Enforcement News

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt: (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 24, 2017: N.M. game warden recognized as Officer of the Year SANTA FE – Shikar Safari Club International has named New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Captain Tim Cimbal the 2017 New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Officer of the Year. Cimbal received the award at the department’s third annual Governor’s Special Hunt Auction and Awards Banquet on Feb. 18 in Albuquerque. Cimbal, 36, currently is stationed in Albuquerque. He is a 12-year veteran of the department and holds a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science Policy and Management from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Shikar Safari Club International annually presents awards to wildlife law enforcement officers in all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces and territories. The club is dedicated to [...]

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt: (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Dec. 28, 2016: Tips sought in bighorn poaching case off N.M. 518 near Sipapu ski area SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is requesting the public’s help in identifying suspects involved in the poaching of a bighorn sheep off N.M. 518 near Comales Campground on Dec. 22. A bighorn sheep was killed that morning sometime between 9:20 a.m. and noon on the hillside off the east side of the highway just above the pull off where a blue Adopt-a-Highway memorial sign dedicated to Sonny James Marquez stands. The pull-off is between mile markers 55 and 56 and just after the bridge crossing the Rio Del Pueblo while traveling north toward Penasco from the Sipapu ski area between Taos and Mora [...]

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt: (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Dec. 28, 2016: Farmington conservation officers recognized for service at Navajo Lake State Park SANTA FE – New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officers from the Farmington district received recognition for their assistance at Navajo Lake State Park last year. Conservation officers conducted joint patrols with state park rangers in search of alcohol impaired boaters, checked angler licenses and commercial guide equipment and assisted with crowd control throughout the year. “Their support went above and beyond what was expected and contributed to the overall success of Navajo Lake State Park last year,” said Christopher Smith, superintendent of Navajo Lake State Park. Sgt. Matt Anthony said the department’s five Farmington district officers spend a lot of time conducting law enforcement and public outreach efforts [...]

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt: (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, DEC. 1, 2016: Tipsters help bust poacher SANTA FE – A poacher has been convicted based on an anonymous tip provided to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Operation Game Thief hotline. Cody Davis, 37, of Dickinson, N.D., recently pleaded no contest before Bernalillo Magistrate Delilah Montano-Baca to unlawful hunting, killing and possession of a deer during a closed season and waste of game. Davis, formerly of Lindrith, was ordered to pay $432 in court fees and donate $3,000 to the Operation Game Thief fund. His jail sentence was deferred upon successful completion of 90 days unsupervised probation. Game and Fish will also seek civil restitution for the loss of the trophy-sized buck. Department conservation officers began investigating Davis following a Dec. 8, 2015, anonymous [...]

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt: (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, DEC. 1, 2016: Game wardens find motorist stranded overnight on remote forest road RUIDOSO – New Mexico Department of Game and Fish game wardens helped save a 63-year-old Alto woman stranded overnight in her car on a remote, rugged road in the Lincoln National Forest. The driver recently got lost while traveling in a 2013 Chevrolet sedan on Forest Service Road 496 near the Capitan Mountains Wilderness. While traversing the rocky road she punched a hole in her oil pan and then got stuck in a sandy wash. The woman called 911 on her cell phone and state police radio dispatchers determined her general location, but then her cell phone battery died. Searchers couldn’t find her that evening and she spent the night in her car without [...]