New Mexico Register / Volume XXX, Issue 23 / December 17, 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 January 17, 2020, beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Rd, Las Cruces, NM, 88011 to hear and consider action as appropriate on the following: 1) presentation of proposed changes to the Trapping and Furbearers rule; and 2) presentation of proposed changes to the Hunting and Fishing - Manner and Method of Taking rule.

Synopsis:

The proposals are to: 1) adopt a new Trapping and Furbearers rule, 19.32.2 NMAC, which will become effective April 1, 2020; and 2) amend the Hunting and Fishing - Manner and Method of Taking rule, 19.31.10 NMAC, which will become effective April 1, 2020. The current Trapping and Furbearers rule and the current Hunting and Fishing - Manner and Method of Taking rule are permanent rules.

The proposed new Trapping and Furbearers rule includes: 1) that the duration will be four years; 2) all furbearer hunters and trappers will be required to complete a trapper education course; 3) the nutria season will be April 1-March 31; 4) there will be a raccoon season May 16-Aug 31 with restricted trap types; 5) land sets will be prohibited on portions of Los Alamos County, the Sandia Ranger District, the eastern portion of Organ Mountain-Desert Peaks National Monument, within ½ mile of NM Hwy 475 on the Santa Fe National Forest, and within ½ mile of NM Hwy 150 on the Cason National Forest.

The following proposed provisions in the Trapping and Furbearers rule have been modified and transferred to the Hunting and Fishing - Manner and Method of Taking rule: 1) requiring a setback distance of 1/2 mile from trailheads, roadside rest areas, picnic areas, or occupied dwelling without permission of the landowner; 2) requiring water sets to be set fully in water; 3) requiring that no land set shall be placed within 30 feet of bait which is greater than two ounces in weight and visible to airborne raptors; 4) requiring all foothold traps to have at least two separate swivel points in the anchor chain; 5) requiring all foothold traps to have an anchoring or drag system that prevents a trapped animals from escaping with the trap; and 6) requiring break-away devices to be used for all snares set on land.

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 Trapping and Furbearers rule at: DGF-Furbearer-Rules@state.nm.us, or individuals may submit written comments to the physical address below. Comments are due by 9:00 a.m. on January 16, 2020. The final proposed rule will be voted on by the Commission during a public meeting on January 17, 2020. Interested persons may also provide data, views or arguments, orally or in writing, at the public rule hearing to be held on January 17, 2020.

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.