WILDLIFE AREAS REOPEN
SANTA FE – Recent rain storms across New Mexico have allowed the Department of Game and Fish to reopen several Wildlife Management Areas that were closed because of high fire danger.
The reopenings coincide with a decision Thursday by the State Forestry Division to lift fire restrictions on nonmunicipal, nonfederal and nontribal lands statewide. The U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management also have lifted fire restrictions in many areas of the state. Visitors are encouraged to check with the appropriate agency, call the fire restrictions hotline, (877) 864-6985, or visit www.nmfireinfo.com for the most current information.
Wildlife Management Areas now open to the public include:
- Pecos Canyon properties, including Monastery Lake and the Bert Clancy, Terrero, Mora and Jamie Koch camping and fishing areas.
- Fenton Lake State Park in the Jemez Mountains will reopen at 6 a.m. Saturday under Stage II fire restrictions: no campfires, no charcoal fires, no smoking except within an enclosed vehicle or building, no chainsaws, no internal or external combustion engines without a spark-arresting device, no welding, no off-highway vehicles.
- Seven Springs Fish Hatchery and kids pond north of Fenton Lake in the Jemez Mountains.
- Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Area along the Middle Rio Grande bosque composed of Bernardo Waterfowl Area, Belen Waterfowl Area and La Joya Waterfowl Area.
- William S. Huey Wildlife Area north of Artesia.
- Rio Chama Wildlife Area for fishing, camping, hiking and horseback-riding near Chama.
- Humphries Wildlife Area for hiking and horseback-riding near Chama.
- Sargent Wildlife Area for fishing, hiking and horseback-riding near Chama.
- Colin Neblett Wildlife Area near Eagle Nest will be open for hiking and hunting. Cimarron Canyon State Park has reopened for fishing and camping under Stage II fire restrictions: no campfires, no charcoal fires. Please check with the park, (575) 377-6271, for updates and more information.
- Urraca Wildlife Area north of Questa.
- Barker Wildlife Area northwest of Cimarron.
- Red River Fish Hatchery campground and parking area.
- Rio de los Pinos Fishing Area northwest of Tres Piedras.
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Tune in to New Mexico Game and Fish TV:
“New Mexico Wildlife”
6:30 a.m. Saturdays on KASA Channel 2, Albuquerque
6:30 p.m. Sundays on KENW, Portales
7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KRWG, Las Cruces |
