Enforcement News
Here is the latest in conservation enforcement news & press releases from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. For Operation Game Thief there is a list of solved cases and cold cases. And see the Featured Officer page for Officer of the Month and Career Advancement news.
Department-wide news can be found under Home → NMDGF News.
Officers kill puppy-eating cougar
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Clint Henson, (575) 445-2311 Public contact: (888)-248-6866 clint.henson@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 29, 2015: OFFICERS KILL PUPPY-EATING COUGAR RATON – Department of Game and Fish officers killed a cougar in a Raton neighborhood Thursday night after it had attacked a puppy on a woman’s front porch. The woman had called 911 saying she saw a small cougar attack her puppy. She later told officers that she had lost another puppy a few days before and also was missing several cats. Officers found cougar tracks and blood near the woman’s porch and called a local houndsman, who quickly treed a cougar near the home. A subsequent necropsy confirmed that the young female cougar recently had eaten a puppy. Conservation Officer Clint Henson said the cougar might have been drawn to the woman’s house because a neighbor was feeding feral cats. “Leaving uneaten [...]
Clovis man pays $8,110 for catching 160 times his limit of trout
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 8, 2015: CLOVIS MAN PAYS $8,110 FOR CATCHING 160 TIMES HIS LIMIT OF TROUT CLOVIS – A Clovis man convicted of illegally possessing more 1,600 trout – more than 160 times the limit -- agreed to pay $8,110 in civil penalties after accepting a plea agreement. Bounchanh Bounsombath, 63, was arrested in May 2014 after Department of Game and Fish conservation officers seized the trout during a search warrant at Bounsombath’s home. Bounsombath admitted to catching all of the fish at Green Acres Lake and Denis Chaves Pond in Clovis. Most of the trout were in one-gallon zip lock bags containing two to four trout per bag. All of the trout had been salted and dried before being frozen. Under the plea agreement in [...]
Eight Clovis men convicted of unlawful hunting
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Clint Henson, (505) 445-2311 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 clint.henson@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 10, 2015: EIGHT CLOVIS MEN CONVICTED OF UNLAWFUL HUNTING RATON – Eight Clovis men will pay penalties and fines totaling $7,189 after pleading guilty to numerous poaching and other charges, including killing a deer and turkey out of season and hunting without licenses. Department of Game and Fish officers caught the men hunting on the Elliott Barker Wildlife Area north of Cimarron on Nov. 10, 2014, when the area was closed to hunting. The men appeared before Raton Magistrate Warren Walton on Feb. 4 and pleaded guilty to 13 of an original 34 charges, which included unlawful hunting and unlawful killing and illegal possession of a deer and turkey. Penalties included fines, court costs, civil penalties and donations to Operation Game Thief. A hunter who had been scouting [...]
Expect roadblocks statewide during fall hunting seasons
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Mark Madsen, (575) 624-6135 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 mark.madsen@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 28, 2014 EXPECT ROADBLOCKS STATEWIDE DURING FALL HUNTING SEASONS SANTA FE –The Department of Game and Fish will conduct roadblocks throughout the state during fall hunting seasons to collect harvest data and to detect wildlife law violations. Bear season starts in mid-August with deer, elk, and pronghorn seasons starting shortly thereafter. Small game seasons are also scheduled to start on Sept. 1. At roadblocks, conservation officers will also check for compliance with the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Act and the Aquatic Invasive Species Control Act. Drivers of vehicles hauling wood products will be asked to produce documentation as required by the Forest Conservation Act. Department officers may be assisted by other law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Police [...]
Department of Game and Fish officers busy over holiday
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Rachel Shockley, (505) 476-8071; cell: (505) 470-6832 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 rachel.shockley@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 10, 2014 DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH OFFICERS BUSY OVER HOLIDAY SANTA FE – Department of Game and Fish law enforcement officers spent the Fourth of July weekend patrolling lakes and recreation areas throughout the state in an effort to keep people and New Mexico’s wildlife safe. Officers contacted more than 2,000 anglers and people riding off-highway vehicles to check for licenses and permits. They also assisted State Parks officers, responded to bear complaints, and enforced OHV safety rules and fishing bag limits. Officers issued more than 200 citations over the weekend, a small percentage of those checked. Most of the citations were for fishing without a license. Fishing violations can result in fines of $50 to $500 and up to six months in jail. [...]