New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
Public contact: (505) 476-8000
dan.williams@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG. 19, 2011:

STATE GAME COMMISSION TO MEET THURSDAY, AUG. 25, IN SANTA FE

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Game Commission will meet Thursday, Aug. 25, in Santa Fe to consider a project to restore native Rio Grande cutthroat trout to Animas Creek and to review final recommendations for the Department of Game and Fish fiscal year 2013 budget request.

The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Jemez Rooms 2-3 at Santa Fe Community College, 6401 Richards Ave., in Santa Fe. The full agenda, detailed agenda-item briefings and other information are available on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or by calling (505) 476-8008. Details of proposed rules and opportunities to comment about them also are available on the website.
 
If approved, the Animas Creek project would be among several the Department has conducted to restore the native trout to watersheds in the state in an effort to keep the fish off the Endangered Species List. Pure strains of Rio Grande cutthroats currently occupy only 10 percent of the species historic watersheds in New Mexico and southern Colorado.

Other agenda items include:

• A proposal to reserve two elk licenses for nonprofit wish-granting organizations.

• An update on proposed changes to the Guide and Outfitter Registration Rule to accommodate recent legislation – and public comments received.

• A proposal to make as many as three oryx hunting authorization available to the Wounded Warrior Project for distribution to persons injured while serving in the U.S. armed forces.

• A presentation about excessive deer numbers in the Silver City area and options to resolve issues affecting communities.

• A presentation of options to redistribute some off-range oryx hunts to accommodate recent legislation affecting licensing.

• A presentation of possible modifications to the Habitat Stamp Program funding formula.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact Sonya Quintana, (505) 476-8030. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible forms.

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Tune in to New Mexico Game and Fish TV:
“New Mexico Wildlife”
6:30 a.m. Saturdays on KASA Channel 2, Albuquerque
6:30 p.m. Sundays on KENW, Portales
7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KRWG, Las Cruces