C4C JULY NEWS BRIEFS

IN THE NEWS…

 

NM Wildlife Officer Of The Year

PECOS – Phil Howes, the Department of Game and Fish conservation officer stationed in Pecos, has been named New Mexico Wildlife Officer of the Year, a prestigious award sponsored by the conservation organization Shikar-Safari Club International. Howes, 40, has been a conservation officer in Pecos for nine years, working with the community to promote wildlife management and law enforcement. His day-to-day duties include horseback patrols in the Pecos Wilderness, monitoring the Pecos bighorn sheep herd, and educating the community about coexisting with bears and other wildlife. Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Each year, the club sponsors an award for the Wildlife Officer of the Year in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations. Shikar-Safari is recognized worldwide for its efforts in the protection, enhancement and preservation of wildlife, and has placed particular emphasis on endangered and threatened species through the promotion of enforcement of conservation laws and regulations.

 

OHV Laws Enforced As Program Moved To Game and Fish

SANTA FE – As of July 1, The Department of Game and Fish became the lead agency for handling the Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) Program.  An Off-Highway Vehicle is defined as any motorized vehicle designed specifically for off-highway travel, including all-terrain vehicles (ATVs, often called four-wheelers), snowmobiles, dirt bikes and go-carts.

 

State residents are required to register all OHVs through the Motor Vehicle Division if the vehicles will be operated on public lands. Nonresidents can purchase temporary permits from the Department of Game and Fish.

 

The law prohibits any riders under age 6 from operating an ATV on public land. The law also includes specific regulations for riders younger than age 18. Riders under age 18 must:

 

>Wear an approved, securely fastened helmet.

>Wear approved, protective eye wear.

>Never carry a passenger, even on OHVs designed for two persons.

>Complete a certified OHV course and obtain a safety permit.

>Be visually supervised when operating an OHV, unless they are:

-Age 13 or older with a valid motorcycle license.

-Age 15 or older with a valid driver’s license.

 

Department of Game and Fish officers will be assisted by officers with the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Police and county sheriff’s departments during the statewide OHV education and compliance efforts.

 

For more information about the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act, please visit www.B4uRide.com. For information about the off-highway motor vehicle program, please call the Department of Game and Fish at (505) 476-8140.

 

NM Wildlife TV Show Returns

SANTA FE – Tiger muskies, Mexican wolves and fall fishing on the Rio Grande are among the topics being covered in August by New Mexico Wildlife, the video magazine now televised by the Department. Using a name familiar to newspaper and magazine readers for decades, the Department strives to illustrate the great outdoor opportunities available in the state. The program is scheduled to be broadcast at 6:30 a.m. on KASA Fox 2 from now until Dec. 26. In August the program will broadcast the following segments:

 

Saturday Aug. 1

Learn to identify the state’s four species of quail, survey Bluewater Lake for giant muskies, create “Make Do Green Chili Stew” and explore the Guadalupe Scenic Byway in southeastern New Mexico.

 

Saturday Aug. 8

Experience fly fishing on the Rio Grande and winter bass fishing at Ute Lake, use mules to pack Mexican wolves into the Gila Wilderness and bake sourdough biscuits in a Dutch oven.

 

Saturday Aug. 15

Take a guided elk hunt in the Mount Taylor area, bring back the Zuni bluehead sucker from near extinction, absorb the beauty of La Frontera Scenic Byway in northeastern New Mexico and bake a Cowboy Calzone.

 

Saturday Aug. 22

Trap and relocate Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, hunt quail on opening day in southeastern New Mexico, enjoy an award winning restoration project and learn how to marinate wild game meat.

 

Saturday Aug. 29

Celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day, cast for 18-inch rainbows at Tingley Beach, learn what it takes to restore quail habitat and make some award-winning salsa.

 

Segments of New Mexico Wildlife also are available 24-7 on Myoutdoortv.com/.

 

Black Bears Are On The Move Around Los Alamos

LOS ALAMOS – Department officers have already trapped and relocated four bears and continue to respond to many reports of bears running around the Los Alamos community. With very little spring moisture, the bears are moving down into the foothills and bordering communities of Los Alamos in search of food.

 

Comanche Creek Restocked With Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout

More than 5,000 native Rio Grande cutthroat trout are swimming in Comanche Creek and its tributaries, contributing to a healthy population of New Mexico’s state fish and beckoning anglers to enjoy some of northern New Mexico finest fishing opportunities and scenery. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish stocked the cutthroats into the river July 2 as part of an ongoing effort to restore pure-strain native trout to more than 150 miles of streams and 25 small lakes in the Rio Costilla watershed.

 

Disabled Veterans Eligible For New, Discounted Hunting And Fishing License

SANTA FE – Starting July 1, service-connected disabled veterans who are New Mexico residents will be eligible to buy an annual combination fishing and small-game hunting license for $10. The license normally costs $33. The special license was approved by the 2009 New Mexico Legislature. It is available to any New Mexico resident service-connected disabled veteran who presents a “Veteran Administration awards letter,” at a Department of Game and Fish office in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Las Cruces or Roswell.

 

Enforcement To Increase For Off-Highway Vehicles Statewide

SANTA FE – New Mexico law enforcement agencies will conduct roadblocks, saturation patrols and safety blitzes statewide in an effort to educate the public and check for compliance with the requirements and safety provisions of the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act.

 

Please Don’t Pick Up Deer Fawns  Or Elk Calves

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish receives numerous calls each year from concerned individuals who find what they think are orphaned or abandoned deer fawns and elk calves. Some people pick up the animals and take them to local veterinarians, zoos or their local Game Department offices. While there is no intention of harming the young animals, people need to realize that picking up these babies greatly decreases their chances of survival.

 

Tingley Beach Sees New Bag And Possession Limit Changes For Trout

ALBUQUERQUE – The number of anglers using the lakes at Albuquerque’s Conservancy Park (Tingley Beach) has increased considerably since the park’s reconstruction. To more equitably distribute fish among anglers, the State Game Commission, with input from City of Albuquerque, has changed the bag limit from 5 trout to 4 trout and the possession limit from 10 trout to 4 trout for the Children’s and Central Ponds.  The new regulations went into effect June 15, 2009.

 

Reward Offered For Information On Deer Poaching Near Ft. Sumner

FT. SUMNER – The Department is offering a reward for information about the poaching of a deer southwest of Fort Sumner. The carcass of a mule deer buck was found dumped off the N.M. 20 Bridge over Yeso Creek. The head, backstraps and quarters had been removed. Officers believe the buck was killed and dumped off the bridge sometime over the weekend of June 6-7.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS…

 

NM Outdoor Expo

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

AUG. 22 & 23

Shooting Range Park, Albuquerque, NM

Contact NMDGF (505) 222-4731 or (505) 222-4700 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us

 

State Game Commission Meeting

9 a.m. – 5 p.m

AUG. 20

State Bar of New Mexico, 5121 Masthead NE, Albuquerque, NM

Contact NMDGF (505) 476-8008 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us

 

100 year Celebration of Aldo Leopold

Aldo Leopold house in Tres Piedras

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

AUG. 28

Contact: Officer Greg Medina (575) 737-5434 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us

 

Annual C4C Dove Hunt

SEP. 1

Sunrise

Rio Puerco Open Gate Property

Contact: Lance Cherry (505) 620-6883, lance@crosshairsforchrist.com

 

National Hunting and Fishing Day

SEP. 26

All Day

Fenton Lake State Park

(State Park fees will apply)

Contact: Brian Guzman (505) 231-4375 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us