Two Antelope Shot and Left to Rot in New Mexico, DGF Seeking Information

Estancia, NM – The Department of Game and Fish would like to make the holidays a lot less merry for whoever shot two pronghorn antelope and left them to rot in a field near Estancia.

Conservation officer John Martsh said the antelope were killed sometime between 10 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Dect. 15, off N.M. 542 near mile marker 3 just south of Estancia. There was no hunting season in progress at the time.

“It appears that someone drove up, shot the antelope and then left the scene in a hurry to prevent being caught,” Martsh said.

A $350 reward is being offered for information that leads to charges being filed in connection with the case. Anyone with information is encouraged to call Operation Game Thief toll-free, (800) 432-4263. Callers may remain anonymous.

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Ted Turner Joins his Son on Beau Knows Outdoors

New Berlin, WI – November 16, 2011 – Prominent land-owner and Turner Enterprises’ Chairman Ted Turner joins his son, Beau Turner, for an afternoon quail hunt on Beau’s show, Beau Knows Outdoors, tomorrow night exclusively on Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman. The show features Ted Turner enjoying spending time with his son on the Armendaris Ranch in New Mexico.  Viewers will also journey with Beau to his family’s Vermejo Park Ranch, where he harvests a memorable mule deer and plays cat and mouse for Gemsbok. Tune in to watch the Turners this Thursday, November 17 at 10:30 p.m. EST

Ted and Beau find Scaled and Gambel’s quail in the powerful New Mexico heat. With bird-hunting dogs by their sides, father and son make it an afternoon to remember.

“I am not the owner of the land, I am a custodian of it,” said Ted Turner. “It’s our responsibility to take care of the land in the most environmentally friendly way possible.”

“I’m very proud to have dad on this episode. He does so much for his ranches and cares about maintaining the right standards for the wildlife,” said Beau Turner, host of Beau Knows Outdoors.

The excitement did not stop with quail hunting as Beau Turner travels to Vermejo Park Ranch in New Mexico in search of a trophy mule deer. This hunt includes a lot of glassing before Turner spots a 4X4 mature buck within 100 yards. The buck is located in the brush before he tags his first mule deer at Vermejo Park Ranch.

The episode continues back to Armendaris Ranch as Beau sets his sights on the Gemsbok, the fourth largest Antelope species. After a lot of patience on the spot and stalk, Beau and his guide spot a Gemsbok from 300 yards. Viewers will have to watch the episode to see if Beau tags this impressive animal!

ABOUT BEAU TURNER: Beau Turner is involved in numerous charitable organizations related to environmental conservation and preservation around the world. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Turner Endangered Species Fund and is the Director of Natural Resources and Biodiversity for Turner Enterprises, Inc.,.  Among Beau’s challenges is the directive to balance a strong concern and ethic for environmental protection with several for-profit ventures, including the largest bison operation in the world. He serves as a Trustee for the Turner Foundation, Inc., a private family foundation that focuses on environmental and population-related causes, and serves on the boards of the Jane Smith Turner Foundation, the Captain Planet Foundation, the Wetlands America Trust and the Peregrine Fund.  He is also a council member for the Jim Range Conservation Fund, and also works closely with numerous outdoors and environmental groups. Beau’s greatest passion is getting young people outdoors and excited about nature and the environment. To help achieve this goal, he founded the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center (BTYCC) near his home in Florida in 2008. The BTYCC is a place where children are encouraged to be active outdoors. They learn about conservation, interact with nature, acquire fishing, archery, hunting and camping skills and study alternative energy sources (the center is powered primarily by solar panels). Currently, Beau is working on growing the youth center concept and developing the BTYCC into a model for similar centers nationwide.

SPORTSMAN CHANNEL: Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities.  Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation’s largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (www.twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl), become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/sportsmanchannel and download Sportsman App at www.itunes.com/appstore

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300 Late-Season New Mexico Archery Elk Licenses Available Nov. 2 in Online Sale

Santa Fe – Three hundred late-season archery elk hunting licenses will be available Nov. 2 in a first-come, first-served sale on the Department of Game and Fish website.

Only hunters who did not hold a 2011-2012 elk license are eligible to purchase the late-season licenses, which will be available only on the Department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Hunters of all ages can purchase licenses beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 2.

