New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
Public contact: (505) 476-8000
dan.williams@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 22, 2010:

NEW FISHING RULES, ANTELOPE, WHITE PEAK ON COMMISSION AGENDA

SANTA FE -- The State Game Commission will meet Thursday, Feb. 25, in Santa Fe to consider several changes to the state's fishing rules and hear reports on pronghorn antelope management and proposed land exchanges in the White Peak area.

The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Jemez Rooms 2 and 3 at Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Ave. The full agenda, detailed agenda-item briefings and other information are available on the Department of Game and Fish Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us or by calling (505) 476-8008.

Proposed changes to fishing rules to begin April 1, the start of the 2010-2011 season, include increasing bag limits in some waters to facilitate native trout restoration, reducing the bag limit of striped bass to two fish per day, and allowing anglers to take one 40-inch or longer tiger muskie per day from Quemado or Bluewater lakes. A complete list of proposed rule changes is available on the Department Web site.

Other agenda items include:

• A briefing on development of a new Antelope Private Land Use System (A-PLUS) to allocate pronghorn antelope licenses on private lands.

• State Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons has requested to make a presentation about the status and prospective future actions associated with land exchanges in the White Peak area of Colfax and Mora counties.

• A presentation about the Department's process and schedule for rule development for the 2011-2012 and subsequent hunting seasons for big game, turkeys, migratory birds and upland game. The Department will brief the Commission about public participation opportunities in the development process of new rules.
  
  
• A presentation of the Department's financial statements and audit report for fiscal year 2009.

• A proposal to open the initial 90-day public comment period on the first draft of the 2010 Biennial Review of the state's listing of threatened and endangered species.

The State Game Commission is composed of seven members who represent the state’s diverse interests in wildlife-associated recreation and conservation. Members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Current members are Chairman Jim McClintic, Vice-chairwoman Sandy Buffett, Tom Arvas, Gary Fonay, Kent Salazar, M.H. “Dutch” Salmon, and Thomas "Dick" Salopek.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact Sonya Quintana, (505) 476-8030. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible forms.

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