I'm amazed at how my young kids can practically recite stories back to me before they know how to read.  Or how they can recall entire scenes from their favorite movies.  It becomes immediately apparent that their minds work like little video cameras, recording and learning from every sense they possess.  For better or worse.  I have to remind myself to be the model of the person I want them to grow up to be every waking moment. 

It dawned on me a few nights ago, that this presents a wonderful opportunity to instill the life experiences I have had while in the field.  What a memorable way to allow them to gain that knowledge without having to learn it the hard way.  I was blessed with a father who has a passion for upland bird hunting.  Most of the knowledge I learned in that area was from him.  But big game was another world I never pursued until just a few years ago.   So I'll admit I'm at the bottom end of the learning curve, and the lessons for the most part have to be learned the hard way. Last year I came close to getting my first turkey, and although I'm happy to just be in the field, one of these days I'm going to bag one!  Needless to say my kids can tell I'm getting excited for the upcoming turkey season.  My daughter is six this year, and although it will be a few more years before she can carry a shotgun herself, she has accompanied me on several hunts this past fall.  She demands to go hunting with me now. So when bed-time rolled around the other night, I related my unfruitful turkey hunt last year, and lessons learned from it.  It's now a nightly ritual.  I'm running out of stories to tell, so it's a good thing my kids don't mind re-runs!  I imagine some of the great stories passed down from the old days to our ancestors were of great hunts and lessons to be learned.  I intend to continue the tradition with my kids, and someday maybe grand-kids too. So instead of the normal bedtime story tonight, how about spinning a tale of a past hunt for your kids.  You never know, you might ignite a fire in them that will last a lifetime.

The Mark Jones Invitational Spring Turkey Hunt will be held Saturday, Apr. 17-18 in the Pecos Wilderness. The Holyghost Group Area has been reserved Friday night and Saturday night for the hunt. You may arrive at anytime. The lower gate to the Holyghost campground will be open for the season. The gate at the group shelter will be closed, with the lock in place but not secured. You will need to open the gate to proceed to the group shelter campground. Fees for camping and rental of the shelter will be split between all, when we have final head count onsite. Bring your friends, family and co-workers. The wilderness is huge so we have room for everyone.

ABOUT HOLYGHOST

Set at 8,400 feet, Holyghost is 13.3 miles North of Pecos via NM 63 and 2.3 miles west of Terrero. Nestled in a quite meadow surrounded by wilderness, the area is home to flocks of wild turkeys, blue grouse, herds of elk, deer and solitary bear and lion. The campground offers great fishing for rainbow trout. The Holyghost camping area has trailhead access, picnic tables, fire rings, toilets, drinking water and the group shelter. RVs with a maximum length or 32 feet can access the campground. For more information on Holyghost and the Pecos Wilderness, visit the Santa Fe National Forest, Pecos Ranger District webiste at www.fs.fed.us/r3/sfe/recreation/districts/pecos.

TURKEY REGULATIONS

Spring turkey season opens April 15 and runs through May 10. The bag limit is a bearded turkey. Another bearded turkey may be taken with the purchase of a second tag. The beard and a patch of feathers surrounding the beard must remain on the bird until it is delivered to the place where it will be eaten or placed in cold storage. To hunt you will need to buy your NM Turkey Tag/Permit $28, Second Tag $10 (Optional), Habitat Stamp $5 and Habitat Management Access Validation $4. You will also be charged a Vendor Fee of $1. You may purchase your license, stamps and tag from any Department office or license vendor, such as Wal-Mart. For more information on hunting rules and regulations, visit the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

MEALS

While at the Mark Jones Invitational, you will need to plan to provide your own meals. On Saturday night, we traditionally hold a potluck style dinner. Everyone is encouraged to make your favorite camp dish and join the feast.

DON’T FORGET

At a minimum, hunters should plan to bring: Shotgun, Shot Shells (#4 or Turkey Shot), Warm Clothes (camouflage or earth toned clothing suggested), Turkey Calls, Camping Gear and Meals.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For additional information contact:

Mark Jones, (505) 220-9437 or email, mjones@unm.edu.   

