State Game Commission

The New Mexico State Game Commission is the governing body of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor with the collective goal of overseeing the rules and regulations established to achieve the NMDGF mission of "conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish within the state of New Mexico using a flexible management system that ensures sustainable use for public food supply, recreation and safety; and to provide for off-highway motor vehicle recreation that recognizes cultural, historic, and resource values while ensuring public safety." The Commission meets six to eight times a year during which they make management, financial, and recreational decisions that effects resident and non-resident hunters and anglers. All meetings are open to the public and are held in various, rotating locations across the state. The New Mexico Council of Outfitters and Guides attends every State Game Commission meeting and provides testimony on behalf of the industry. 2015 Game Commission Meeting Schedule Commissioner Biographies March 26, 2015 - Commission Meeting Re-cap The State Game Commission held a meeting on March 26th at the Space History Museum in Alamogordo . The basic theme of the meeting was to address issues that were brought up during the recently finalized 60 day legislative session. The Department also initiated the development of a new 4 year cycle for Bear and Cougar seasons and the commission additionally, adopted the final proposal of the department as it relates to Oryx Security Badge Hunts. Legislative Update The Department provided a presentation regarding all of the legislative actions taken during the 2015 NM Legislative Session that in anyway related to the efforts of NMDGF. As it relates to NMDGF budget, Legislators approved to keep all of the NMDGF programs as well as current employee numbers funded for fiscal year 2016 which begins in June. The only down side to the budget was that Legislators did not approve any new capital projects. According to the Department this should have little effect on short term plans as the Department already has money set aside to fund many of their upcoming initiatives. The Department proudly went through the list of their 5 basic legislative initiatives 4 of which are currently awaiting the Governors signature. The Department was successful in passing a bill which would give them the ability to treat minor infractions similar to the way police departments treat speeding tickets, by having the availability to mail in the penalty assessment. They also successfully passed a bill that would give a 50% reduction in license costs to active duty and retired veterans across the board as opposed to the current confusing and cumbersome methods of applying for military discounts. They were able to pass a bill that would provide the NMDGF the ability to recognize Talapia as a NM species. And finally the Department was successful in passing a bill that would give NMDGF the authority to compensate volunteers. The Department described this year as being their most successful session in recent history. The Department also made a special effort to recognize the Stream Access legislation. Although this was not an official objective of the NMDGF, the Department explained to the Commission that the legislation that we were able to pass during the session mirrored their existing Rule as it relates to accessing public waters on private lands. They also mentioned that they were supportive of our efforts. The stream access legislation is also awaiting the Governor's signature. Update on Felons Attempting to Hunt with a Firearm In response to a failed legislative push by Representative Jimmie Hall (Bernalillo), the department provided a presentation to the Commission regarding why it would not be cost effective for the Department to attempt to run background checks on individuals applying for draw hunts. The department explained that it would not be possible to run 50,000 applicants through the Department of Public Safety records check as the legislation would have required. On top of the fact that running background checks on this many individuals would be exorbitantly expensive, there are laws that actually prevent NMDGF from doing this. Additionally, hunt codes are designed to be "any legal sporting arm" so while it would be illegal for a felon to hunt with a firearm, they could legally apply for these hunt codes and subsequently use a bow to harvest the game. The presentation was for informational purposes and there was little debate from the Commission as to whether additional steps should be taken regarding this issue. Initiation of Bear and Cougar Rule Development The Department gave their preliminary presentation for the opening of the predator rule development. They presented the current harvest statistics for both Bear and Cougar which showed that both species are not being harvested to the full extent allowable by NMDGF. The Department explained that they have expanded their research measures for both predator species and they are working with NMSU to derive population estimates across the state. The Department additionally addressed concerns from ranchers regarding Cougar depredation of livestock and indicated that they are considering allowing trapping of snaring as a method of Cougar harvest. They also addressed the possibility of implementing a spring Bear hunt. The predator rule development is now open for public comment on the NMDGF website. NMCOG will also be accepting comment from Outfitters and Guides. Please email your concerns/suggestions to kerriecoxromero@gmail.com. Oryx Security Badge Hunts The Commission approved the Department's proposal to do away with the Security Badge Hunt code for Oryx. NMCOG is supportive of this recommendation. After the TERK injunction was vacated in 2014 a problem that was created within this hunt code. Since it is forbidden, by White Sands Missile Range policy, for a hunter with a Security Badge permit to contract with an Outfitter, and because the department is required by law to apply the quota to all hunt codes, an empty Outfitter pool would be inevitable within the Security Badge Hunts. Beginning in 2016 the department will do away with the Security Badge Hunt code and rather include these hunts as population management hunts on White Sands Missile Range. Trans-locating Desert Bighorn to the Sacremento Escarpment The department presented a proposal to introduce Desert Bighorn sheep into the Sacremento mountains in GMU 34. They addressed much concern from sportsman that the Barbary sheep herd, currently established in the area, would need to be eliminated if Deserts were introduced. The Department made clear that they have no intentions of eliminating the Barbary populations in that area, they merely would like to do a study to see if the Deserts could co-exist with the Barbary. The Department would not be ready to trans locate the Deserts until at least 2016 and at that time they would consider introducing 40 from the Red Rock herd and 40 from the Fra Cristobal herd. The presentation was for discussion purposes only. Odds and Ends The Department additionally covered a number of clean up agenda items during the meeting. They presented a proposal, for discussion purposes, to create a phone application that would allow for electronic tagging and at the same time automatically submit a harvest report for the hunter. They also presented an initial proposal, now open for public comment, that would amend the miscellaneous fee structure for vendors. They proposed to include trappers and furbearers into the mandatory harvest rule which was previously overlooked when the rule was approved in 2013. And finally the Commission heard a presentation, from an outside organization, on the methods of establishing un-staffed shooting ranges. The next meeting will be held on May 7, 2015 in Farmington, NM.