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Bighorn hunters will have more options, opportunities in 2015

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, SEPT. 9, 2014 BIGHORN HUNTERS WILL HAVE MORE OPTIONS, OPPORTUNITIES IN 2015 SANTA FE – The New Mexico Game Commission adopted new rules Aug. 28 that will provide hunters planning to enter the public drawings for 2015-season bighorn sheep licenses in New Mexico with more opportunities and more choices than ever. Beginning next year, the department estimates it will make 36 bighorn ram licenses available in the annual public drawing, an all-time high. Sixteen of those licenses will be for Rocky Mountain bighorn rams. Twenty will be for desert bighorn rams, a remarkable increase from only one desert bighorn license issued in 2011. The increased licenses are thanks to successful reintroduction and management efforts by the Department of Game and Fish in partnership with the Wild Sheep Foundation, the [...]

Hunting seasons open for doves, grouse, squirrels, band-tailed pigeons; pellet guns approved for collared doves, grouse, squirrels

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, SEPT. 2, 2014 HUNTING SEASONS OPEN FOR DOVES, GROUSE, SQUIRRELS, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS; PELLET GUNS APPROVED FOR COLLARED DOVES, GROUSE, SQUIRRELS SANTA FE – Hunting seasons opened Sept. 1 in New Mexico for doves, grouse, squirrels and band-tailed pigeons, with some rule changes that provide more hunting opportunities. Beginning this year, .177 caliber or larger pellet guns are among the legal sporting arms for Eurasian collared doves, dusky grouse and squirrels. The State Game Commission approved the change Aug. 28 to give hunters more opportunities to bag those species, partly due to the ongoing shortage of .22-caliber ammunition. The Game Commission also increased the hunting season for Eurasian collared doves – an invasive, non-native species – to year-round with no bag limit. Hunters must leave one wing attached to [...]

Bear and cub captured near downtown Santa Fe

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, AUG 22, 2014 BEAR AND CUB CAPTURED NEAR DOWNTOWN SANTA FE SANTA FE – Conservation officers captured a bear and her cub Friday morning about a half-mile from the State Capitol near downtown Santa Fe. The healthy bear and her cub were not harmed during the capture and were on their way to be released in the Gila National Forest in southern New Mexico later Friday. It was the third time officers captured and relocated the female bear and cub. This spring, the bear had two cubs when they were captured near downtown Santa Fe and relocated to the Jemez Mountains. In July, the same female and one cub were captured in San Isidro and relocated to the Cibola National Forest near Mount Taylor, approximately 100 miles from where [...]

Mimbres River Ranch purchase benefits wildlife, habitat

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, AUG 8, 2014 MIMBRES RIVER RANCH PURCHASE BENEFITS WILDLIFE, HABITAT SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Game Commission recently purchased more than 1,000 acres of riparian habitat along the Mimbres River in southwestern New Mexico. The $585,000 purchase will allow the Department of Game and Fish to manage the property and its diverse wildlife habitat. “The River Ranch is an opportunity for the department to conserve valuable habitat for many wildlife species,” Department Director Alexa Sandoval said. Approximately half the purchase price came from the department’s Share With Wildlife tax-refund check-off donations, money targeted for nongame wildlife conservation. Part riparian area and part Chihuahuan desert grasslands, the River Ranch and adjoining 2,920 acres of state and federal leased lands supports a high diversity of native [...]

New bighorn sheep herd to be established in the Santa Fe National Forest

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, AUG 7, 2014 NEW BIGHORN SHEEP HERD TO BE ESTABLISHED IN THE SANTA FE NATIONAL FOREST TAOS SKI VALLEY – The Department of Game and Fish plans to reintroduce Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep into historic bighorn sheep habitat near Cochiti Canyon in the Jemez Mountains of the Santa Fe National Forest. Several dozen department staff and volunteers will conduct a capture operation Aug. 11-14 near Wheeler Peak in the Carson National Forest. The sheep will be released in the treeless burned area created by the Las Conchas Fire in 2011, which has become ideal bighorn sheep habitat. The department hopes to capture 30 to 40 adult sheep and their lambs using drop nets and then transport the sheep via helicopter to a staging area where they [...]

