New Mexico Department of Game and Fish |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 25, 2010: |
GAME COMMISSION TO CONSIDER PROPOSED HUNTING RULE CHANGES GAME COMMISSION TO CONSIDER PROPOSED HUNTING RULE CHANGES GALLUP -- The State Game Commission will consider establishing new rules for the 2011-2014 hunting seasons for turkey, upland game and javelina, and discuss proposals and public comments about the 2011-2014 elk, bighorn sheep, exotic species and waterfowl seasons at its meeting June 3 in Gallup. The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In Calvin Hall Auditorium, Room 248, of the University of New Mexico Gallup Campus, 200 College Road, in Gallup. 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. The Department of Game and Fish final hunting recommendations for turkey, upland game and javelina follow a public comment period that began in February. Recommendations include opening Lesser Prairie Chicken Wildlife Areas to javelina hunting, eliminating the early grouse season in Unit 45, changing the fall turkey season to Sept. 1-30 for archery and Nov. 1-30 for shotguns, and increasing the statewide spring turkey season bag limit to two turkeys in most areas. More details about the proposals and the timeline of the Department's three-part approach to establishing hunting rules for the 2011-2014 seasons are available on the Department Web site. The Commission also will hear a presentation about public comments and development of hunting seasons and rules for elk, bighorn sheep, exotic species, waterfowl and the Open Gate program. The Department's final recommendations on those rules will be presented to the Commission in July. Proposals and public comments for deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn and the A-PLUS program will be posted on the Department Web site in July. Other agenda items for the June 3 meeting include:
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. YOUNG GRANTS ARCHERS WIN STATE CHAMPIONSHIP GRANTS -- Young archers from Los Alamitos Middle School in Grants captured the 2010 New Mexico Archery in the Schools championship this spring, besting 15 other schools, including many high schools. The team will receive its trophies and other prizes Thursday at the school's end-of-year ceremonies. Khalid Monawar and Demetruis Gutierrez led the Los Alamitos team, finishing first and second, respectively, in the boys division. Monawar scored 282 out of a possible 300. Gutierrez scored 281. In the girls division, Mariah Gonzales and Starr Spenser finished second and third for the winners with respective scores of 269 and 257. Kyra Laumbach of Springer Middle School claimed first place in the girls division with a score of 274. The top two finishers in the boys and girls divisions received compound bows. Albuquerque Institute for Math and Science, a charter high school, finished second in the team standings, followed by Raton Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School, Raton High School, Berrendo Middle School and Las Cruces High School. Complete tournament results are available on the National Archery in the Schools Web site, www.nasptournaments.org. Overall, 318 students competed in the tournament, conducted as a "virtual" tournament in which the actual competition was conducted at individual schools, and then scores were submitted to tournament coordinators. The state tournament was New Mexico's second since the Department of Game and Fish began coordinating youth archery instruction and competition through the National Archery in the Schools Program. The Department first brought the program to 15 high schools and middle schools in 2008. Since then, the program has expanded to 38 schools and more than 4,500 participants. More than 30 schools and youth organizations are on a waiting list. It costs about $3,000 to outfit a school or organization with bows, targets, backstops and other equipment and get a program started. The Department splits the initial cost with participants and provides training for archery instructors. Many schools incorporate the program into existing physical education classes. This year's tournament sponsors included the Northern New Mexico Chapter of Safari Club International, and Juandell Eidson of the Eidson Ranch, who donated an antelope hunting authorization for the promotion of youth shooting sports. Randy Sanders, owner of Shotokan Karate in Albuquerque, donated trophies. Schools or organizations interested in participating in the National Archery in the Schools program can find more information on the Department Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or by contacting Brian Guzman, (505) 231-42375 or brian.guzman@state.nm.us. ### |
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