Lance Cherry, (505) 620-6883 or email, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHALK CREEK CAMPGROUND
Event attendees will camp on their own and many will even stay in local hotels. If you are looking for a campsite with all the ammenities Chalk Creek is the one.
POB 39, 11430 CR 197
Nathrop, CO 81236-0039
TOLL FREE: 888-395-8830
FAX: 719-395-8337 • PH: 719-395-8301
www.chalkcreek-campground.com

WANT TO RAFT THE RAGING ARKANSAS?
GO WITH NOAH’S ARK
Noah’s Ark is a Christian company with a heart for ministry. We encouraging you to use their services for a truly exciting whitewater adventure. For more information on rafting and rates, visit Noah’s Ark online, www.noahsark.com.

TAKE A HIKE
Last year, we had a great time hiking Mt. Huron.  The planning for this year began before we finished the hike!  Typical for us altitude junkies.  Be warned, hike one, and you might become addicted.  Lead by Jim and Jennie Johnson, this year’s 14er promises to be another memorable hike. C4C has chosen Mt. Sherman, a 14,036’ peak in the Tenmile-Mosquito range.   Sherman is 10 miles west of Fairplay and 8 miles south of Mt. Democrat (14,148′) and Mt. Bross (14,172′).  The hike will begin early on Friday morning. From the trailhead, you will start at 12,000′ and hike ~2.6 miles to the summit. The trip is 5.25 miles round trip.  If we can’t make it to the 12,000′ trailhead due to snow, the hike will obviously be longer.

Directions from Fairplay: Drive just over a mile south on U.S. 285 and turn right onto County Road 18. Drive 10 miles to a large parking area at 11,250′. This is the Leavick site. There is a large mine building on the right before the parking area. The road starts to get rough after this point but passenger cars can slowly drive another 1.5 miles before the road gets harsh. There are a couple of small pull-offs between 11,700′ and 11,900′ and more parking before a gate near 12,000′. The gate is usually closed. In winter, the road is usually plowed only to 11,100′ which is one mile below the Leavick site. Source: www.14ers.com.

To learn more about fourteeners visit online, www.14ers.com. For more information about the trip contact Lance Cherry, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org. For more information about the hike contact Jim Johnson, jim@crosshairsforchrist.com.

Make plans to attend the NMSO banquet in July 2010, at the Manuel Lujan Building on the New Mexico State Fairground (EXPO NM) in Albuquerque. Details of the event will be available in the spring of 2010. For more information contact Garland Peek at gpeek@sandiabaptist.org, 505-292-2713 or contact the Evangelism/Discipleship Team at sportsmenoutreach@bcnm.com, 505-924-2314 or to learn more online, www.bcnm.com.

Bring:

- License

- ID

- HUNTER’S EDUCATION CARD. (REQUIRED, UNLESS YOU WERE BORN BEFORE JULY 1957)

- A 12ga. (or 20ga.) shotgun, 2-3/4″ shells and #6 to #7-1/2 lead shot is a pretty std. load.

- Blaze orange is recommended, as swinging on game is the number one cause of hunting accidents in KS.

- Warm clothes, the colder, the better, it could be 60 degrees and sunny, or 20 degrees and whiteout conditions w/ a foot of snow on the ground.  We’ll hope for the latter, minus the whiteout part.

- Chaps, or upland type hunting pants are recommended, there are plenty of ‘pokeys’ that will penetrate regular denim fairly easily.  If you don’t have anything like this, let us know.

- It’s not uncommon to hike 10 miles in a day’s hunt.  Although it’s generally level ground, a good pair of boots are highly desirable.

KS Regulations can be found here at: kdwp.state.ks.us/news/content/download/14625/100362/file/KS%20Hunting%20Regulations%2009.pdf.

For more details, contact Jim Johnson at 505-573-0302 or email jim@crosshairsforchrist.org

All hunters, regardless of age, must have a valid hunting license ($20-$62.50), a Habitat Management and Access Validation ($4), a Habitat Improvement Stamp ($5), a Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) Number ($1), Waterfowl hunters 16 years or older need a federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Duck Stamp $15) and free Bernardo and La Joya Wildlife Management Area (WMA) Permit (available only at Department offices or online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us/.)

