Lonepine
Member
- Messages
- 26
Did anyone else notice who drafted and is pushing this bill?
Wildearth Guardians and Defenders of Wildlife
These 2 groups are not hunting or conservation organizations.
Regardless of what side of the great tag debate you fall on, this is not a good bill for sportsmen or conservation.
Senate Bill 312 Fact Sheet
Changes mission of game and fish.
Shifts to focus on all wildlife species as opposed to game.
Wildlife is defined in the bill as any species including wolves, reptiles, jumping mouse etc.
Endangered and other wildlife species are already managed by the USFWS and covered under the ESA.
Bill was created with broad support of environmental non hunting groups.
Defenders of Wildlife was instrumental in pushing for reintroduction of wolves in Colorado
Defenders is a continued player in filing lawsuits continuing to keep grizzlies and wolves on the endangered species list and out of state management in the Northern Rockies. Even though both are well above management objectives.
Wildearth Guardians was instrumental in lawsuit regarding Mexican Spotted Owl and shutting down our national forest operations.
NM Wild and Sierra Club have aspects of them that may be good, but again, they are not hunting groups. And are pro wolf.
Not sure about the others.
There were no other sportsmen’s groups supporting this bill or involved in the writing of this bill.
Changes name of Game and Fish to Wildlife Conservation with a cost of at least $1 million to the general taxpayer.
General Taxpayer will need to provide funding of $1 million per year for species of management concern.
Eliminates outfitter pool and 48 hour requirement. This could force the outfitters to compete, however, not sure of any positive impacts to resident hunting opportunity.
Eliminates Jennings Law (although I can figure out where this exact wording is in the bill).
Expands NM definition of waste of game to prohibit leaving edible parts of bear, cougar and javelina in the field.
Designates commissioners to be appointed from various counties through New Mexico on an equitable basis.
Gives commission full authority to protect species of greatest concern and do whatever is necessary to protect.
Outdoor Recreation Board
The monies to pay for wildlife species and game species appear to be mixed. Thus a wildlife conservation fund is set up but is funded by licensed hunters and anglers.
Original legislation
Gives commission complete authority to manage game populations in the state including setting population objectives and bag limits.
Commission has full power to close hunting seasons due to fire danger, full authority to set all rules related to game and fish, permitting of outfitters and protected species, etc.
Language appears to give game and fish the authority to authorize game parks behind closed fences and allows the wildlife to be owned by the property owner.
Wildearth Guardians and Defenders of Wildlife
These 2 groups are not hunting or conservation organizations.
Regardless of what side of the great tag debate you fall on, this is not a good bill for sportsmen or conservation.
Senate Bill 312 Fact Sheet
Changes mission of game and fish.
Shifts to focus on all wildlife species as opposed to game.
Wildlife is defined in the bill as any species including wolves, reptiles, jumping mouse etc.
Endangered and other wildlife species are already managed by the USFWS and covered under the ESA.
Bill was created with broad support of environmental non hunting groups.
Defenders of Wildlife was instrumental in pushing for reintroduction of wolves in Colorado
Defenders is a continued player in filing lawsuits continuing to keep grizzlies and wolves on the endangered species list and out of state management in the Northern Rockies. Even though both are well above management objectives.
Wildearth Guardians was instrumental in lawsuit regarding Mexican Spotted Owl and shutting down our national forest operations.
NM Wild and Sierra Club have aspects of them that may be good, but again, they are not hunting groups. And are pro wolf.
Not sure about the others.
There were no other sportsmen’s groups supporting this bill or involved in the writing of this bill.
Changes name of Game and Fish to Wildlife Conservation with a cost of at least $1 million to the general taxpayer.
General Taxpayer will need to provide funding of $1 million per year for species of management concern.
Eliminates outfitter pool and 48 hour requirement. This could force the outfitters to compete, however, not sure of any positive impacts to resident hunting opportunity.
Eliminates Jennings Law (although I can figure out where this exact wording is in the bill).
Expands NM definition of waste of game to prohibit leaving edible parts of bear, cougar and javelina in the field.
Designates commissioners to be appointed from various counties through New Mexico on an equitable basis.
Gives commission full authority to protect species of greatest concern and do whatever is necessary to protect.
Outdoor Recreation Board
The monies to pay for wildlife species and game species appear to be mixed. Thus a wildlife conservation fund is set up but is funded by licensed hunters and anglers.
Original legislation
Gives commission complete authority to manage game populations in the state including setting population objectives and bag limits.
Commission has full power to close hunting seasons due to fire danger, full authority to set all rules related to game and fish, permitting of outfitters and protected species, etc.
Language appears to give game and fish the authority to authorize game parks behind closed fences and allows the wildlife to be owned by the property owner.