State Game Commission

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 May 7, 2015 - Commission Meeting Re-cap The State Game Commission held their 3rd meeting of 2015 on Thursday May 7th at the Civic Center in Farmington. The meeting was exceptionally long and covered a number of items. Topics of particular interest to the Outfitting Industry included the preliminary proposals of the Bear and Cougar Rule Development, Multiple Tagging of Illegal Game with One License, and the Permit Renewal for Captive Mexican Wolves. Bear Rule Development Bear and Cougar biologist Elise Goldstein provided a presentation on the Department's proposed changes to the current Bear Rule. The presentation provided insight into the statistical averages of Bear harvests over the past 3 years. The presentation also provided a "to-date" list of public comments regarding the Bear Rule Development. Although the Dept. admitted that they have received numerous public comments requesting a Spring Bear Hunt this recommendation was suspiciously absent from the presentation. Recommendations made by the department are as follows: 1. Increase in harvest limits in specific Bear Management Zones (BMZs) based on research the Department is conducting in cooperation with New Mexico State University. The study will provide updated population estimates in the Sangre de Cristo, Sacramento, and Sandia mountains. Additionally, the Department has updated the bear habitat model using the latest land cover information which would also result in increased bear harvest potential in certain zones. 2. Move Game Management Unit (GMU) 48 from BMZ 3 to BMZ 4 to group similar habitat types in the same BMZ. 3. Add GMUs 39 and 40 to BMZ 6. GMUs 39 and 40 are currently closed to bear hunting, but the new habitat model and ground observations suggest there are sufficient habitat and bears to provide additional harvest opportunity. 4. Modify the season structure and restrict proportions of total harvest limits to specific hunt time frames. Possibly split seasons by the amount of bears so that ample hunting can be allowed early as well as later in the season. Possibly start season Sept. 1st rather than in August. 5. Change pelt tag process to allow for only a law enforcement official to tag pelts rather than any NMDGF designee as is the current regulation. NMCOG provided public comment to make a formal request for the department to consider establishing a spring bear hunt. We also encouraged the Department to change the season structure to address the problems of the bear quota closing over 80% of the BMZ prior to mid-season . The Bear Rule is currently open for public comment. Please email DGF-Bear-Cougar-Rules@state.nm.us with your thoughts and suggestions. Cougar Rule Development Ms. Goldstein also gave a presentation regarding the cougar rule development. The Department estimates that a reasonable harvest number of cougars would be around 700 per season however at this point less than 300 are harvested. The Department is under pressure to find ways to make the cougar harvest more successful. To do this they are proposing the following changes to the cougar rule: 1. Allow use of traps and snares to harvest cougars. Only 30% of the cougar harvest limit is reached each year, in spite of a year round season and an increased bag limit of 2 cougars. Traps and snares would be allowed in Cougar Management Zones (CMZs) in which harvest limits are not being met. To prevent hunters from being in violation of the federal Endangered Species Act, CMZ L would be excluded to prevent the unlikely accidental capture of a jaguar. 2. Prohibit use of hounds during deer and elk archery seasons; this is similar to the current restrictions on hound use for hunting bears. 3. Move Game Management Unit (GMU) 18 from Cougar Management Zone (CMZ) I to CMZ H to put similar habitat types in the same zone. 4. Allow licensed deer and elk hunters on the Sargent, Humphries, Rio Chama, Urraca, Colin Neblett, E.S. Barker, and Marquez Wildlife Management Areas who also possess a cougar license to hunt cougars with the same weapon type as their license during the period of their hunt. Dogs would not be allowed. 5. Change pelt tag process to allow for only a law enforcement official to tag pelts rather than any NMDGF designee as is the current regulation. When the Department released these primary proposals in print, roughly 2 weeks ago, NMCOG sought input from our Cougar Outfitters regarding their thoughts on the use of traps and snares. Overwhelmingly cougar hunters who use dogs are against traps and snares. Cougar traps are significantly larger than the current fur bearer traps being used on the public lands and hounds-man fear the potential risk of injury to their hunting dogs. NMCOG along with a number of Outfitters, experienced lion trappers, the NM Hounds-men Association, and the NMWF provided public comment in opposition to the Department proposal to allow cougar traps and snares on public lands. You can watch the full Bear and Cougar Department presentation along with the public comments at http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Webcast.aspx (fast forward to 2:52 minutes). The Cougar Rule is also currently open for public comment. Multiple Tagging of Illegal Game With One License Colonel Robert Griego provided a presentation to the Commission regarding the issue of individuals using the ability to print multiple licenses as a means to harvest illegal game. It recently came to the attention of the Department that this illegal activity is taking place and in an effort to combat this issue the Department is considering creating an "app" to assist law enforcement officers by providing real time information regarding big game harvests. The Department is also currently accepting public comment regarding this issue to determine the most effective response. Email your suggestions to Robert.griego@state.nm.us. Permit Renewal For Captive Mexican Wolves After a short presentation by Mike Phillips, Executive Director of the Turner Endangered Species Fund, and a very long Q&A session with US Fish and Wildlife representatives, the Commission denied Turner Enterprises request to renew their permit to posses and breed captive Mexican Wolves (something they have been doing since 1998). The Commission praised all of the work that the TESF has done with all of their various endangered species over the past 20 years and described that their reasons for denying the permit sat squarely with the USFWS dismal lack of management plan with respect to the Mexican Wolf recovery. Of course the USFWS will continue to breed captive Mexican Wolves at their other facilities but NMCOG was happy to see the Commission attempt to hold USFWS feet to the fire as it relates to a formal Mexican Wolf Recovery Plan. NMCOG was additionally glad to hear Mr. Phillips say that the TESF would hold no grudge against the Department for not renewing the permit. Mr. Phillips eloquently stated that Turner Enterprises does not hold the Mexican Wolves at a higher level than any of their other endangered species and that they will continue to maintain a strong working relationship with the Department. Odds and Ends The Department additionally covered a number of other agenda topics. The Commission heard presentations regarding updates to the harvest report requirements for trappers, the establishment of a new shooting range, an update on the success of ongoing efforts to eradicate aquatic invasive species, as well as the Department's plans to better utilize and reimburse volunteers. At the tail end of the meeting, during open public comment segment, the NMWF made a formal push for the Commission to open the E-plus Rule and make some substantial changes to the landowner elk permit system. NMCOG will be following this closely and will pass along additional information as it becomes available. The next meeting will be held on Saturday June 13, 2015 in Taos, NM.