Nontoxic shot is required for hunting any species with a shotgun on all open Wildlife Management Areas and State Game Commission lands. Nontoxic shot includes steel, bismuth-tin, tungsten-matrix, tungsten bronze, tungsten-iron (2 types), tungsten-nickel-iron, tungsten-iron-copper-nickel, iron-tungsten-nickel, tungsten-bronze, tungsten-tin-iron, tungsten-polymer, tungsten-tin-bismuth, tungsten-tin-iron-nickel shot.

The daily bag limit is 6 ducks, no more than than 5 mallard (only 2 may be female, Mexican-like ducks are part of the mallard bag limit), 2 redhead, 2 wood duck, 2 scaup, 2 hooded merganser and 15 American coot. Pintail and Canvasback may not be taken until Dec. 18, 2008 – Jan. 25, 2009. The Light Goose daily bag limit is 20 and includes snow, blue-phase snow and Ross’s goose. Canada goose season opens Jan. 3-25, 2009 may only be hunted by free special goose permit only, available only at

Department offices or online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us/.

For more information contact Lance Cherry, 505-620-6883 or by email, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org.

C4C DUCK HUNT ___________________________________________

The following information is provided for Belen, Valencia County, New Mexico (longitude W106.8, latitude N34.7):

SUNRISE: 6:53 am   SUNSET: 4:57 pm 

LEGAL SHOOTING HOURS: 6:23 am – 1:00 pm

“But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you;” - Job 12:7

CROSSHAIRS for CHRIST presents the Fifth Annual New Mexico Big-Game Hunters Draw Information Banquet at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Mar. 6, 2010 at Soul Rio Church located at 2003 Southern Blvd SE, Suite 128-131, in Rio Rancho, NM. Dinner will be served at 6:00 p.m. The program begins at 7:00 p.m. Tickets cost $15 per person and includes grub and giveaways.

Information will include:

•  How to Succeed in the Deer and Elk Draw and Changes in 2010
•  Stories from the Field
•  Women in the Outdoors
•  Hunt videos from the 2009-2010 season

Family and friends are encouraged to attend. This event is sure to be fun, informative, fun, entertaining and most of all, fun.

In 2009, members served a full house, as over 150 members and guests attended the annual information fest.

Please RSVP so we can plan appropriately. You can buy tickets online from the C4C SHOP or mail a check. Checks should be made payable to: Crosshairs for Christ and may be mailed to Lance Cherry, 4200 Cuba Road NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114. Other arraignments may be made by contacting, Lance Cherry, 505-620-6883 or by email, lance@crosshairsforchrist.org.

This fishing report has been generated from the best information available from officers and anglers.

Conditions encountered after the report is compiled may differ, however, as stream, lake and weather conditions alter fish and angler activities.

NORTHEAST AREA

CHARETTE LAKES: Fishing for trout was slow-to-fair using power bait, worms and salmon eggs. Fishing for perch was slow-to-fair using worms.

CIMARRON RIVER: Water flow below Eagle Nest Lake as of Monday was 9.7cfs. Trout fishing was fair using pheasant tail nymphs, hares ears, San Juan worms and salmon eggs. We had no reports from the Gravel Pit Lakes.

CLAYTON LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. Fishing pressure continued to be very light.   

CONCHAS LAKE: Fishing was fair using sweet beavers, brush hogs, senkos and lipless crank baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Fishing for white bass was fair using crank baits and slab spoons. Fishing was fair using live bait for catfish. We had no reports on other species.  

COYOTE CREEK: Trout fishing was slow.

EAGLE NEST LAKE: The kokanee snagging season opened this past week but with very little action. Expect it to pick up over the next week or two as the weather cools. Fishing was generally slow for all species but there were a few trout caught by anglers using power bait, salmon eggs and Pistol Petes. Fishing for perch was slow-to-fair using worms.

LAKE MALOYA/LAKE ALICE: Trout fishing at both lakes was fair-to-good using power bait and home made dough baits during the day and flies and Pistol Petes in the evening hours.   

MCALLISTER LAKE: Closed due to high golden algae content.