Hunters are strongly advised to obtain an online customer account or review their existing account, user name and password before the sales begin. The sale is first-come, first-served and popular hunts sell out quickly. Available late-season elk licenses include:

Archery hunts, trophy bull elk APRE/6 (six-point antlers or more on one side):

• Unit 12 — Nov. 19-23, 25 licenses.
• Unit 34 — Dec. 17-21, 200 licenses.
• Unit 37 — Dec. 3-7, 100 licenses.

The Department makes late-season elk licenses available as biologists continue to assess annual population and harvest information, regional herd management objectives and additional harvest needs. Because these assessments require information gathered during fall aerial surveys and regular fall hunts, the licenses are made available via an online, first-come, first-served sale.

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Efforts Continue to Limit Trapping in New Mexico

Trapping continues to be a controversial topic in New Mexico. This past summer, we reported on a move by the New Mexico State Game Commission to follow the recommendations of the New Mexico Game and Fish Department to overturn a ban on trapping in New Mexico’s Wolf Recovery Area.

The ban was put in place by former Gov. Bill Richardson in an attempt to protect recovering gray wolves. After a university study that showed minimal impacts of trapping to wolves, the recommendation was to overturn the ban.

Since the trapping ban was overturned, a group opposed to trapping in New Mexico has been working to ban trapping on public lands in the state.

A recent article in Farmington, New Mexico’s Daily Times tells the tale of one local trapper and the group working to make his activities illegal.

Tom Fisher would like to trap a conservationist just to prove it doesn’t hurt.Fisher uses a KB Compound 5.5 Predator Trap. The device is equipped with shock-spring technology that absorbs the initial wave of panic that sets in when the critter is caught. The trap is loose when animals are relaxed and squeezes when they try to escape.

A trap that doesn’t maul is essential, Fisher said, in order to keep the pastime legal in the state.

“We’re a minority, and these people are trying to railroad us,” Fisher said. “I have a stake in protecting animals as a resource. I don’t want to trap the last one.”

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Expect Roadblocks in New Mexico During Hunting Seasons

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will conduct roadblocks throughout the state during fall hunting seasons to collect harvest data and to apprehend wildlife law violators.

Conservation officers also will check for compliance with the registration requirements and safety provisions of the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Act, and drivers of vehicles hauling wood products will be asked to produce documentation as required by the Forestry Conservation Act.

Department officers may be assisted by other law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Police or county sheriff’s departments. As a result, hunters may encounter minor delays.

To report a wildlife-law violation, please contact your local Department of Game and Fish conservation officer or call the toll-free Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-432-GAME (4263). Callers can remain anonymous and earn rewards for information leading to charges being filed.

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Hunting Giant New Mexico Mule Deer with the American Huntress

Monster mule deer and a world class outfitter grace our camera and hunters on this week’s episode. Join The American Huntress today at noon on the Sportsman Channel for part 1 of Linda’s adventure at High Desert Ranch in New Mexico.

Niles, Ohio- This week’s show is part one of some fantastic mule deer hunting at the newly opened High Desert Ranch in New Mexico. Linda is joined by good friends Herb and Marla Atkinson and Charlene Sandel for some huntin’ with the girls. Watch Linda as she finally gets a shot at “Mr. Big” and Marla as she patiently waits for her chance at a perfect 4×4 buck. The new lodge at High Desert Ranch managed by Brian Cline and family offers a mule deer herd that is second to none. With a new 12,000 square foot lodge, gourmet dining, and 5 star accommodations, High Desert Ranch is fast becoming one of the world’s premier destinations for trophy mule deer and true relaxation. The beauty and splendor of this New Mexico hunt make this an episode you don’t want to miss!

More on High Desert Ranch: From the very beginning the mission for High Desert Ranch has been to develop and manage a mule deer herd that would offer the best hunting in the country. The first plan of action was to close High Desert Ranch to hunting for the past six years. This allowed the mule deer herd to multiply and mature. Our primary goal going forward is to be the preferred mule deer hunting destination. We have been working diligently to optimize a game management plan to maximize our chances of reaching our goals. While we were working diligently on improving the herd, we began planning a hunting lodge that would allow our clients to enjoy their experience to the utmost. After multiple reviews and revisions the final plans took shape, and we began construction in the fall of 2008. We worked through a number of construction issues and completed the lodge in January of 2010. You can get a reasonable feel for the comfort within and around the lodge by clicking on the lodge tab, but to really appreciate it, you need to experience it during a hunt. The lodge and the fire pit offer a comfortable atmosphere for fellowship and sharing hunting stories. You will have the opportunity to fully relax.

