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, JAN. 9, 2009:

DEPARTMENT OFFERS ONLINE COUGAR EDUCATION, IDENTIFICATION COURSE

SANTA FE -- The Department of Game and Fish is offering an online Cougar Education and Identification Course and an accompanying quiz to encourage hunters, guides and houndsmen to help ensure that cougar hunting is an activity they can continue to enjoy.

The online course focuses on how to distinguish male, female and sub-adult cougars, and also includes information about cougar habitat, behavior, hunting rules, human-cougar issues, and state management objectives. The course and accompanying online exam was developed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife, which requires all cougar hunters to have passed the exam before legally hunting cougars in the state.

The Department is asking hunters, guides, outfitters and houndsmen to:

• Contact the Department toll-free, (877) 950-5466 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us to learn about management goals, the number of cougars allowed to be harvested, and the female subharvest limit before hunting in any Game Management Unit or Zone.

• Take plenty of time to determine a cougar's gender and make an informed choice before harvesting the animal.

The online course, interactive quiz and more information about cougar hunting in New Mexico can be found on the Department Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Information also is available by calling toll-free, (800) 862-9310.

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