Road Blocks

joesikora · Aug 25, 2017

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New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Public contact: Information Center, (888) 248-6866
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
[email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, AUG. 25, 2017:
Expect roadblocks statewide during hunting seasons
SANTA FE ? The Department of Game and Fish will conduct roadblocks throughout the state during fall hunting seasons to collect harvest data and to detect wildlife law violations.
Hunting seasons are underway or soon will begin in some parts of New Mexico. For more information, please consult the department's Hunting Rules & Information booklet, available at www.wildlife.state.nm.us or at area offices and license vendors.
At roadblocks, conservation officers also will check for compliance with the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Act. Drivers of vehicles hauling wood products will be asked to produce documentation as required by the Forest Conservation Act.
Department officers may be assisted by other law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Police or county sheriff?s offices. As a result, the public may encounter minor delays.
Hunters are encouraged to report any violations they may observe, such as shooting from a vehicle or driving off-road.
To report a wildlife-law violation, please contact a Department of Game and Fish area office in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell or Las Cruces, or call the toll-free Operation Game Thief hotline at (800) 432-GAME (4263). Callers can remain anonymous and earn rewards for information leading to charges being filed. Violations also can be reported online at Operation

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

mossback50cal · Aug 25, 2017

They say that every year and I have yet to see one.

*We are all in the same boat, just
wishing to be hunting right now!*

cantgetdrawn · Aug 25, 2017

I have not seen a road block since I was a kid. That was in the 70s during OTC rifle season.

smarba · Aug 25, 2017

Ditto, never seen one.

Carl

mozey · Aug 25, 2017

Believe it or not we were checked at one last February in Unit 30 during the barbary hunt. Three of the four gentleman were very professional as they checked my buddy's barbary. But for some unknown reason the fourth felt he needed to obnoxiously lecture us about how barbarys are a nonnative evil and we need to get rid of them.

Really dude? C'mon. If I disagree are you going to find a reason to write me a ticket?

Personally, I love that we have barbarys, oryx, ibex, and tahr in this state...

hank4elk · Aug 25, 2017

LOL
I've seen the whole group of NMG&F,FS-LEO,Statie,& a deputy with a vehicle pulled over getting searched, ala full LEO tactics,guys in camo sitting on the ground just outside Reserve.
When I was in town just before I told one of the 2 NMG&F guys who I know, of the off road atv's running all over 23 miles from the nearist road. He shook my hand & said howdy then told me they were busy going to set a trap for a problem Javalina....but they might send the rookie to go check it out.
What a crock.
I drive by the scene with guys on the ground and head back to camp to cool off before going to try another spot where no vehicles can possibly travel. I'm there asleep & a NMG&F pulls up gets out and starts in with the "Can I see your tag/lic etc",no hello or nothing.I figure he's the rookie with the Albacrackie tat's & APD attitude. Wanted to search my truck....Not Happening I say without a warrant or probable cause. I tell him of my report to Casey about the atv's running all over.Guy say's he heard,gets in the truck & drives back towards the hwy & away from where you could hear atv's.Never went father than my camp 1/2 mi from 180. I had G&F guys in camp 2 more times and nothing was done about the atv's,not one owner talked to.Just me. I'm retired Park Ranger, LEO.Totally clean background,never been on the wrong side of a badge.
I will never make a report to NMG&F again.
Every time I get the whole inspection & watching while the poacher or trespassing outfitter gets a free ride.
They better have probable cause if I ever get stopped.

Viper3000 · Aug 25, 2017

I randomly ran into one with my dad on some tiny little back country road where I hadn't seen another person for days in January while javelina hunting a few years back. Just seems like a waste of man power cuz they couldn't have seen more than us and maybe one other truck while they were there

joesikora · Aug 25, 2017

I never went through a road block but when I was leaving Unit 2b to go back to Farmington after killing my deer a Game Warden stopped me and check everything, which was fine. I was so excited to show him my deer I couldn't stand it.

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora

Largebull · Aug 26, 2017

Iv'e had em in 16a Reserve area. They trying to catch the tweekers and cheaters......BULL!

RioHuntNutt · Aug 29, 2017

oH GOOD LORD....

throwfar · Aug 30, 2017

NMFG is real good at making honest people feel like criminals. I appreciate their role and the difficulty of their job but really is it necessary to treat people that way. Especially the people who pay their salary.

live4muleys · Aug 30, 2017

I have never seen a road block, but have been checked many times in different areas. I am yet to run into a game warden that is a jerk. Cops yes, game wardens no. Everyone I have ever ran into has been friendly and helpful. I hear stories all the time, but I have just been luck I guess, all have been good.

TerynItUp · Aug 30, 2017

Back in 2009, right before I finished up school at UNM, some buddies and I were turkey hunting in the Jemez. On our way back to town on Sunday we got stopped by a joint Forest Service/DGF road block right where 126 turns to dirt (before they repaved it). This road block was a very odd experience, it started out pretty normal with them asking us what we were doing, if we had licenses, if we killed a bird etc... All seemed normal and then they asked to search our vehicle which I thought was weird but we said sure go ahead because we had nothing to hide. They looked through everything, and I mean everything. Because I was a student (a good one I might add!) I had some text books with me for studying. They took the books out of my school bag and flipped through the pages shaking the books upside down. Of course nothing was found and we were sent on our way.

I can only assume the road block was looking for a specific person, if not, I have no clue on earth why they would look so hard for something from three college turkey hunters.

Like others, I have ran into game wardens several times and been asked to present a license but other than the scenario above I have never been through another road block. I think NMDGF does a pretty dang good job considering how much ground they have to cover with a limited amount of officers.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.

cosmic_cowboy · Aug 30, 2017

I think the Game Wardens do a Great job with the limited resources they have. Have met a FEW that had a chip on there shoulder but that's part of being out there with armed people. We had a really hard core warden up here in the north back in the early 90s.... BOB Bavin don't know if anyone remembers him, but he once hiked into the Gorge at hole in the wall (no trail) to check my fishing Lic. This is a brutal hike. I was flabbergasted he did it. checked me then hiked back out. Most people in there right mind still won't use that access.....
Jack

tomvern85 · Aug 30, 2017

>I think the Game Wardens do
>a Great job with the
>limited resources they have. Have
>met a FEW that had
>a chip on there shoulder
>but that's part of being
>out there with armed people.
>We had a really hard
>core warden up here in
>the north back in the
>early 90s.... BOB Bavin don't
>know if anyone remembers him,
>but he once hiked into
>the Gorge at hole in
>the wall (no trail) to
>check my fishing Lic. This
>is a brutal hike. I
>was flabbergasted he did it.
>checked me then hiked back
>out. Most people in there
>right mind still won't use
>that access.....
>Jack

+1