Here is a summary copied from the Bowsite from a buddy who talked with RJKirkpatrick before the G&F meeting today. Very interesting. We need to unite on this or we will be left out!
Ok guys we have some work to do...
I was fortunate enough to talk with R.J. Kirkpatrick, Chief of the Wildlife Managent Division for the state of NM for about 15 minutes before his presentation today.
In a nutshell, here is the G/F's viewpoint;
1. NM has been overhunting the elk herds overall for the past 6-8 years.
2. Hunting pressure cannot maintain it's current rate and have the G/F meet it's primary objectives, which are; Provide an exceptional hunting experience, increase trophy quality, and meet harvest objectives.
3. Elk survey results are now being realized as inaccurate for some units because of migratory patterns. Studies are done during the wintering months and don't reflect elk numbers in the fall. They want to change the survey dates to September.
4. The decrease in tags will allow the herds to stabilize while the G/F gets their act together.
5. Bowhunters are taking the brunt of the tag loss, because and I quote, "there is more interest in Rifle and muzzloader hunts".
6. There has been some kind of change in Private Landowner allocations I don't understand. It seems many units have been reevaluated for acerage numbers and landowners are taking away public tags.
Mr. Kirkpatrick (a bowhunter himself) said he would be open to setting up a meeting with local bowhunters to discuss numbers and issues with the proposal.
I also met with Curtis Rhodes PhD, who is leading the Sandia Crest Bowhunters Association. He said their membership is 400 strong and is willing to take the forefront in coming up with a new proposal for the G/F to consider.
The proposal will be finalized in Tucumcari at the end of September, with an additional meeting in Santa Fe at the end of August. We have a short amount of time to unite, get a new proposal together and present it to Mr.Kirkpatrick.
Here's what I propose we do now, once they post the numbers on the website again (which, by the way, was SUPPOSED to be up this morning);
Send emails to Curtis Rhodes at
[email protected] and voice your support of the SCBA and a new proposal. Give him some input. If needed, maybe we could start a petition to get backing numbers up. As I said, Curtis is representing 400 bowhunters, the more the better.
Send Emails to R.J. Kirkpatrick at
[email protected] and voice your opinion there. He needs to know that there is more interest from bowhunters.
I personally don't mind a tag reduction if it is equally done between weapon types and landowners and all of it based on success rates. IMO the Muzzleloader hunters are making a HUGE impact on the herds due to the technology advances and the timing of their hunts. I expressed this to R.J. and he agreed, but it is a large rock to turn.
What the G/F fails to realize is that increasing the ratio of tags in the smokepole favor will only impact the herds further. Decreasing rifle/muzzle tags could lead to increased bow tags which reduces the threat of poaching and will allow more hunters afield with reduced impact to the herds.
I have gotten some local businessmen involved that are stakeholders here also, they will also be involved. We may call some kind of meeting to get all interested parties together. I will keep you posted on anything that comes up.
Bowhunter Unite! Now is the time.
You can contact me personally at
[email protected]