MAXWELL LAKE 13: Fishing was slow for all species.      

MONASTERY LAKE: Trout fishing was slow with just a few fish caught by anglers using salmon eggs and Pistol Petes.

MORPHY LAKE: Trout fishing was good using assorted power baits and salmon eggs from the bank and pheasant tail nymphs and olive wooly buggers from boats.     

PECOS RIVER: Water flow near the town of Pecos on Monday was 36cfs. Trout fishing here and on Holy Ghost Creek and the Mora was fair using small streamers, night crawlers, salmon eggs, humpys, flash back pheasant tail nymphs and prince nymphs.

RED RIVER: Water flow below the hatchery was 59cfs. Trout fishing above and below the hatchery was fair using wooly buggers, San Juan worms and salmon eggs.

RIO COSTILLA: Trout fishing was fair-to-good using pheasant tail nymphs and parachute adams.       

RIO GRANDE: The water flow Monday morning at the Taos Junction Bridge was 228cfs. Trout fishing was fair using wooly buggers and night crawlers. Fishing was slow with just a few smallmouth bass taken on spinners and jerk baits. We had no reports on other species.  

SHUREE PONDS: We had no reports from anglers this week.    

SPRINGER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

STORRIE LAKE: Fishing was fair using salmon eggs and power bait for trout. Fishing for all other species was slow.

STUBBLEFIELD LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.    

UTE LAKE: Fishing was fair-to-good using spinner baits, crank baits, jigs, creature baits, senkos and worms for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. The bass were scattered and taken at depths of 2-to-25 feet. Fishing was fair using live bait for walleye. Fishing was fair using live bait and liver for catfish.  Fishing was fair using spoons and live bait for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

NORTHWEST AREA

ABIQUIU LAKE: Fishing continued to be sporadic for both bass and walleye. A few smallmouth bass were taken on crank baits and spinner baits. A few walleye were caught by anglers using crank baits, spoons and spinner/gulp worm rigs. Fishing for all other species was slow.

BLUEWATER LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using large flies, jerk baits and in line spinners for tiger musky. A few trout were taken on power bait. We had no reports on other species.    

BRAZOS RIVER: We had no reports from anglers this week.  

CANJILON LAKES:  Fishing was slow. Fishing pressure was very light.        

CHAMA RIVER: Monday morning water flows below El Vado and Abiquiu were 697cfs and 375cfs respectively. Trout fishing at both locations was slow-to-fair using night crawlers and spinners.

COCHITI LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using lipless crank baits for northern pike and a few smallmouth bass. Fishing was fair using liver, night crawlers and shrimp for catfish. We had no reports on other species. Fishing pressure was very light.   

EL VADO LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.

FENTON LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs and power bait.

HERON LAKE: Fishing for rainbow trout and lake trout was slow.

JACKSON LAKE: Trout fishing was fair using salmon eggs, power bait and spinners.

JEMEZ WATERS: Water flow on the Jemez as of Monday morning was 16cfs near Jemez Springs. Fishing on the Jemez and the Rio Guadalupe was fair using worms, ant and spider imitations, beetles, parachute adams and salmon eggs for trout. On the Valles Caldera National Preserve waters the last day to fish the East Fork is October 24. For more info or for reservations to fish call 1-866-382-5537 or visit on line at www.vallescaldera.gov.  

LAGUNA DEL CAMPO: We had no reports from anglers this week.         

MANZANO LAKE: Trout fishing was slow.         

MCGAFFEY LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.  

NAVAJO LAKE: Fishing was good using lipless crank baits, spinner baits, jerk baits and plastics for northern pike We had several good reports from anglers fishing the main lake, the San Juan arm and the Pine arm. Fishing was slow-to-fair using drop shot/worm rigs, senkos, tubes and crank baits for smallmouth bass and largemouth bass. Kokanee snagging was slow with only a few fish taken near the Pine arm marina. Expect the snagging to pick up over the next week or two. We had no reports on other species.  

RAMAH LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species. 

RIO PUEBLO: Water flow near Penasco as of Monday was 8.1cfs. Trout fishing was good using prince nymphs, worms and salmon eggs.

