NMDGF Conservation News
The latest conservation news and press releases from New Mexico Game and Fish. Department-wide news can be found under Home → NMDGF News.
Governor’s Special Hunt Auction Online for 2024
Proceeds to benefit Game Protection Fund and NMDGF mission-related projects and programs. New Mexico – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, pursuant to 2007 legislation, has authorized the auctioning of eight big-game hunts to benefit wildlife conservation in New Mexico. The Department has partnered with New Mexico Ducks Unlimited (DU) to offer the New Mexico Governor’s Special Hunt Auction 2024 Online. Funds from the public auction support the Game Protection Fund and are used solely for Department mission-related projects and programs. The eight opportunities offered this year are up for auction now and will close on June 23 at 6 p.m. The hunts this year include: Exotics Hunt Package including an either-sex oryx license and either-sex barbary sheep license. Coues deer license in Game Management Units (GMUs) 23, 24, 26 or 27. Elk license in GMUs 34 or 36. Elk license in GMUs 16 A-E. Elk license in GMU 55A Valle Vidal. [...]
Project proposals sought for Share with Wildlife funding in FY 2025
As of April 1, 2024, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s (Department’s) Share with Wildlife program will begin accepting proposals for projects with a planned start date on or after January 15, 2025. All project proposals are due by 4:00 p.m. Mountain Daylight Time on Friday, May 31, 2024. The Department’s Share with Wildlife program was initiated in the early 1980s and welcomes proposals for wildlife-focused projects taking place in New Mexico in four categories: habitat enhancement, biological and ecological research, wildlife rehabilitation, and wildlife education. The program receives an average of about 30 proposals annually and has consistently funded approximately 9 - 11 projects each year. This year, the Department is aiming to fund fewer, larger projects that may extend for 2 years maximum (see details below). Project topics of particular interest to the Department, details about proposal format, and submission directions are listed in the Call [...]
Public’s help sought in Bandelier poaching case
United States park rangers at Bandelier National Monument and conservation officers from the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish are seeking the public’s help with identifying those responsible for illegally killing a bull elk within monument boundaries. The elk pictured was killed between the early hours of Thursday, Sept. 28, and Friday, Sept. 29. The incident occurred on State Road 4 between mile markers 45 and 44 on the north side of the road, approximately one-half mile east of the Cerro Grande Trailhead within Bandelier National Monument. “Poaching is a crime that affects all of the people of New Mexico,” said Col. Tim Cimbal with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Field Operations Division. “Poachers steal wildlife from the people of our state.” If you have information about this incident that could help investigators, please call the Bandelier Crime Tip Line at 505-709-0077. Though you may remain anonymous, up to $5,000 [...]
How are Rare Terrestrial Snails Faring?
Project Highlight: How are Rare Terrestrial Snails Faring? Mineral Creek mountainsnail. (Eric Wallace) How many rare snails can still be found in locations where they used to occur? Are there certain sources of disturbance likely to negatively impact these snails? These are some of the questions that Eric Wallace tried to answer during surveys carried out in very rugged, remote parts of southwestern New Mexico in 2020 and 2021. This work was completed in partnership with the Share with Wildlife program at the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Department). The geographic ranges of many of the terrestrial snails in New Mexico, especially those listed as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico, are somewhat restricted with some species only being found in a single, isolated mountain range or even within a single canyon of a mountain range. [...]