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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, DEC. 10, 2012:

STATE GAME COMMISSION TO MEET THURSDAY, DEC. 13, IN LORDSBURG

LORDSBURG – The New Mexico Game Commission will meet Thursday, Dec. 13, in Lordsburg to discuss proposals to eliminate the use of carcass tags on harvested big-game and turkeys; and to require all big-game and turkey hunters to report their harvest annually.

The Commission meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 13 in the Lordsburg Civic Center, 313 E. 4th St., in Lordsburg. 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 are available on the website.

Agenda items include:

• A proposal to require all big-game and turkey hunters to report their harvest annually to remain eligible to purchase or apply for licenses the following year.

• A proposal to eliminate the use of carcass tags on all big-game species and turkeys. Eliminating carcass tags would facilitate implementation of the Department’s paperless, web-based licensing system.

• A report on the Department’s cougar management efforts in desert bighorn sheep ranges.

• A presentation about the Department’s habitat improvement efforts, funding, and impacts on wildlife and wildlife habitat on a landscape scale.

• A proposal to allow the use of artificial lights to take raccoons at night.

• A proposal to consolidate and better define approved public uses of Department lands.

• A report on progress to implement a completely web-based licensing system by April 2014.

State Game Commission meetings are broadcast live over the Internet and can be accessed from Gov. Susana Martinez’s website, http://www.governor.state.nm.us/Webcast.aspx. Information about how to view the streaming video is available on the website.

The State Game Commission is composed of seven members who represent the state’s diverse interests in wildlife-associated recreation and conservation. Members are appointed by the governor and subject to confirmation by the state Senate. Current members are Chairman Jim McClintic, Vice-chairman Thomas “Dick” Salopek, Tom Arvas, Bill Montoya, Scott Bidegain, Paul M. Kienzle and Robert Espinoza Sr.

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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