With the facilities complete and the herd continuing to improve, I invite all hunters who have a passion for mule deer hunting to experience High Desert Ranch. You the client are the most important part of making our dream a reality. Our dedicated staff will do everything possible to have you reach your dream of a hunt of a life time and a wall hanger mule deer. I know that you will fully enjoy your visit to the Land of Enchantment.

Steve Foutz,

Managing Member, High Desert Ranch

For more information on High Desert Ranch visit www.hdrmuledeerhunting.com

For more information on Hornady ammunition and bullets, visit: www.hornady.com

For more information on Ruger firearms, go to: www.ruger.com

To learn more about The American Huntress, visit http://americanhuntress.com

For The American Huntress schedule and episode information ON The Sportsman’s Channel, visit:

http://www.thesportsmanchannel.com/programming/descriptions/description.php?ID=231

About Sportsman Channel:

Launched in 2003, Sportsman Channel is the only television and digital media company fully devoted to the more than 82 million sportsmen in the United States, delivering entertaining and educational programming focused exclusively on hunting, shooting and fishing activities.

Sportsman Channel is now available in HD, check with your local cable or satellite provider. Acquired by InterMedia Outdoors Holdings in 2006, Sportsman Channel reaches 27 million U.S. television households and is a part of the nation’s largest multimedia company targeted exclusively to serving the information and entertainment needs of outdoors enthusiasts. Visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com, follow on Twitter, @SPORTSMANchnl (www.twitter.com/SPORTSMANchnl), become a Fan on Facebook, www.facebook.com/sportsmanchannel and download Sportsman App at www.itunes.com/appstore

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New Mexico Trapping Ban Overturned

There’s great news for trappers in New Mexico today.  The New Mexico State Game Commission unanimously voted to overturn a ban placed on trapping in the Gray Wolf Recovery Area by Governor Bill Richardson last year.

We reported on the trapping ban a year ago, and noted that a study was underway to determine whether trapping in New Mexico had an impact on the wolf population.  While that study has been completed, results have not yet been released to the public.  The New Mexico Game and Fish Department had the chance to review the study, and Game and Fish officials recommended that the trapping ban be lifted, presumably based on those results.

Trappers shouldn’t be surprised to see the ban lifted as a result of the study, considering that trapping is used to safely catch and transport wolves in recovery efforts throughout North America.  However, we’re all used to regulation decisions being based on politics.  This time around, both the science and politics were in favor of trappers in New Mexico.  A new governor, elected during the 2010 political swing, had a different view on the trapping issue than did Gov. Richardson.

The animal rights groups are up in arms about the decision, which they had hoped would go the other way, and provide momentum for a statewide trapping ban in New Mexico.  Even the AP article by Susan Bryan seemed to be very biased toward animal rights groups.  She referred to the animal rights extremist groups as the “conservationists”.  Anyone with experience in trapping and wildlife management knows that trappers and wildlife biologists are the real conservationists, as they work to maintain wildlife populations in a healthy balance with humans and nature.  A more fitting term to describe the opponents of the decision would be “activists”.

Trappers and wildlife managers have won a victory this time around, and the threat to legal trapping in New Mexico will have to wait.

 

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RMEF and NRA Whittington Center to Host ‘Big Bull Shootoff’

MISSOULA, Mont.–The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s Northeast New Mexico Chapter is teaming up with the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, N.M., for a one-of-a-kind shooting sports event especially for hunters, August 26-28.

The “Big Bull Shootoff” simulates field situations and shot opportunities encountered during archery and firearms hunts for big game. The course is designed to challenge and hone shooting skills.

The event is open to anyone interested in hunting, shooting and conservation.

Competition is being divided into classes for men, women and youths–plus special divisions for RMEF chapters from around the country vying for organizational bragging rights and unique traveling trophies for the best rifle and archery teams.

“The event begins on a Friday with open shooting to allow registered shooters to warm up, followed by several fun-shoot events and a special RMEF reception. On Saturday, the shooting events begin in earnest. Saturday night features a big game banquet, auction, raffles and games. We’ll wrap up on Sunday with a breakfast awards ceremony to honor our shooting champions,” said Doug Doherty, RMEF regional director for New Mexico.

The main rifle competition offers 10 stations with 20 targets out to 400 yards, with scores based on shot placement and time. United Bowhunters of New Mexico is working with the RMEF chapter to set up a 3-D archery course using the same concept as the rifle competition. Both are limited to 150 competitors each.

