NM Game & Fish Commission denied the permit renewal to raise wolves on the Ladder Ranch

Yesterday the NM Game & Fish Commission denied the permit renewal to raise wolves on the Ladder Ranch. The Turner Endangered Species fund requested to import and posses Mexican Gray Wolves. The commission was clear that they want a solid recovery plan from FWS with a definite recovery number. Chairman Kienzle, “ We do not like the Federal Government coming in and pushing us around with their programs." They can reapply after an acceptable recovery plan is put forward, that the commission could support. Second big item on the Agenda was the Bear and Cougar rule. The game department says we are not meeting the quota’s on bears and lions in certain units. They have come up with some different plans to help increase take. Some units are being closed to bear quickly once quotas are being met. They are looking to increase numbers in those areas. A Spring bear hunt was brought up, but no real action was taken on that idea. For lions, the yearly quota is 750(give or take) only about 250 (give or take) are being harvested the last couple of years. They want to look at some different ways to increase this number. One option was allowing trapping and snares, maybe including a lion tag with deer/elk licenses for certain areas, increasing the tag numbers each person can kill (Right now it’s two, but if they kill two, maybe give them another two) and the majority of the commissioners wanted the department to find ways to make it easier for Ranchers/Farmers to take lions on private land. Given all this, we need you all to show up at the game department meetings set up to explain all of these options and take your input, two meeting have been held already, 3 more to go. Show up and make your voices heard! We have a few more months to help in this input before decisions are made!