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 Pronghorn Antelope rule.

Synopsis:

The proposal is to adopt a new Pronghorn Antelope rule, 19.31.15 NMAC, which will become effective April 1, 2019. The current Pronghorn Antelope rule is set to expire on March 31, 2019.

The proposed new rule will be modelled after the deer hunting program to increase sustainable hunting opportunities, while maintaining robust populations based on pronghorn biology and modern population survey techniques. Public licenses will be allocated by Game Management Unit (GMU) through the big game draw. Public hunters will be able to hunt accessible public land in the GMU in which they draw, and private deeded land with written permission. Unlimited over-the-counter private land licenses will be offered during established seasons. These would run concurrently with public hunts in the same GMU. Private land hunters will be able to hunt private deeded land with written permission. Nine-day archery hunts and 3-day rifle, mobility impaired, and youth hunts will be offered in August. Public draw and private land female/immature hunting opportunities will be offered to hunters in October where local pronghorn populations warrant such hunts. A program will be created to recognize properties that have accomplished substantial habitat improvements to benefit pronghorn by developing alternative season dates on their properties. Ranch-wide agreements will create a hunting ranch consisting of both deeded and public leased lands that can be hunted by private-land hunters (with a limit to the private-land licenses) and public draw hunters in that GMU. We propose removing manner and method references from the pronghorn antelope rule. The removed content will be included in the manner and method rule to open later in 2018. 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 Pronghorn Antelope rule at Nicole.Quintana@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.