SAN JUAN: Water flow below Navajo Lake as of Monday morning was 746cfs. SPECIAL NOTE: Effective September 15, the entire stretch of Quality Waters became Catch and Release only waters. Trout fishing through the Quality Waters was good using emergers, dead chickens, wooly buggers, San Juan worms, sparkle worms, parachute adams, zebra midges and hair jigs. Fishing through the bait waters was good using hair jigs, spoons, jerk baits, salmon eggs, garlic cheese and night crawlers.

SANTA CRUZ LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.      

TINGLEY BEACH: Fishing at the Youth and Central Ponds was good using small spoons, salmon eggs and power bait. Fishing for catfish was fair using hot dogs and stink bait. Fishing for bluegill was good using worms and small hot dog chunks. Fishing for trout in the Catch and Release Pond was slow. SPECIAL NOTE: The bag limit for trout on the Youth and Central Ponds has been changed from 5 per day to 4 per day and the possession limit has been changed from 10 trout to 4 trout.

SOUTHWEST AREA

BEAR CANYON: Fishing was slow for all species.   

BILL EVANS LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.       

BURN LAKE: We had no reports from anglers this week.  

CABALLO LAKE: Fishing was slow with just a few white bass taken on crank baits, grubs, minnows and spoons. We had no reports on other species.

ELEPHANT BUTTE: Fishing was fair using jigs and spoons at 20-to-28 feet for white bass. There were also several white bass caught at night by anglers using minnows. Fishing was fair using ikas, senkos, sweet beavers, creature baits and crank baits for largemouth bass and smallmouth bass. Fishing for striped bass was slow with just a few taken on umbrella rigs, swim baits, live bluegill and live shad. Fishing for catfish was fair using minnows, cut bait, dough bait and liver. Fishing for bluegill was fair using worms and small jigs.

ESCONDIDA LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.  

GILA RIVER: Water flow on the Gila as of this past Monday was 45cfs. Fishing on the Forks was slow with a few trout taken on small streamers and small bead head prince nymphs. Fishing pressure was very light.

GLENWOOD POND: Fishing was good using salmon eggs and power bait for trout.  

LAKE ROBERTS: Fishing was fair-to-good using salmon eggs, power bait, cheese, spinners and spoons for trout. We had no reports on other species.

PERCHA DAM: We had no reports from anglers this week.   

QUEMADO LAKE: Fishing was fair using salmon eggs, salmon peach and garlic power bait and spoons for trout.  Fishing was fair using jerk baits, spoons and in line spinners for tiger musky.

RIO GRANDE: Water flow below Elephant Butte on Monday was 62cfs.  Fishing below Caballo was slow-to-fair using minnows and liver for catfish and minnows for white bass. We had no reports on other species.

SNOW LAKE: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using salmon eggs.

SOUTHEAST AREA  

BATAAN LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.  

BONITO LAKE: Trout fishing was fair-to-good using salmon eggs, corn power bait and garlic cheese. A few fish were also taken on Pistol Petes and spinners.  

BOSQUE REDONDO: We had no reports from anglers this week.   

BRANTLEY LAKE: Anglers are to practice catch and release for all fish here as high levels of DDT were found in several fish.  We had no reports from anglers this week. 

CARLSBAD MUNICIPAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.            

GRINDSTONE RESERVOIR: Trout fishing was slow-to-fair using salmon eggs, power bait and spinners. 

JAL LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.          

LAKE VAN: Fishing for catfish was slow-to-fair using liver and night crawlers. We had no reports on other species.  

OASIS PARK POND: Fishing was slow for all species.          

PECOS RIVER: Water flow on Monday below Sumner Lake was 98cfs. Fishing was slow.

PERCH LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.       

RUIDOSO RIVER: Water flow at Hollywood on Monday was 8cfs. We had no reports from anglers this week.

SANTA ROSA LAKE: Fishing was slow-to-fair using chigger craws, sweet beavers, senkos and lipless crank baits for smallmouth and largemouth bass. We had no reports on other species.

SUMNER LAKE: Fishing was slow for all species.    

