The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is a state-level government department within the New Mexico Governor's Cabinet that is responsible for maintaining wildlife and fish in the state. The NMDGF undertakes protection, conservation and propagation, and regulates the use of game and fish to ensure there is an adequate supply for recreation and food.[1]
The New Mexico Territorial Legislature created what a predecessor to the game department in 1903. Upon New Mexico statehood 1912, the newly-formed New Mexico Legislature formally created the Department of Game and Fish, and in 1921, the Legislature created a three-member commission to manage the department.[2]
Organizationedit
A seven-member body appointed by the governor, the State Game Commission authorizes regulations and the department implements and enforces them.[3] Not more than four members can be from the same political party. Five of the members represent different geographical areas of the state. The other two members are appointed “at large.” At least one member of the commission shall represent agricultural interests and one member represent conservation interests.[4] The commission hires the director of the Department of Game and Fish and also has the power to fire the director.[5] The NMDGF applies regulations on all land in New Mexico, whether federal, state or privately-owned, other than Indian land. On many Pueblo lands and reservations, Game and Fish staff work with the people responsible for wildlife management.[3]
Fishing and hunting license fees and taxes on fishing and hunting goods such as rod, reels and rifles provide a large part of the department's funding, although major capital programs may be funded by the legislature.[5] Starting in 1991, Game and Fish started to implement the Sikes Act, under which anglers who use public land that is managed by the United States Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management must buy a Habitat Improvement Validation. Funds from this sources are used, as the name implies, to fund habitat improvements.[6]
At the suggestion of big-game hunter Frank C. Hibben, between 1969 and 1977 the Department of Game and Fish introduced 93 captive bred Oryx into the White Sands Missile Range, intending them to be hunted for sport. It was assumed that they would remain in the Tularosa Basin and that mountain lions would control their numbers. These assumptions were incorrect. The oryx found the environment ideal and rapidly increased in numbers, as of 2012 reaching between 3,000 and 6,000 animals, and spread into the White Sands National Monument and private lands where public hunting is not allowed.[8] Despite several hundred being taken every year, numbers continue to expand.[8] As of 2001, oryx had been spotted as far apart as sixty miles south of Albuquerque, and West Texas. The department has undertaken an expensive program to fence the White Sands National Monument and then remove all the oryx from the park.[9]
In 1977, Game and Fish began arresting non-Indian hunters for illegal possession of game that was taken from the Mescalero reservation in accordance with tribal laws, since this was not in compliance with state law. The tribe filed suit, and the case went to the Supreme Court, which ruled unanimously in favor of the Mescaleros. Reasons included the argument that giving Game and Fish authority would "nullify the Tribe's unquestioned authority to regulate the use of its resources by members and nonmembers".[10]
In 1955 the Department of Game and Fish created Clayton Lake in Clayton Lake State Park as a fishing lake and winter waterfowl resting area. The department assists in managing Fenton Lake State Park and Eagle Nest Lake State Park.[citation needed] The Carson National Forest is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture - Forestry Service. The Department of Game and Fish Department works with the forest personnel to maintain the wildlife habitat and to stock the many lakes and the four hundred miles of mountain streams with native trout.[11]
As of 1989, the Fish Management Division operated six hatcheries: Glenwood Hatchery, Lisboa Springs Hatchery, Parkview Hatchery, Red River Hatchery, Seven Springs Hatchery and Rock Lake Hatchery. The last hatches walleye while the others hatch trout or kokanee.[12] The discovery of whirling disease, Myxobolus cerebralis, in the early 1990s had a devastating effect, since some fish from five of the six hatcheries tested positive, and Game and Fish decided they should not stock any fish from hatcheries with known diseases. The hatcheries will have to be rebuilt.[13]
Game and Fish has developed the Biota Information System of New Mexico (BISON-M) in collaboration with other agencies, which holds information on all vertebrate and many invertebrate species of wildlife found in New Mexico and Arizona, including all threatened, endangered and sensitive species.[15]
Piper, Titus (1989-04-01). Fishing in New Mexico. UNM Press. p. 251. ISBN978-0-8263-1138-2. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
Rowley, Robert (October 22, 2001). "A graceful gazelle becomes a pest". High Country News. Retrieved 2012-10-01.
Welsh, Michael E. (1995). Dunes and dreams : a history of White Sands National Monument. Santa Fe, NM: Intermountain Cultural Resource Center, National Park Service. ISBN1-58369-004-2. OCLC 54657415. Retrieved 2008-05-31.
