New Mexico Register / Volume XXX, Issue 19 / October 15, 2019

STATE GAME COMMISSION MEETING AND RULE MAKING NOTICE

The New Mexico State Game Commission (“Commission”) has scheduled a regular meeting and rule hearing for Thursday November 21, 2019, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish office, 1615 W. College Blvd., Roswell, NM 88201, to hear and consider action as appropriate on the following: presentation of proposed changes to the Bear and Cougar rule.

Synopsis:

The proposal is to adopt a new Bear and Cougar rule, 19.31.11 NMAC, which will become effective April 1, 2020. The current Bear and Cougar rule is set to expire on March 31, 2019.

The proposed new rule includes: 1) changing the start date for the bear general weapon type season to September 25 in Bear Management Zones 10, 12, and 13, and extending the closing date to December 15 in Zones 10 and 12, and November 30 in Zone 13; 2) grouping the Barker and Colin Neblett Wildlife Management Area (Hunt Code BER-1-104) and Valle Vidal (Hunt Code BER-1-105) draw licenses as a single license and including the Urraca Wildlife Management Area in the areas open to hunting with that license; 3) no longer allowing traps and foot snares as a method of sport harvest for cougar; 4) adjusting cougar harvest limits to align with recent data and management objectives; 5) moving Game Management Unit 25 from Cougar Management Zone J to Cougar Management Zone L; and 6) no longer allowing an additional two tags for cougar license holders who have successfully filled their original two tags. 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 Bear and Cougar rule at: DGF-Bear-Cougar-Rules@state.nm.us, or individuals may submit written comments to the physical address below. Comments are due by 5:00 p.m. on November 19, 2019. The final proposed rule will be voted on by the Commission during a public meeting on November 21, 2019. Interested persons may also provide data, views or arguments, orally or in writing, at the public rule hearing to be held on November 21, 2019.

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.