RMEF vs. NMWF and the Valles Caldera-Thoughts

JFWRC

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Oppose S. 285: Valles Caldera National Preserve Management Act

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is among 25 outdoor conservation organizations that remain opposed to Senate bill 285 which would designate the VCNP in north-central New Mexico as a unit of the National Park System (NPS).

The New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) is circulating supposed ?FACTS?
that are inaccurate regarding S. 285, such as:

HUNTING & FISHING GUARANTEED BY LAW:
This is NOT a given. The NPS, which prohibits hunting in its parks, allows hunting in most preserves but the bill language still allows it to be shut down. The NPS or the Secretary of Interior may, at any time, elect to terminate any or all hunting on the VCNP. While a recent amendment strengthened language to that effect, the bill states the Secretary may still implement ?regulations closing areas within the Preserve to hunting, fishing, or trapping.? S. 285 does not provide any long-term guarantee toward sustained hunting. Language also states management and operations of the VCNP may be coordinated with the Bandelier National Monument where hunting is prohibited.

VCNP TAGS GO TO OUT-OF-STATE HUNTERS:
VCNP wildlife officials maintain these are blue collar hunting opportunities, not high dollar hunts designed for the rich. The state quota formula remains in place on the VCNP, as across all of New Mexico (84% to residents, 10% to residents or nonresidents with an outfitter and 6% to nonresidents without an outfitter), as an effective method offering equitable hunting opportunity for the average sportsman and woman.

VCNP USED AS ?ELITIST? SYSTEM TO BENEFIT RMEF & OTHER ORGANIZATIONS:
The NMWF seems to be trying to create a perception that RMEF is selling hunting tags on the VCNP for its own profit motives. RMEF has a long and proven track record to the contrary. RMEF supports the VCNP by accepting 4 elk and 8 donated turkey tags, placing them up for auction as a fundraising mechanism, and then returned nearly $40,000 to date for on-the-ground VCNP land and wildlife conservation projects.

VCNP IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT
This year?s lottery will raise $320,000. Original legislation called for the VCNP to become financially self-sufficient by raising funds for land and wildlife management. The elk hunting program is a major player in this arena. Elk hunts are lottery based with one lottery ticket for a bull/either sex hunt costing $30 apiece or $20 per ticket for antlerless-only hunts. (Antlerless hunts are available only for New Mexico
residents.) There is a limit of 20 tickets per hunt code with people entering as many of the 14 hunt codes as preferred. The average purchase is 3.5 tickets per customer. (Again, the 84%-10%-6% resident formula from above applies.)

Additionally, habitat management is not a priority for NPS. It lives by a ?let it be and nature will manage? mantra, which will not serve the VCNP well if we are to expect it to remain open access for sportsmen and active hunting.

Under current law, the VCNP will become another unit of Santa Fe National Forest, allowing the U.S. Forest Service to become the managing agency.
This is the preferred rout as the USFS has vast experience with wildlife and habitat management. While claiming to represent New Mexico sportsmen, the NMWF supports the least appealing option to sportsmen of transferring the Valles Caldera to the National Park System.

Read the bill language here:
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/113/s285/text

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Jim...
We all know you are trying to scare people but this "release" is full in half-truths...

This is the stuff from the RMEF that drives me nuts... I am not saying they are purposely misleading people but there facts just don't pan out and to the average person it is well.. Misleading..

1) No hunting is guaranteed ANYWHERE.. the verbiage is the same as NFS lands.. They are trying to scare people...

2)Those 12 tags are typically not purchased by Residents and i am not sure if anyone has every said that the tags go to NR..We fought to have them included in the quota

3) Those donated tags are going to the highest bidder... Alot more money that 40,000 was raised off of those tags... Overhead? Yes,I know they have done work on the property but then it isn't volunteer work. It shouldn't be "we will work if you give us tags..." I would love to see if the RMEF "volunteers" if it goes to the NFS??? I doubt it

4)$320,000 Ok... So who is going to cover the over 3 million? Yes, it isn't working.. Oh by the way RMEF... How did the Double H's work out for you?? and how many hunts did you have for your members? None, all your hunts went to the highest bidders and movie stars..

To me it seems that the national RMEF is trying to hold on to it's "donated" tags...

This is a perfect example of a national organization coming in at the last moment and trying to influences matters after years of discussions...
 

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