House Bill 11

[505]

It appears the Caldera folks are still trying to auction off incentive tags to the highest bidder. Emails have been sent to my state representatives, please make your voices heard.

http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/09 Regular/bills/house/HB0011.pdf

Scroll through to the underlined text, if anybody knows how to post pdf text here, please do.

The amendment will issue no less than 15 and not more than 20 bull permits that will be exempt from the 78/22 split.

This is public land, in my eyes this bill is WRONG!

 

[WapitiBob]

I don't see where they have a lot of options to generate income.

 

[505]

I agree, Bob. The way the Caldera is set up is a federal issue. Taking away resident opportunity is probably not the best PR move.

 

[NMHUNTNUTTG]

I don't care about the ways that are not working to generate revenue for them.As a tax paying resident and being I live 80 miles from the Valle , I'd sure like my chance to hunt it without having to deal/compete with super wealthy persons who simply had enough $$ to buy a tag. Next thing you know they will get longer dates or be allowed to hunt any and all of the ranch where as persons drawing a tag are asigned a specific area...

 

[northernNMhtr]

I agree with the NUTT. They should make this a once in a lifetime hunt just like the Valle Vidal so that we all might get the opportunity to hunt there. They do have to generate revenue to keep it going according to the agreement when it was purchased. I believe that it's going to get to the point where only the wealthy will be able to afford to hunt the Caldera.

 

[NMPaul]

They need a way to get in the black. If we dont like them auctioning off tags, then they need to be supplied with other solutions.

Cant just say we dont like their ideas if there is nothing better.

That being said, I hope they dont have to start selling hunts there. But if that is all they can come up with and no better ideas are presented then that is what they have to do.

I think some moderate lumber harvesting is reasonable as well.

Some of the other stuff bounced around is Golf resorts, Casinos, Tourist area and crap like that. I would much rather have them sell a couple of hunts.

 

[NMPaul]

Regarding making it a OIL hunt all that would be doing is making the revenue go down. The opposite of what has to happen.

The people buying all the raffle tickets would stop buying them as they had their opportunity. $500 here $500 there would disappear.

Now you would get theme parks, golf resorts, hotels, and all the anti hunters that come with that.

Careful what you wish for.

That being said, there may be a solution out there that preserves the wildness, gives the average person an opportunity to hunt there, and they make enough money to meet the requirements of their agreement.

 

[505]

Paul- I appreciate and respect your input on the topic.

The Caldera is a Federal entity. The elk belong to the people of New Mexico. The state and the residents should not have to sacrifice our game to subsidize a failing federal trust. If anything, when 2015 rolls around and the Caldera can't be self sufficient, Congress should review and adjust their operating plans for the preserve.

The worst part of this is, if passed, it sets a precedent for any big money interests to petition a state representative to simply amend the big game laws to pander to their best interest. It's bad enough the resident quota does not apply to bighorn, oryx or ibex. This could open the flood gates to the USO types with lobbying power.

If you have time, read the report to Congress posted on the Trust's webpage. It really opened my eyes to how much is being spent on what. If I remember correctly, the trust spent upwards of 175k on a business plan to an out of state consultant for this self sufficiency goal. They must have come to the conclusion that the trust should just auction elk tags.

I agree that they should try to get to the point of not needing federal money to run the preserve, but taking opportunity from my children and yours is not the best route in my opinion.

Here's my solution to generate more money.
1. Predator hunting.
2. More public access, including day use fees and low impact back country camping.
3.Cross country skiing yurts. These make a mint in the San Juans in Colorado, they are cheap and people are willing to pay.

Some of the best bears I have seen in NM have been on the Caldera, and on the perimeter fences. Cougar and coyote populations are also high.

I would be willing to run trap lines on the property, put up the fur, and split the profits with the trust. After not being trapped for who knows how long, I bet I could earn the trust a fair amount of $ the first winter.

I don't know what the solution is to get them in the black, I'm certain with some public input they could do better than auctioning New Mexico's elk to the highest bidder.

 

[Gator]

Maybe when 2015 rolls around they can then sell it Back to the State of Ne Mexico. Now that would be a good thing.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".