October 26, 2023
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The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish NMDGF is a state level government department within the New Mexico Governor s Cabinet that is responsible for maintaining wildlife and fish in the state The NMDGF undertakes protection conservation and propagation and regulates the use of game and fish to ensure there is an adequate supply for recreation and food 1 New Mexico Department of Game and FishAgency overviewFormed1912Agency executiveMike Sloane DirectorWebsitewww wbr wildlife wbr state wbr nm wbr us Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 Hunting 4 Fishing 5 Other activities 6 See also 7 External links 8 ReferencesHistory editThe New Mexico Territorial Legislature created what a predecessor to the game department in 1903 Upon New Mexico statehood 1912 the newly formed New Mexico Legislature formally created the Department of Game and Fish and in 1921 the Legislature created a three member commission to manage the department 2 Organization editA seven member body appointed by the governor the State Game Commission authorizes regulations and the department implements and enforces them 3 Not more than four members can be from the same political party Five of the members represent different geographical areas of the state The other two members are appointed at large At least one member of the commission shall represent agricultural interests and one member represent conservation interests 4 The commission hires the director of the Department of Game and Fish and also has the power to fire the director 5 The NMDGF applies regulations on all land in New Mexico whether federal state or privately owned other than Indian land On many Pueblo lands and reservations Game and Fish staff work with the people responsible for wildlife management 3 Fishing and hunting license fees and taxes on fishing and hunting goods such as rod reels and rifles provide a large part of the department s funding although major capital programs may be funded by the legislature 5 Starting in 1991 Game and Fish started to implement the Sikes Act under which anglers who use public land that is managed by the United States Forest Service or the Bureau of Land Management must buy a Habitat Improvement Validation Funds from this sources are used as the name implies to fund habitat improvements 6 In 2011 a bill was being considered for eliminating the State Game Commission and merging the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish into the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department 7 Hunting edit nbsp Gemsbok in the White Sands Missile Range in New MexicoAt the suggestion of big game hunter Frank C Hibben between 1969 and 1977 the Department of Game and Fish introduced 93 captive bred Oryx into the White Sands Missile Range intending them to be hunted for sport It was assumed that they would remain in the Tularosa Basin and that mountain lions would control their numbers These assumptions were incorrect The oryx found the environment ideal and rapidly increased in numbers as of 2012 reaching between 3 000 and 6 000 animals and spread into the White Sands National Monument and private lands where public hunting is not allowed 8 Despite several hundred being taken every year numbers continue to expand 8 As of 2001 oryx had been spotted as far apart as sixty miles south of Albuquerque and West Texas The department has undertaken an expensive program to fence the White Sands National Monument and then remove all the oryx from the park 9 In 1977 Game and Fish began arresting non Indian hunters for illegal possession of game that was taken from the Mescalero reservation in accordance with tribal laws since this was not in compliance with state law The tribe filed suit and the case went to the Supreme Court which ruled unanimously in favor of the Mescaleros Reasons included the argument that giving Game and Fish authority would nullify the Tribe s unquestioned authority to regulate the use of its resources by members and nonmembers 10 Fishing edit nbsp Rio Grande cutthroat trout a species endemic to the Albuquerque Basin that may be under threatIn 1955 the Department of Game and Fish created Clayton Lake in Clayton Lake State Park as a fishing lake and winter waterfowl resting area The department assists in managing Fenton Lake State Park and Eagle Nest Lake State Park citation needed The Carson National Forest is operated by the United States Department of Agriculture Forestry Service The Department of Game and Fish Department works with the forest personnel to maintain the wildlife habitat and to stock the many lakes and the four hundred miles of mountain streams with native trout 11 As of 1989 the Fish Management Division operated six hatcheries Glenwood Hatchery Lisboa Springs Hatchery Parkview Hatchery Red River Hatchery Seven Springs Hatchery and Rock Lake Hatchery The last hatches walleye while the others hatch trout or kokanee 12 The discovery of whirling disease Myxobolus cerebralis in the early 1990s had a devastating effect since some fish from five of the six hatcheries tested positive and Game and Fish decided they should not stock any fish from hatcheries with known diseases The hatcheries will have to be rebuilt 13 Other activities editThe Department of Game and Fish operates the Ladd S Gordon Waterfowl Complex a group of four conservation area in New Mexico devoted to assisting birdlife in the region with Waterfowl Management Areas at La Joya Bernardo Casa Colorada and Belen 14 Game and Fish has developed the Biota Information System of New Mexico BISON M in collaboration with other agencies which holds information on all vertebrate and many invertebrate species of wildlife found in New Mexico and Arizona including all threatened endangered and sensitive species 15 See also editList of law enforcement agencies in New Mexico List of State Fish and Wildlife Management Agencies in the U S External links editOfficial Website New Mexico Wildlife NMDGF Magazine References editCitations Home NMDGF A century of wildlife management part 1 New Mexico Wildlife magazine magazine wildlife state nm us Retrieved 2018 10 01 a b Piper 1989 p 251 Commission New Mexico Department of Game amp Fish www wildlife state nm us Retrieved 2018 10 01 a b Piper 1989 p 252 Martin 2002 p 21 Bandy 2011 a b Oryx Rowley 2001 Marshall 1983 Carson National Forest About Us Piper 1989 p 254 Martin 2002 p 26 Ladd S Gordon Waterfowl Complex NMDGF Biota Information System of New Mexico Sources Bandy 2011 01 28 Merge Game and Fish with EMNRD PDF NM Legislature Retrieved 2012 10 01 Biota Information System of New Mexico BISON M Retrieved 2012 10 01 Carson National Forest About Us USDA Retrieved 2012 10 01 Home NMDGF Archived from the original on 2012 10 10 Retrieved 2012 10 01 Ladd S Gordon Waterfowl Complex PDF New Mexico Department of Game amp Fish Archived from the original PDF on 2013 03 22 Retrieved 2012 10 01 Marshall J 1983 New Mexico v Mescalero Apache Tribe 462 U S 324 U S Supreme Court Retrieved 2012 10 01 Martin Craig 2002 03 01 Fly Fishing in Northern New Mexico UNM Press ISBN 978 0 8263 2761 1 Retrieved 2012 10 01 Oryx PDF Wildlife Notes NMGFD Retrieved 2012 10 01 Piper Titus 1989 04 01 Fishing in New Mexico UNM Press p 251 ISBN 978 0 8263 1138 2 Retrieved 2012 10 01 Rowley Robert October 22 2001 A graceful gazelle becomes a pest High Country News Retrieved 2012 10 01 Welsh Michael E 1995 Dunes and dreams a history of White Sands National Monument Santa Fe NM Intermountain Cultural Resource Center National Park Service ISBN 1 58369 004 2 OCLC 54657415 Retrieved 2008 05 31 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title New Mexico Department of Game and Fish amp oldid 1027913480, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
