proposed changes to the next 4-year cycle of the Bear and Cougar Rules. The Dept. has made a couple of changes to their proposal in response to their research as well as the public opinions that were voiced at the recent public meetings. The Dept. is proposing the following changes to the Bear and Cougar Rule. The proposals were presented for discussion purposes only and will be approved at the Commission’s November meeting. This rule is currently open for public comment but the final version of the proposal with be posted to the registrar in October so if you would still like to provide public comment please voice your opinion ASAP by sending an email to DGF-Bear-Cougar-Rules@state.nm.us. You can find the Dept.’s full summary of their proposed changes HERE.
 
BEAR

• There are no proposals to adjust Bear Management Zone boundaries for any zones.
• Change the start date for the bear general weapon type season to September 25th in Bear Management Zones 10, 12, and 13, and extend the closing date to December 15th in Zones 10 and 12, and November 30th in Zone 13. The bear archery season will still begin September 1, during which the use of dogs is still not allowed.

• Group the Barker and Colin Neblett Wildlife Management Area (Hunt Code BER-1-104) and

Valle Vidal (Hunt Code BER-1-105) draw licenses as a single license, and include the Urraca
Wildlife Management Area in the areas open to hunting with that license.
 
COUGAR

• No longer allow traps as a method for sport harvest
• Harvest limit adjustments to align with data (reduce maximum allowable harvest numbers to be more in line with actual harvest numbers). Click HERE to see full list of harvest limit changes per Cougar Management Zone.
• Move Game Management Unit 25 from Cougar Management Zone J to Cougar Management Zone L.
• No longer allow additional harvest over the 2-bag limit.

 
SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION ON THE TRAPPING AND FURBEARER RULE
 
The Dept. provided a subsequent presentation on their proposed changes to the Trapping and Furbearer Rule. The Dept. is going to propose making this rule a 4-year rule which would open for every 4-year cycle just like the other big game rules. Wildlife Chief Stewart Liley provided a lengthy presentation on the current trapping rule, why trapping is a completely necessary part of wildlife management, how the NM trapping regulation compare to other states, and how trapping is the only method of take that is actually recognized and regulated internationally through a 1997 agreement made between the US and the EU. The Dept. is proposing the following:

• Mandatory trapper education
• Proposing closures in the following areas:
  • The Sandia Ranger District
  • The eastern portion of the Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument
  • Forest Service lands within ½ mile of:
    • NM Hwy 475 (road to Ski Santa Fe) on the Santa Fe national Forest
    • NM Hwy 150 (road to Taos Ski Basin) on the Carson National Forest
• Increase setback distance to ½ mile from:
  • Designated trailheads
  • Designated roadside rest areas
• Water sets must be fully submerged
  • Every other day check on all kill traps
• Land sets cannot be within 30 feet of bait greater than 2 ounces weight and visible to airborne raptors
• Open racoon season from May 16-Aug 31st with restricted trap types
• Open a nutria (found only in the Rio Hondo) season from April 1-March 31st

 
ODDS AND ENDS
 
The Dept. also provided a presentation on their efforts to establish an E-tagging system and they initiated rule openings in both the Hunting and Fishing License Application Rule and the Game and Fish Licenses/Permits Rule in order to make minor clarification changes to licenses issued to returning Iraq/Afghanistan veterans as well as penalties for vendors who do not return unissued carcass tags.  
 
PUBLIC COMMENT
 
The general public comment segment of the meeting was dominated by the usual complaints by the anti-hunting community. The Wildlife federation opposed the adjusted season dates being proposed in the Bear rule and spoke out in general opposition to the Certification of Non-navigable Waters Rule. There were also several ranchers who voiced opposition to the Dept.’s recommendation to do away with Cougar trapping as well as a number of Trappers who spoke out in opposition to the Dept.’s recommendation to increase trap setback distance.

Next Commission Meeting – October 25, 2019 (Farmington, NM)
 
COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION
(You are welcome and encouraged to contact the Commissioners any time to voice your opinion)
 
Joanna Prukop - Chairwoman
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe and Torrance counties.
Joanna.prukop@state.nm.us
 
Roberta Salazar-Henry – Vice Chairwoman
District 2: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Doña Ana counties.
R.Salazar-Henry@state.nm.us
 
Gail Cramer
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties.
Gail.Cramer@state.nm.us
 
Jeremy Vesbach
District 3: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Sandoval, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties
Jeremy.Vesbach@state.nm.us
 
Jimmy Bates
District 5: Bernalillo county.
Jimmy.Bates@state.nm.us
 
David Soules
Appointed At-large – Conservation Position
David.Soules@state.nm.us
 
Tirzio Lopez
Appointed At-large
Tirzio.Lopez@state.nm.us