OK- I try and ride the fence when I can on here now days but here is my .02.
As a FYI I look forward to NOT reading any of the reply??s?K.
I am an outfitter here in NM and CO, live in Aztec but guide in 16a-d-c 15-34-36-37-2c-2b-2a-13-12-56-9-7-10-25-30-29-32-27-23. I have most of the state wired for game, and have first had knowledge from having my feet ON THE GROUND in the above units.
With an outfitter residents have a LOCAL person to talk with about changes, needs and wants for NM. Like Paul said, unit 34 deer are almost gone yet G&F keeps pumping almost 2000 tags into the unit. I??ll bet you 100$ if you asked all the members on the committee right now NONE would have any idea on the plight of the deer in unit 34-30-29-2B-2A-17-16??s etc?K. ask a full time outfitter and I bet you they all know the areas of the state in trouble!!
You are also going to have an outfitter who yes makes money hunting and fishing, but we also hunt and fish and have family??s that live here in NM and hunt and fish. You have someone looking out for everyone??s rights to hunt and fish in NM. What happens when we end up with anti hunters on the board?K. Don??t think it will happen, think again! Look at all the greenies in charge of the National Forest systems and BLM here in NM I am surprised that we can even hunt and fish still on public lands, personally as well as commercially, don??t even bring up state lease lands that were closed to coyote contests because of NM RESIDENT outcry you??ll get me spittling in your face yelling mad in about 3 seconds. You are all living in a dream world if you don??t think we are going to have to FIGHT to hunt and even fish every year from here to the end of time.
A voice?K. Guess what, outfitters are going to have to ask for public help and input on changes, we have to! If we are not united on most fronts we loose on all of them!
Maybe instead of fighting about who??s in charge, you try and deal with the outfitters to have the RESIDENTS of nm get a little say in who of the outfitters are that are elected, appointed, nominated to the seat on the board!!!
Let the finger lashings begin!
If you don??t agree I am sorry, please check back with me when you do ??
Chris Guikema
Compass West Outfitters
www.200inches.com