 

[nmwapiti]

What scares me is that I think they will realize that auctioning 20 permits will still not make the VC the money they need and then the following year they decide they need to auction 30, then 40, etc until the whole thing is taken away from the public. I know the VC is awesome but does anyone think that a tag would auction for more than someone could pay to hunt the Jicarilla or some other quality private ranch? Tops, a tag would auction for 10-15K. Is 250K a year gonna solve all the VC's problems? I doubt it. I like the ideas mentioned above, hut to hut skiing in winter, low impact back country camping,etc. I would have no problem if they added a $2-5 fee on fishing hunting licenses that would benefit the preserve just so it remains in the publics hands and not turned over to top dollar hunters. Also, I think it is time that other outdoor recreators contribute in the way of a habitat stamp or some sort of outdoor recreation tax. In Colorado, hikers, bikers and other outdoor recreators must have a habitat stamp if they are in state parks, which i think is a great idea. Hunters and fishermen have payed extra fees on top of their licenses for years and I think its about time all users of public lands pitch in. Just my .02

 

[WapitiBob]

I don't live there so I don't have a say but Auction a tag to the highest bidder at the Elk Foundation and SCI banquets. Then have a lotto for maybe a dozen more, charging 5K or so. $5 per ticket for processing then charge the 5K to the winners, going down the list if someone didn't have the money. Keep the current lotto system intact. This would give you 3 tiers of tags.

 

[30inchbuck]

Many other things that they could do to generate money. have a dam coyote contest on the Caldera, Currently they are paying a biologist to study them.

There are a lot of expenses that could be cut as well.

The auction tags will not generate as much income as there are thinking anyways. Lot of elk but no real trophies on the place. if you go by size potential and such. Bull tags would be less than $8K anyways.

They better start hitting the predators, the elk herd is on the downhill side now and unless something is done there wont be any elk to hunt.

 

[JACOB2006]

ALL THOSE HUNTS SHOULD HAVE GONE TO HANDICAP AND EVERY KID THAT PASSED THEIR HUNTERSAFTY HOW AWSOME WOULD IT BE EVERY KID WITH ALMOST A GUARENTEED KILL FOR THEIR FIRST HUNT. JUST MY OPINION!!!

 

[maxxbob1]

It is my understanding that if they can't raise the money to meet their operating expenses, then it will be turned over to the Forest Service. Then it could be just like the other premium units where you could apply for a tag. Also, you could fish or trap or call coyotes or hike, all without a bunch of extra rules. I would like to see it become Forest Service property.
-- Bob

 

[jamaro]

This might get deleted and I might get banned (I have been warned) but...

Hey Everybody
NM Wildlife has created a really neat tool to tract Legislative Issues...

You can follow the link..
http://www.nmwildlife.org/index.php/getinvolved/

Please help me get this link out there... Post it to as many places as possible... This link has the bill info and the AND CONTACT INFO FOR THE KEY LEGISLATORS..

J

 

[tincup]

Biil Richardson - Democrats- Liberals- Gotta love'em. They're broke; have no money; have no idea how to make money; have no idea where it comes from; just got to figure out how to tax someone or steal it; so to distribute it somewhere disposable.;;;;;
makes sense to me how bout you?
Oh, I'm sorry,,,,, Obama will figure out how to get'em some cash and everyone can hunt the Caldera.
I bet some of the New Orleans citizens probably want to come up to some dry land and hunt some of those free federal/state funded Elk hunts and I bet they taste good too. Wonder if they taste good with a little Louisana Hot sauce.????

 

[NMPaul]

like someone said. There are only so many elk hunts. Not everyone is going to get to hunt the VC.

Elk hunting wont solve all of VCs problems.

It will most likely be some mix of raffle hunts, auctioned hunts, guided hunts.

Hopefully, they dont go the way of the tourist trap.

Some of the ideas of varmint hunting, and controlled logging are good ones.

If they are able to get in the black, they will not make everyone happy that is for certain.

 

[jamaro]

NMPaul..
Well said..

TinCup...
If we are going to get anything solved we need to stop thinking about Rep or Demo.. We just need to come together and call you legislators... Have you done that?
Also, if you would have done your research you would have seen that this bill is sponsored by Jeannette O. Wallace. And Guess what??? She is a republican..


J