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Dec. 10, 2013: Special youth waterfowl hunts at Bernardo Waterfowl Area Snowmobilers reminded to register their machines before heading out this year
Dec. 9, 2013: Information sought in Alamogordo deer poaching case
Dec. 4, 2013: Expect roadblocks statewide during hunting, fishing seasons
Nov. 26, 2013: Shikar-Safari Club honors Ben Byrd as Wildlife Officer of the Year
Nov. 1, 2013: Salmon snagging season opens Nov. 8 at Heron Lake
Oct. 30, 2013: Department of Game and Fish Assistant Director R.J. Kirkpatrick steps in as director
Oct. 24, 2013: Five-state plan to protect lesser prairie chicken endorsed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service Fishing bag limits, tackle restrictions lifted on Santa Fe River Oct. 22, 2013: Toxic algae likely cause of northeastern NM elk deaths
Oct. 17, 2013: First New Mexican harvests desert bighorn sheep since delisting
Oct. 15, 2013: Late-season archery elk licenses available Oct. 30 in online sale
Sept. 27, 2013: Department to engage U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in wolf recovery program
Sept. 23, 2013: >Fish for free Saturday, Sept. 28; celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day at Fenton Lake State Park >Expect roadblocks statewide during fall hunting, fishing seasons >Game and Fish seeks citizen participation in Habitat Stamp Program
Sept. 17, 2013: Trophy bull elk found dead, poaching suspected
Sept. 10, 2013: Game and Fish sports new look this year at the State Fair
Sept. 6, 2013: Public comments sought on BLM unitization agreement
Aug. 30, 2013: Hunting seasons open Sunday, Sept. 1, across New Mexico
Aug. 28, 2013: Department investigating deaths of 100 elk in northeastern N.M.
Aug. 27, 2013: Applications open Wednesday, Aug. 28, for special bird-hunting permits
Aug. 21, 2013: State Game Commission to meet Thursday in Grants
Aug. 13, 2013: Free outdoor fun: Learn to shoot, fish and more at Outdoor Expo
Aug. 12, 2013: Bear-trap saboteur endangering neighbors in Sandia Heights
Aug. 7, 2013: Two Game Commission properties in Pecos Canyon to reopen
Aug. 7, 2013: >Partnership nourishes Rio Grande cutthroat trout habitat >Taos Young Guns recognized for outstanding sportsmanship
July 30, 2013: Lake Roberts dam improvements to begin soon
July 29, 2013: Department information and education efforts win national awards
July 26, 2013: Sportsmen’s organizations join Department fight against Terk injunction
July 24, 2013: Raton dumpster bear escapes narrow encounter with power pole
July 22, 2013: Biologists find oldest endangered Jemez Mountains salamander
July 17, 2013: Wild babies usually don’t need to be rescued, even during a drought
July 12, 2013: Department, Cibola National Forest do not support supplementally feeding bears
July 11, 2013: Freshly stocked with trout, Monastery Lake will reopen for fishing Friday
July 8, 2013: >Young boys help rescue rare Mexican spotted owl >Department officers recognized for dedicated service
July 1, 2013: >Bear attracted by birdfeeders ruins camping trip, dies >Trophy deer poacher ordered to donate $1,000 to Operation Game Thief >Three-time poacher sentenced to 364 days in jail
June 28, 2013: Meetings will address proposed changes to fishing rules
June 27, 2013: More than 2,000 youth elk licenses for sale beginning July 10
June 18, 2013: State agencies, nonprofit join forces to provide water to N.M. wildlife during drought
June 17, 2013: Department biologists receive prestigious ‘Recovery Champions’ awards
June 14, 2013: Director, senator aides discuss Department opposition to Valles Caldera legislation
June 13, 2013: Leftover deer, javelina licenses go on sale at 10 a.m. June 26
June 11, 2013: Habitat Stamp funds assist recovery of hornshell mussel, gray redhorse
June 5, 2013: >Bear enters house, attacks elderly woman >Native Rio Grande cutthroat trout rescued from Tres Lagunas Fire area
May 31, 2013: Game Commission Pecos properties closed due to fire
May 29, 2013: State hunter education teams ready to face the ‘Challenge’
May 21, 2013: State Game Commission to meet Thursday, May 23, in Roswell
May 14, 2013: Game and Fish asks court to vacate Terk decision
May 8, 2013: Planning to visit a Game Commission property? Don’t forget your license or GAIN permit
May 3, 2013: >Fire restrictions coming to state lands; >Game and Fish patrolling Commission properties
May 1, 2013: Department biologists recognized for Gila trout rescue efforts
April 19, 2013: Quick draw! Big-game hunting application results available Friday
April 17, 2013: Bear trapped in trash compaction truck
April 4, 2013: Governor signs bill extending license revocations for poaching
April 3, 2013: Expect roadblocks statewide during hunting and fishing seasons
April 1, 2013: >Be aware of wildlife, hazards when enjoying outdoors in spring >Citizens committees will meet to recommend Habitat Stamp projects
March 28, 2013: >Fishing season opens April 1; Don’t forget your new license >Draw applicants will receive receipts by e-mail Friday
March 27, 2013: Department biologist receives national conservation award
March 26, 2013: Game and Fish enrolls properties in conservation agreement
March 25, 2013: State Game Commission elects chairman
March 20, 2013: Director initiates investigation into the potential delisting of peregrine falcon from the state list of threatened & endangered species
March 15, 2013: License waiver for fishing events gains Legislature’s approval
March 14, 2013: Governor receives bill to increase poaching penalties
March 7, 2013: Eagle Nest Lake closed to ice fishing
March 6, 2013: Game Commissioner Bidegain confirmed by unanimous vote
March 4, 2013: Big-game hunters: Apply for licenses before March 20 deadline
March 1, 2013: N.M. Senate confirms three State Game Commissioners
Feb. 25, 2013: >Game Commission McClintic remembered for service to sportsmen >NASP Tournament qualifies teams for national event in Kentucky
Feb. 5, 2013: >Get the latest hunting information at Hunting and Fishing Show this weekend >Las Cruces man convicted of illegal hunting >Expect roadblocks during Barbary sheep hunting seasons
Jan. 30, 2013: Aztec officer named Wild Turkey Federation Officer of the Year
Jan. 29, 2013: Large Gila trout to be stocked in Lake Roberts
Jan. 23, 2013: Lesser prairie chicken meetings scheduled
Jan. 18, 2013: Entries sought for 2013 Prairie Chicken Festival poster contest
Jan. 14, 2013: Legislation would make trophy poaching that results in wanton waste a felony
Jan. 11, 2013: Partnership will reopen road to 20,000 acres of public hunting land
Jan. 7, 2013: Ibex hunting licenses offered for Florida Mountains
Jan. 2, 2013: Eagle Nest Lake open to ice fishing

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