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Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Applications Extended Until May 3, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 16, 2024: Off-Highway Vehicle Grant Applications Extended Until May 3, 2024 SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is accepting applications for its 2024-2025 Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) Grants through May 3, 2024. These grants are available to not-for-profit organizations and federal, state and local government agencies. Entities can apply for up to $20,000 per project. Recipients may use grant funds for projects that enhance recreational use of side-by-sides, ATVs, motorcycles and snowmobiles on public lands. Projects promoting OHV safety or mitigating impacts from OHV use also qualify. Law enforcement agencies are eligible for special grant funds up to $15,000 to conduct OHV patrols, control paved road use of OHVs and enforce the provisions of the OHV Act (66-3-1001 through 66-3-1021 NMSA). Previous grants have funded the purchasing of the necessary equipment to clear and maintain the redeveloped Elephant Rock Trail in the Carson [...]

Project proposals sought for Share with Wildlife funding in FY 2025

As of April 1, 2024, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s (Department’s) Share with Wildlife program will begin accepting proposals for projects with a planned start date on or after January 15, 2025.  All project proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Friday, May 31, 2024. The Department’s Share with Wildlife program was initiated in the early 1980s and welcomes proposals for wildlife-focused projects taking place in New Mexico in four categories: habitat enhancement, biological and ecological research, wildlife rehabilitation, and wildlife education.  The program receives an average of about 30 proposals annually and has consistently funded approximately 9 - 11 projects each year.  This year, the Department is aiming to fund fewer, larger projects that may extend for 2 years maximum (see details below). Project topics of particular interest to the Department, details about proposal format, and submission directions are listed in the Call [...]

Game Commission to meet April 19

SANTA FE – The State Game Commission will meet as a quorum, in-person on Thursday, April 18, 2024, for a tour of the Glenwood Fish Hatchery, 9 Hatchery Road, Box 67, Glenwood, New Mexico 88039, beginning at 3 p.m. Following the tour, the Commission will hold an executive session closed to the public to discuss litigation and property. A quorum will be present at Wrangler’s Bar and Grill, 2005 US-180, Silver City, New Mexico 88061, beginning at 7 p.m. for dinner. The State Game Commission has also scheduled a hybrid, public meeting on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the Grant County Business and Conference Center, 3031 US-180, Silver City, New Mexico 88061, and virtually via Zoom, beginning at 8:30 a.m. Public education activities will be available concurrent with this meeting, beginning at 10 a.m. The commission also invites the public to share their thoughts on conservation in New Mexico during the meeting’s [...]

A Serious Case of Oryx Poaching

In January 2022, Socorro District Cpl. Jake Baulch received an anonymous tip. A hunter had information about fraudulent hunting activity involving the owner of Wing River Outfitters, Jared Piepkorn. The hunter knew people who booked hunts with Piepkorn. He sold more than $30,000 worth of private-land oryx hunts, yet conducted several of those hunts on White Sands Missile Range and other public lands in south-central New Mexico. The White Sands Missile Range is a military base and restricted area for hunting. Oryx hunting is only allowed during controlled hunt dates. Most of the hunts that take place there are once-in-a-lifetime hunts with a limited number of tags allocated per license year, creating significant demand. Baulch suspected that multiple oryx must have been harvested illegally by nonresident hunters there under Piepkorn’s guidance. But when he looked Piepkorn up, he discovered that Piepkorn wasn’t even registered as a guide or outfitter [...]

Game wardens’ work brings poachers to justice

The articles in this special edition of New Mexico Wildlife are just a small example of the criminal cases and issues that game wardens face when protecting New Mexico’s wildlife. These cases can take months – or even years – to solve in order to hold criminals accountable for their actions. They could not be solved without the hard work, dedication and professionalism of the men and women serving in the Department of Game and Fish’s Field Operations Division.    The Department is currently looking for the next generation of game wardens. The people working in this role can be found patrolling the lands and waters of New Mexico day and night. If you are interested in pursuing a career in law enforcement, the Department is currently accepting applications through March 31, 2024. Visit https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/enforcement/career-advancement/ for more information on the hiring process, requirements, pay scales and training schedule.  [...]

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Game Commission to meet Feb. 26 in Albuquerque

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 22, 2016: Game Commission to meet Feb. 26 in Albuquerque SANTA FE - The New Mexico Game Commission will have a special meeting Friday, Feb. 26, in Albuquerque to hear a request by the Turner Endangered Species Fund to import five Mexican Wolves and temporarily hold them at its Ladder Ranch facility in southern New Mexico. The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Albuquerque Marriott, Acoma Room, 2101 Louisiana Blvd. The Turner Endangered Species Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Mexican Government wish to hold the wolves at the Ladder Ranch before they are exported to a facility in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, for eventual release into the wild in Mexico. The temporary stay at the Ladder Ranch would allow the wolves [...]

Outdoor Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show in Albuquerque this weekend

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 17, 2016: Outdoor Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show in Albuquerque this weekend ALBUQUERQUE – The annual New Mexico Outdoors Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show is back at the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque this weekend. There’ll be plenty to see and do at this year’s event hosted by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, including a return engagement of the exciting fishing simulator. Admission is free to all licensed anglers, hunters and trappers. Youths under the age of 18 get in free and it’s just $3 for everyone else. Come see the latest equipment for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. New models of off-highway vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats and kayaks will be on display. And as always, outfitters, guides and conservation organizations will be on [...]

Deadline Wednesday to apply for bear, turkey permits

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 9, 2016: Deadline Wednesday to apply for bear, turkey permits SANTA FE –The deadline to apply for 2016-2017 bear and turkey permits is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. Draw results will be available Feb. 24. Successful applicants must purchase a bear or turkey license and applicable stamps after April 1. Hunters can apply online, by telephone or in person at Game and Fish Department area offices. Turkey hunters are reminded to submit harvest reports from last season’s hunt by Feb. 15 to avoid paying an $8 late fee. Rules and information about applying for 2016-2017 hunting licenses is available online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Printed editions are available at department area offices. For more information or help in applying for the draw, please call the information center at (888) 248-6866. [...]

Comments sought on public-private land-swap hunting access agreements

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: Information Center (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us State Land Office Contact: Emily Strickler, (505) 827-3650 estrickler@slo.state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Feb. 5, 2016: Comments sought on public-private land-swap hunting access agreements SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comments about agreements that would open some private lands to public hunting in exchange for closing some areas of State Trust land. The "unitization" agreements among the State Land Office, the department and several landowners are designed to benefit sportsmen and landowners. Under the agreements, some areas of State Trust land would be treated as private property and would be closed to hunting. The private lands covered under the agreements then would be open to public hunters. Unitization agreements give hunters access to private land while providing landowners greater flexibility in maintaining ranching operations on [...]

New rules approved to combat aquatic invasive species

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact: Customer service (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Jan. 27, 2016: New rules approved to combat aquatic invasive species SANTA FE – All boats soon will be subject to inspection and possible decontamination before launching in New Mexico waters under new rules adopted to combat the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species. The new rules, approved by the State Game Commission at its Jan. 14 meeting, will take effect Feb. 12. Changes to the AIS rules include: Mandatory watercraft inspection required any time an inspection station is set up and in operation. Mandatory inspection and, if necessary, decontamination of all out-of-state registered watercraft or watercraft re-entering the state of New Mexico. Fourteen-day advance notification of intent to transport watercraft 26 feet long or longer into New Mexico. All boaters are required to “pull the plug” [...]

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