Hey all, I posted this on NM Bowsite & United Bowhunters of NM forum earlier this year, but this info is pertinent to this MM thread too.
I met with Dale Hall (ABQ G&F office) last spring. He's in charge of maintaining and constructing Habitat Imrprovement Projects. Obviously he does not perform the work all by himself, but he's the coordinator.
Habitat Stamp Improvements (HSI) consist of guzzlers/drinkers, their associated fencing (to keep cattle out), prescribed burn areas, dirt ponds/tanks, stream restoration, etc. They have about 2000 HSIs all around NM.
With regards to maintenance, we are typically concerned with guzzlers/drinkers and their associated fencing.
G&F is beginning to track their HSIs in a database and track the dates of inspection and maintenance. Last year they performed maintenance on about 400 HSIs.
Apparently one of the biggest problems with HSIs is vandalism. Whether by cattlemen cutting fences to allow cattle in, hunters too lazy to climb over a fence and instead driving their ATVs inside, bozos shooting holes in the tanks, guides/hunters modifying drinkers to make them into blinds or control the water flow for their own agendas, etc.
G&F spends ~$250K annually on maintenance of HSIs.
They take in ~$850K annually from sportsmen, which is allocated toward maintenance and improvements.
As an initial step, Dale Hall would appreciate calls/emails identifying any drinkers that are not functioning, as well as the apparent reason, if known.
Equally important would be notification of drinkers that ARE working, which would help G&F be more efficient with their time and not have to check up on working systems. They typically use UTM NAD 83, but can convert any GPS data.
G&F is eager to employ volunteer labor for construction & maintenance, and they can "invoice" that labor at $20/hr to offset matching funding from the Feds.
However, historically they haven't had much long-term success with volunteers because most groups burn out and quit after just a few projects. And volunteer groups typically don't 'adopt' HSIs long-term.
With regards to locations, G&F does have them in a database, but Dale said it's a double-edged sword. To date they have been hesitant to provide locations because even though it's legal to hunt over them, they don't want to encourage it. He said they currently have problems in the Sacramentos where an outfitter has all the guzzlers located and places his clients at blinds at all of them. G&F doesn't want to foster this type of activity.
The new HSI projects are now steering toward metal-type guzzlers as opposed to dirt tanks because they hold water more efficiently and are easier to keep cattle off of.
They also have begun installing welded pipe fences around their new HSIs to permanently keep cattle out.
Also should note that G&F/Dale does track improvements put in by RMEF, NWTF and others in their database.
No matter the 'ownership' of a drinker, if it is observed to not be working, notifiy Dale and he will in turn notify the appropriate entity if it is not a HSI structure.
G&F (understandably) does not maintain any structures not installed by the HS program, but they do try to coordinate and track the overall habitat improvements throughout the state.
I'be been looking back at my old maps to identify some of the broken guzzlers I've found in the past and let Dale know about them. In addition, report the 'working' ones I find.
For the success of the HS Program I'd recommend you all do the same.
Dale did note that there are many guzzlers and ponds out there that are NOT HSI projects; whether put in by private entities, RMEF, NWTF or other groups. With the possible exception of a vandalized location with the sign stolen, all HSIs will have "Habitat Stamp" brown signage at the location.
Dale Hall NM G&F ABQ office
[email protected]
505-222-4725
That's about all I can think of for now, but let me know if you have questions.
Carl
