New Mexico Register / Volume XXIX, Issue 7 / April 10, 2018

STATE GAME COMMISSION MEETING AND RULE MAKING NOTICE

The New Mexico State Game Commission (“Commission”) has scheduled a regular meeting and rule hearing for Tuesday, May 22, 2018, beginning at 9:00 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express Meeting Room, 60 Entrada Drive, Los Alamos, New Mexico, to hear and consider action as appropriate on the following: Presentation of proposed changes to the Bighorn Sheep rule.

Synopsis:

The proposal is to adopt a new Bighorn Sheep rule, 19.31.17 NMAC, which will become effective April 1, 2019. The current Bighorn Sheep rule is set to expire on March 31, 2019.

The proposed new rule will include increasing the maximum number of Rocky Mountain and desert bighorn licenses for rams, modifying certain hunt dates and season lengths to accommodate more Rocky Mountain bighorn hunters, adding hunts in the Jemez and Manzano mountains that will only be drawn if ram numbers indicates it’s feasible, adding additional youth, rifle, and archery hunts, increasing licenses for Rocky Mountain ewes to address population management issues, and adding an additional hunt period to Fra Cristobal desert ram hunt to spread out hunters. We propose removing manner and method references from the bighorn sheep rule. Removed content will be included in the manner and method rule to open later in 2018. The proposal also includes allowing the Director, with chairperson concurrence, to designate some population management ram hunts as not once-in-a-lifetime. In addition, we propose modifying the enhancement program such that the auction hunter declares which herd they will hunt by June 30, the raffle hunter declares by July 20, and both hunters can hunt the remaining open areas (but not the other person’s declared herd). A full text of changes will be available on the Department’s website at: www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Interested persons may submit comments on the proposed changes to the Bighorn Sheep rule at DGF-Bighorn-Rules@state.nm.us;or individuals may submit written comments to the physical address below. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on May 21, 2018. The final proposed rule will be voted on by the Commission during a public meeting on May 22, 2018. Interested persons may also provide data, views or arguments, orally or in writing, at the public rule hearing to be held on May 22, 2018.

Full copies of text of the proposed new rule, technical information related to proposed rule changes, and the agenda can be obtained from the Office of the Director, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507, or from the Department’s website at www.wildlife.state.nm.us/commission/proposals-under-consideration/. This agenda is subject to change up to 72 hours prior to the meeting. Please contact the Director’s Office at (505) 476-8000, or the Department’s website at www.wildlife.state.nm.us for updated information.

If you are an individual with a disability who is in need of a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter, or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the hearing or meeting, please contact the Department at (505) 476-8000 at least one week prior to the meeting or as soon as possible. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible formats. Please contact the Department at 505-476-8000 if a summary or other type of accessible format is needed.

Legal authority for this rulemaking can be found in the General Powers and Duties of the State Game Commission 17-1-14, et seq. NMSA 1978; Commission’s Power to establish rules and regulations 17-1-26, et seq. NMSA 1978.