New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Southeast Area Operations Division
Media contact: Mark Madsen (575) 624-6135
mark.madsen@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 6, 2013:

PUBLIC COMMENTS SOUGHT ON BLM UNITIZATION AGREEMENT

ROSWELL – Public comments are being sought on the proposed unitization of Bureau of Land Management lands on the Felix River and Felix Canyon ranches in southwestern Chaves County. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Pecos District of the BLM,  Felix River and Felix Canyon Ranches have proposed the unitization agreement.

A public meeting has been scheduled for Sept. 25, 2013. The meeting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Artesia Public Safety Complex, 3300 West Main Street, room W148, No. 2. Department and BLM personnel will be present to take public comments and answer questions.

The proposed unitization agreement is not permanent and must be renewed annually.
The proposed agreement closes certain portions of BLM land in exchange for opening private property to hunters, and also allows legal access to additional BLM lands. The agreement only affects deer and Barbary sheep hunters; it does not affect small-game hunters, trappers, hikers, wildlife photographers or any other user of BLM lands. The proposed agreement gives hunters more access to several miles of private property for deer and Barbary sheep hunting.

Public comments about this BLM unitization agreement are being solicited by the Department and BLM. Public comments will be accepted through Friday, Oct. 4, 2013. More information is available by contacting the Department’s Roswell office at (575) 624-6135. Written comments may be mailed to the Department of Game and Fish, 1912 W. 2nd. Street, Roswell, NM, 88201, or by email, george.farmer@state.nm.us.

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