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, FEB. 20, 2012:

GAME COMMISSION TO MEET THURSDAY, FEB. 23, IN HOBBS

HOBBS – The New Mexico Game Commission will hear discussion and proposals related to young hunter and angler recruitment, river otters and other issues at its first meeting of 2012 on Thursday, Feb. 23, in Hobbs.

Thursday’s meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in meeting room A301 of the Hobbs City Hall Annex, 200 East Broadway, in Hobbs. 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.

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.

Agenda items include:

• Discussion of a proposed mentor hunter program that would encourage participation by more young hunters by allowing them to hunt with firearms with an adult mentor before completing a hunter education class. The proposal is among several the Department is considering to attract more youths to the sports of hunting, fishing and shooting.

• An update about the Department’s current Conservation Education programs and plans for an updated statewide initiative to introduce New Mexico youths to core concepts of wildlife conservation and management.

• A presentation about the Habitat Stamp Program and proposals for distributing funds designated for wildlife habitat improvement projects on U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands statewide.

• Review of the Commission’s approval in 2006 to reintroduce river otters in the Gila River watershed. The reintroduction plan has been put on hold because of endangered fish issues and concerns raised by the Arizona Game and Fish Department and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

• An update of actions by the 2012 New Mexico Legislature that affect the Department.

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 confirmed 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.

###