This bill will impact our Hunting sooner or later!
Comments below made by Tom McDow-
HB 579 is very far reaching. It will end fur trapping on all lands in NM. It outlaws the sale of wild fur pelts. It restricts the operation of Wildlife services in NM. Taken together, these proposed restrictions will effectively eliminate the ability to manage our herds, both wild and domestic. Without a market, all value in our wild fur will be lost and thereby shift 100% of the depredation management costs to our ranchers and farmers. For example, many doing private coyote control in surrounding states charge $50 per coyote taken and $50 per day running expenses. Our ranching operations will not be able to absorb this kind of expense.
In order to relax the pressures of predation on our wild herds and populations, the state will have to pay for management; considering the budgetary limitations we face, we all know that this would be a non-starter. UT for example is now paying a $50 bounty on coyotes in an effort to get them under control. 579 would make even this type of program unfeasible.
This bill as written could make those who sell fur at international auctions guilty of Lacey Act violations. Also, the bill maybe violating some Commerce Clause conditions.
The NMTA in conjunction with our national, international and department friends are currently analyzing the bill for all arguments. We welcome any input you have. We (the coalition members) have been asked to be prepared to line up to testify before Energy and Natural Resources when they hear this bill. Word on the street is the bill may be heard Wed. Feb. 20.
As soon as I get a draft of our arguments, that we believe need to be made, I will be in touch with the groups. It has been suggested that an effective approach will be to distribute the talking points among the groups to speak. These are preliminary ideas and subject to change with input from all concerned.
Please contact me and / or all with your thoughts.
Thanks in advance for your attention to this matter.
Tom McDowell
President NMTA
Comments below made by Tom McDow-
HB 579 is very far reaching. It will end fur trapping on all lands in NM. It outlaws the sale of wild fur pelts. It restricts the operation of Wildlife services in NM. Taken together, these proposed restrictions will effectively eliminate the ability to manage our herds, both wild and domestic. Without a market, all value in our wild fur will be lost and thereby shift 100% of the depredation management costs to our ranchers and farmers. For example, many doing private coyote control in surrounding states charge $50 per coyote taken and $50 per day running expenses. Our ranching operations will not be able to absorb this kind of expense.
In order to relax the pressures of predation on our wild herds and populations, the state will have to pay for management; considering the budgetary limitations we face, we all know that this would be a non-starter. UT for example is now paying a $50 bounty on coyotes in an effort to get them under control. 579 would make even this type of program unfeasible.
This bill as written could make those who sell fur at international auctions guilty of Lacey Act violations. Also, the bill maybe violating some Commerce Clause conditions.
The NMTA in conjunction with our national, international and department friends are currently analyzing the bill for all arguments. We welcome any input you have. We (the coalition members) have been asked to be prepared to line up to testify before Energy and Natural Resources when they hear this bill. Word on the street is the bill may be heard Wed. Feb. 20.
As soon as I get a draft of our arguments, that we believe need to be made, I will be in touch with the groups. It has been suggested that an effective approach will be to distribute the talking points among the groups to speak. These are preliminary ideas and subject to change with input from all concerned.
Please contact me and / or all with your thoughts.
Thanks in advance for your attention to this matter.
Tom McDowell
President NMTA