STOCKING

Crews stocked 19,835 rainbow trout averaging 10.4 inches in the following waters: BLUE HOLE PARK POND, BLUEWATER LAKE, BONITO LAKE, BRAZOS RIVER, CHAMA RIVER-Above and below El Vado and below Abiquiu, COSTILLA CREEK, EAGLE ROCK LAKE, LAKE ROBERTS, PECOS RIVER-Villanueva to I-25, SAN JUAN RIVER-Below Quality Waters, SNOW LAKE & STORRIE RESERVOIR.

In addition, crews stocked 65,575 fingerling bluegill in LAGUNA MADRE and STUBBLEFIELD LAKE and 49,411 fingerling Rio Grande cutthroat trout in the CHAMA RIVER below El Vado and the RIO GRANDE-Gorge above Pilar.

CATCHES OF THE WEEK:

Navajo Lake: On October 2nd and 3rd, Andrew Orlicky caught five northern pike ranging from 22-to-34 inches. He was using Rat-L-Traps and size 14 Rapala husky jerks.

Ute Lake: On October 3 Danny Campbell of Friona, TX caught a 7.39 pound largemouth bass. He was using a jig. On October 4, Larry VanLeer of Dumas, TX caught a 5.5 pound channel catfish. He was using a minnow. On October 4, Marley Cairns age two and a half of Amarillo, TX caught a 3.75 walleye with the help of her parents. She was using a minnow.   

If you have a catch of the week story or just want to tell us about your latest New Mexico fishing experience, send it to us at fishforfun2@hotmail.com. We may include your story in our next report. For catches of the week include name, date, location, type of fish, length and bait used.

_______________________________________________________________

The weekly fishing report is Published by Bill Dunn for the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish Public Affairs Division, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504 – (505) 476-8000

The 2009 New Mexico State Duck Calling Contest will be held at 10:30 a.m. on September 20, 2009 at Expo New Mexico, NM State Fairgrounds on the lawn in front of the Natural Resources Building. The Albuquerque Chapter of Ducks Unlimited, The Duke City Duck Club Albuquerque Chapter of Delta Waterfowl, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and Buck Gardner Calls will sponsor the event this year. State Fair parking and Entry Fees will NOT be waived.

Expo New Mexico (State Fairgrounds)

300 San Pedro NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108

Registration opens at 8:30 am & closes at 9:30 am 
Duck Calling starts at 10:30 am

•     New Mexico State Junior Open Duck Calling Championship: Open to all callers under the age of 17. Three rounds, 90 second routines, competition style. $15 entry fee per caller.

•   New Mexico State Women Open Duck Calling Championship: Open to all female callers. Three rounds, 90 second routines, competition style. $15 entry fee per caller.

•   New Mexico State Duck Calling Championship: The contest is open to all New Mexico residents that will attain the age of seventeen (17) as of the hour of the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest. All participants must bring proof of residency and agree to represent the State of New Mexico at the World’s Championship in 2009, should they win. Should the winner fail to represent the contest, the 2nd place winner can represent the contest at the “Worlds.”  Three rounds, 90 second routines, competition style. $30 entry fee per caller.

•   New Mexico State Open Team Meat Duck Calling Championship: This is a mallard duck calling 2-person contest, Open to All. Contest will be judged on the best team callers working ducks in from medium range, 250 yards or so. Leave the ringing hail calls alone and make the high end loud greeters. There is no limit on the number of teams a caller can call on. No calls barred. Three rounds, 90 second routines, no rules. $30 entry fee per team.

The first place prize for each category in this year’s event will be 25% of Entry Fees from each category and a Buck Gardner Call. The winner must be able to attend the World Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas on Nov. 28, 2009.

The event chairman or a committee member must receive the registration fees payable to Ducks Unlimited no later than 9 am M.S.T. on the day of the event.
Registration forms can be obtained from the NM State Coordinator, Carole Shores, by calling (505) 275-0497 or email DuMaDuck@aol.com or Duke City Duck Club Chair, Lance Cherry, by calling (505) 620-6883 or email duck@cherrymediagroup.com.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER AT THIS EVENT

PLEASE CONTACT JAIME CHERRY, mallardmom@cherrymediagroup.com

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