Officer of the Month

Last Updated: 02/07/08

Officer McCleery handling a black bear with assistance from local deputies

February 2008

Name:  

Will McCleery

Duty Station:  

Las Cruces, NM

Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units:  

SW Area Depredation Coordinator

Education:  

Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Science from NMSU

Length of Service:  

5 Years & 10+ months

Specialty or Interest:  

Evaluating/Coordinating Game Proof Fence projects and working hands on with big game mammals.

Current Projects/Assignments:

Evaluating Private Land Oryx Ranches, Evaluating/Coordinating Game Proof Fence projects and Assisting with hunter and angler patrols

Best Thing About the Job:  

The diversity of the position, its ever changing quality and working in the great outdoors.

Most Common Question People Have:  

What number of hunters have been called to hunt population reduction oryx and will I be called to hunt this season?

Answer:

We typically call 12-20 hunters each month between April and March depending on requests for hunters needed to reduce oryx numbers in problem areas. During the summer months, June through August (maybe even into September), we do not typically call any oryx depredation hunters due to the extreme heat. Depending on the number of requests to remove problem oryx, a hunter could get get called to assist in population reduction if you are the within the first hundred hunters. Hunters must be willing to go as at a moments notice.  

Contact Information:

Phone number 505-532-2100 and e-mail: will.mccleery@state.nm.us