S
steamboat_bill
Guest
The New Mexico Game and Fish Department approved new language at the October game commission meeting in Alamogordo that has the potential to negatively affect sportsmen.
The commission added a written permission clause to several rules so that game illegally taken on private property can be confiscated and poachers can be prosecuted for illegal hunting and possession of game.
This is a good change and is necessary to enforce our game laws. Unfortunately, the game commission refused to add the words "legally posted" to ensure that private property is posted before a sportsman can be prosecuted for illegally hunting on private property.
The current wording would allow public land hunters to be prosecuted for poaching if they unknowingly crossed onto private property, even if there was no fence or sign, even if there was a land swap or the property was marked as public on a map. The current wording exceeds the requirement for every other state trespass law and unfairly targets public land hunters. Many neighboring states, such as, MT, WY, CO states require land owners to post their property lines (Post-out keep out).
Because of this, the burden is put entirely on sportsmen. Land swaps, private in holdings and out-dated maps can sometimes lead to confusion over boundaries. It is important that if the commission holds sportsmen to a higher standard that landowners be required to follow the state rules for posting private property. Those rules are required for the state to pursue criminal trespass charges and require signs at entry points and in the case of an unfenced boundary, a sign every 500 feet.
The rule now applies to deer, elk, Oryx and antelope. There was an attempt to include small game hunting and fishing in the rule, but that language was stripped out at the last minute.
It is essential that the commission amends these new rules at the Dec. 4th meeting and add the words "legally posted" before "private property" in the written permission clauses of all hunting and fishing regulations.
Commissioners Dutch Salmon, Oscar Simpson and Sandy Buffet voted to protect sportsmen?s rights at the October meeting and asked for the language to be amended. Commissioners Tom Arvas, Jim McClintic, Leo Sims and Alfredo Montoya sided with private landowners and voted against the interests of New Mexico sportsmen.
If you hunt in New Mexico, please call Commission Chairman Tom Arvas and ask him to make this change for the good of New Mexico hunters and anglers.
Commissioner Arvas can be reached at (505) 690-0487
Commissioner Jim McClintic can be reached at (505) 271-4550
Commissioner Leo Sims can be reached at (575) 393-3024
Commissioner Alfredo Montoya can be reached at (575) 852-2551
The commission added a written permission clause to several rules so that game illegally taken on private property can be confiscated and poachers can be prosecuted for illegal hunting and possession of game.
This is a good change and is necessary to enforce our game laws. Unfortunately, the game commission refused to add the words "legally posted" to ensure that private property is posted before a sportsman can be prosecuted for illegally hunting on private property.
The current wording would allow public land hunters to be prosecuted for poaching if they unknowingly crossed onto private property, even if there was no fence or sign, even if there was a land swap or the property was marked as public on a map. The current wording exceeds the requirement for every other state trespass law and unfairly targets public land hunters. Many neighboring states, such as, MT, WY, CO states require land owners to post their property lines (Post-out keep out).
Because of this, the burden is put entirely on sportsmen. Land swaps, private in holdings and out-dated maps can sometimes lead to confusion over boundaries. It is important that if the commission holds sportsmen to a higher standard that landowners be required to follow the state rules for posting private property. Those rules are required for the state to pursue criminal trespass charges and require signs at entry points and in the case of an unfenced boundary, a sign every 500 feet.
The rule now applies to deer, elk, Oryx and antelope. There was an attempt to include small game hunting and fishing in the rule, but that language was stripped out at the last minute.
It is essential that the commission amends these new rules at the Dec. 4th meeting and add the words "legally posted" before "private property" in the written permission clauses of all hunting and fishing regulations.
Commissioners Dutch Salmon, Oscar Simpson and Sandy Buffet voted to protect sportsmen?s rights at the October meeting and asked for the language to be amended. Commissioners Tom Arvas, Jim McClintic, Leo Sims and Alfredo Montoya sided with private landowners and voted against the interests of New Mexico sportsmen.
If you hunt in New Mexico, please call Commission Chairman Tom Arvas and ask him to make this change for the good of New Mexico hunters and anglers.
Commissioner Arvas can be reached at (505) 690-0487
Commissioner Jim McClintic can be reached at (505) 271-4550
Commissioner Leo Sims can be reached at (575) 393-3024
Commissioner Alfredo Montoya can be reached at (575) 852-2551