New Mexico Wildlife Federation News and Upcoming Events

Submit Public Comments in Support of Our Monuments!

A recent executive order calls for “evaluating” our monuments. Without feedback from sportsmen and women, we could see the reduction or rescinding of the monuments we love to hunt and fish! The Interior Department is accepting public comment about the designations. Make sure the Interior Department and Secretary Ryan Zinke knows how important these large-scale landscapes are to our wildlife and watersheds. We must stand together against this attack, and we ask that you please help us keep public lands in public hands. We encourage you to submit a comment today, stating the cultural, scientific, recreation, and economic importance of these places.

The comment period runs until July 10th – stand up for Rio Grande del Norte and Organ Mountains Desert Peaks today!

Upcoming Events:

• June 3rd: 6th Annual Aldo Leopold Kids Fishing Derby: Head to Lake Roberts this Saturday for free fishing day and a day of fun for the kids! Mora National Fish Hatchery is planning on stocking native Gila trout for the event. This may be the year for a world record Gila trout on the end of your line! Certified scales will be on site to officially weigh your trophy. Get out and get fishing this weekend!
• June 8th: Fishing with Kids from the YMCA in Albuquerque – Volunteers Needed! On June 8th we’ll be partnering with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to take kids from the local YMCA fishing at Tingley Beach. Extra hands are needed for this event as we expect a lot of kids. Email nmwildlife@nmwildlife.org if you’re interested in helping out!
• June 9 – 11th: Outdoor Adventure Family Camp: Join the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at Fenton Lake State Park for a weekend of basic fishing, archery, kayaking, and camping safety lessons, a visit to the trout hatchery, and free fishing for kids 17 years and younger! For more information contact Kevin Holladay at kevin.holladay@state.nm.us.
• June 16th: Sportsmen and Women’s Meeting Farmington: Join us for our first ever sportsmen and women’s meeting in Farmington! We’ll have a cookout and discuss public lands, hunting, fishing, and the issues that matter to you! The meeting will take place at Upper Rio Vista Park located at the corner of North Huntzinger Ave and E 25th St, 87401. The park is located at the top of a dirt hill. Join us from 5 – 7 pm!
• June 22nd: Game Commission Meeting, Ruidoso: The next meeting of the NMDGF Game Commission will take place in Ruidoso at the Inn of the Mountain Gods. Check the agenda on the NMDGF website.

Road Closure in Chaves County

On May 18th, in an unprecedented move, the Chaves County Commission voted to close the primary access road to Hunting Unit 32 and thousands of acres of public lands. The now-private 5-mile stretch of Felix Canyon Road served as the primary public access point to thousands of acres of recreational areas and public land, which hundreds of local sportsmen and women frequent every year, the home to trophy mule deer and Barbary sheep. We are currently looking at possible next steps in rectifying this attack on your public lands and will keep our members posted. If you have questions or comments about this issue, please send us an email at nmwildlife@nmwildlife.org.

Game Commission Report Back May Meeting

Learn about what happened at the most recent meeting of the NMDGF Game Commission! Issues addressed include trapping, stream access, and the upland game rule. Read the recap and email us your feedback.

Submit Comments During the Gila National Forest Scoping Period

The Gila National Forest is currently revising its 30-year-old land management plan. This presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect and restore important wildlands and wildlife habitat, improve outdoor recreation opportunities, and help ensure that species like the native Gila Trout survive. The Gila includes some of the largest, wildest, and most remote public lands that support wildlife habitat and recreation opportunities for sportsmen and women. Once home to our founder, Aldo Leopold, the Gila National Forest provides critical habitat for at-risk species, is home to diverse and unique riparian areas, and has hundreds of miles of backcountry hiking trails. Written comments are due June 12 and may be submitted to the Gila National Forest, Attn: Plan Revision, 3005 E. Camino del Bosque, Silver City, NM 88061 or via email to gilaplan@fs.fed.us.

Sign the Petition – Tell the BLM to Protect Habitat in Otero Mesa

Right now the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Las Cruces Field Office is working on the Tri-County Resource Management Plan Supplement (Tri-County RMPS) and deciding how they want to manage Otero Mesa in the future. Sign our petition today urging the BLM to preserve and conserve wildlife habitat and the backcountry hunting areas and to prohibit oil and gas drilling where there are prime opportunities for hunting and recreation.

Turkey Pelts!

In April, we asked our members to send us your cured and salted turkey pelts. We are still looking for pelts, so please mail them to our office if you have any! If you are looking for pelts for religious purposes, we will try and distribute pelts as evenly as possible once we see how many we receive.
You must include a donation certificate with your pelt. Any pelts sent without the filled out certificate will be turned over to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.