Habitat Stamp Program
The New Mexico State Game Commission (SGC), under appropriate authorities, adopted NMAC 19.34.6, establishing the Public Land User Stamp. Funds collected through the sale of these stamps are used to plan, develop, and coordinate habitat conservation and rehabilitation projects on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service (USFS) managed lands that benefit fish and wildlife populations. These efforts result from a partnership between the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF), the BLM, and the USFS.
Support wildlife conservation:
Click here to purchase a Habitat Stamp.
To reach the Citizen Advisory Committee or inquire on how to submit an application to be on the Committee, please email PublicLandUserStamp@dgf.nm.gov.
The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) is a volunteer working group with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish that represents the Habitat Stamp Program. Members of the CAC work with program and project managers from the Department, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and US Forest Service (USFS) to represent New Mexico public interest as it pertains to fish and wildlife habitat restoration projects that occur on BLM and USFS lands throughout New Mexico. Members of the CAC are encouraged to support community outreach and work as a group to prioritize restoration project opportunities with Department, BLM, and USFS program partners. Any member of the public is eligible to apply during an open application period. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish reviews applicants and the State Game Commission appoints advisors from this pool. The next application period will be in late 2025.
Citizen Advisory Committee Members
Lief Ahlm
Term April 2024-March 31, 2029
Appointed at-large
Native New Mexican chili lover. Retired from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in 2011 and then worked for 8 years at Vermejo Park Ranch. Fisheries / Wildlife Biologist with MS in Aquatic Biology. I have lived and traveled in all four quarters of the state.
Jeff Arterburn
Term April 2021-March 31, 2026
Fish/Wildlife Habitat Protection: Demonstrated history of involvement in wildlife and habitat protection issues and whose activities or occupation are not in conflict with wildlife and habitat advocacy.
Jeff Arterburn is an outdoorsman and conservationist who is passionate about fly fishing and our native Gila trout and Rio Grande Cutthroat trout. He started the Gila/Rio Grande Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Las Cruces NM and works on stream habitat restoration in watersheds impacted by fire. He recently retired after 32 years as a Professor of Chemistry & Biochemistry at New Mexico State University leading research in cancer drug discovery and supports outreach and education to NM youths and college students.
James Cain
Term April 2021-March 31, 2026
District 3: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Sandoval, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties
Originally from Tempe, Arizona, James Cain currently resides in Las Cruces where he works as research wildlife biologist leading studies on large mammal ecology in the southwestern U.S. In his spare time, James enjoys traveling, camping and hunting with his family.
Mark Cadwallader
Term April 2024-March 31, 2029
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties
Retired USFS and BLM. 34 year career in Rangeland Management, RX Fire, Wildlife Management, Partnership Coordinator, and wildland fire. Current Board member on the South Central Mountain Resource and Development Council.
Manuel L’esperance
Term April 2024-March 31, 2029
Farm and Ranch: Manage and operate a farm or ranch that contains at least two species of wildlife on that part which is deeded land requiring licensing prior to legal pursuit under the provisions of Section 17-3-2 NMSA 1978.
Ron Loehman
Term April 2024-March 31, 2029
Appointed at-large
Ron Loehman moved to Albuquerque with his family in 1982 to take a position as a research Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories. His interests in environmental issues, wetlands, cold water streams, riparian habitat, and fly fishing led him to become Conservation Chairman for New Mexico Trout (www.newmexicotrout.org) He and his wife own a 30-acre property on the lower Rio Guadalupe that they are restoring as native plant and wildlife habitat.
Mark Mattaini
Term April 2024-March 31, 2029
District 3: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Sandoval, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties
Mark Mattaini is a lifetime hunter and angler, and a state board member in the New Mexico chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. He spent his youth in Minnesota, then in rural Alaska for much of the 70s and 80s. Mark spent 25 years on faculty at Columbia University and the University of Illinois Chicago, focused on social welfare, community development, and systems science. He currently lives in Paguate Village, Laguna Pueblo, with his wife (a tribal member).
John Pearce
Term April 2021-March 31, 2026
District 5: Bernalillo county
Art Vollmer
Term April 2021-March 31, 2026
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe and Torrance counties
Upcoming Meetings
- Next public meeting anticipated in February / March. Date and location TBD
Full, unedited recordings of the public meetings are available on the department’s YouTube channel.
- Prioritized Projects
- Past Meetings
Documents
| MONTH | ACTIVITY |
|---|---|
| January (Public Meeting) | CAC Orientation for new members. (If needed) |
| February/ March (Public Meeting) | Annual update meeting to discuss currently funded projects and projects that are in development. |
| June | New projects for CAC review are emailed to CAC members and uploaded to the website. |
| July (Public Meeting) | Projects are presented to the public and CAC in public meeting(s). |
| August (Public Meeting) | Annual CAC project prioritization meeting. CAC discussion on important landscapes, types of projects, and species of interest. |
| September | Annual Report uploaded to the website and emailed to CAC. |
| Quarterly | Notable status updates of prioritized projects will be emailed to CAC. |
| Ongoing | Project opportunities are collaboratively developed between the agencies on an ongoing basis. As projects are finalized with IP Managers, they will be included in the next prioritization cycle. |
| Every Public Meeting | CAC advice will be solicited at each public meeting. |
Required Stamp Areas
Areas the Habitat Stamp is Required/Not-Required
Habitat Stamp Cost: $10
A Habitat Stamp is required, in addition to the proper license, to fish, hunt, or trap on US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and US Forest Service (USFS) lands and waters in New Mexico. Please see the Current Year Hunting Rules and Information Booklet for complete definitions about Habitat Stamp Possession Rules.
Areas the Habitat Stamp is Required
The stamp is required on the following federal lands:
- Carson National Forest
- Cibola National Forest
- Coronado National Forest
- Gila National Forest
- Lincoln National Forest
- Santa Fe National Forest
- Kiowa National Grasslands
- All BLM properties (except those in Game Unit 28)
Areas the Habitat Stamp is Not Required
The stamp is not required on the following lands:
- County lakes, streams and properties
- Indian pueblos and reservations
- Municipal lakes, streams and properties
- NM Department of Game and Fish big game and waterfowl areas; and department fishing areas not located on USFS lands
- NM State School Trust lands
- Private lands
- US Army Corps of Engineer lakes and properties
- US Bureau of Reclamation lakes and properties
- US Fish and Wildlife Service refuges
- US military installations
The following lists point out some specific public areas where the stamp is not required.
Northwest New Mexico
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Northeast New Mexico
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Southwest New Mexico
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Southeast New Mexico
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