In addition to these featured competitions, other attractions will include sporting clays, five-stand and other shotgun, pistol and rifle shooting, product vendors exhibiting their latest and greatest, and RMEF’s new Project SAFE program to help young and novice shooters discover America’s hunting heritage and conservation.

For event details, pricing and registration, contact RMEF volunteers Ira or Lynette Simpson at (575) 445-3988. Reservations are limited. Registration closes Aug. 12.

The entire event is a fundraiser to support RMEF’s mission to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. Since 1985, RMEF and its partners have completed 256 different conservation and education projects in New Mexico with a combined value of more than $19.3 million.

The NRA Whittington Center is one of the nation’s premier shooting sports facilities. Founded in 1973, the center offers many competitive, educational and recreational activities in all shooting disciplines–and hosted more than 115,000 visitors in 2010. On site camping and lodging facilities are available (there also are many hotels in Raton). Learn more about the center atwww.nrawc.org.

About the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation:
Snowy peaks, dark timber basins and grassy meadows. RMEF is leading an elk country initiative that has conserved or enhanced habitat on over 5.9 million acres–a land area equivalent to a swath three miles wide and stretching along the entire Continental Divide from Canada to Mexico. RMEF also works to open, secure and improve public access for hunting, fishing and other recreation. Get involved at www.rmef.org or 800-CALL ELK.

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NRA Says: Obama Administration Approves Illegal Multiple Sales Reporting Requirement

On Monday, the Justice Department announced that it will proceed with a controversial reporting procedure that will require federally licensed firearms retailers in states bordering Mexico to report multiple sales of semi-automatic rifles.

Last fall, the reporting procedure was proposed as an “emergency” measure by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. The procedure specifically calls for all of the firearm retailers in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to report multiple sales, or other dispositions, of two or more .22 caliber or larger semi-automatic rifles that are capable of accepting a detachable magazine and that are purchased by the same individual within five consecutive business days. For example, a dealer would have to tell the government every time a deer hunter in Sacramento or Amarillo finds a good deal on a pair of semi-auto .30-06s like the popular Remington 7400.

The BATFE has no legal authority to demand these reports, and the flood of new paperwork (BATFE estimates 18,000 reports per year) will waste scarce law enforcement resources that should be spent on legitimate investigations.

Deputy Attorney General James Cole said in the DOJ statement that this new reporting measure “will improve the ability of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to detect and disrupt the illegal weapons trafficking networks responsible for diverting firearms from lawful commerce to criminals and criminal organizations.”

As anyone who watches the news is aware, the BATFE has recently come under intense scrutiny due to its involvement in, and handling of, the ill-conceived and ill-fated “Fast and Furious” operation. “Fast and Furious” was a part of the five-year-old “Project Gunrunner” program and encouraged Arizona gun stores to sell thousands of guns to suspicious buyers, despite objections from dealers and BATFE field agents alike.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) called the new policy “the height of hypocrisy,” and said the Obama administration is restricting the gun rights of border state citizens “when the administration knowingly and intentionally allowed guns to be trafficked into Mexico.” Smith went on to say, “Limiting the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens is not going to solve the problem.”

Earlier this year, the U.S. House of Representatives voted on and passed, by a vote of 277 to 149, an amendment to H.R. 1 offered by Reps. Denny Rehberg (R-Mont.) and Dan Boren (D-Okla.) that prohibits the use of federal funds for the reporting scheme.

Unfortunately, the amendment was not included in the final version of the bill as a result of Senate inaction. In March, U.S. Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Richard Burr (R-N.C.) introduced legislation (S. 570) “to prohibit the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloging the purchases of multiple rifles and shotguns.” The bill would prohibit the use of federal funds for a multiple sales reporting scheme proposed by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Please contact your Senator and encourage him or her to cosponsor S. 570 to stop this blatant abuse of power. You can reach your Senators at (202) 224-3121 or send them an e-mail by clicking here.

Commenting on the DOJ announcement, NRA-ILA Executive Director Chris W. Cox said, “$40 billion transnational criminal enterprises don’t fill out paperwork and are not deterred by paperwork violations. This is a blatant effort by the Obama administration and ATF to divert the focus of Congress and the general public from their gross incompetence in the ‘Fast and Furious’ scandal. This scheme will unjustly burden law abiding retailers in border states. It will not affect drug cartels and it won’t prevent violence along our borders. The BATFE and the Administration lack the statutory authority to do this and the NRA will file suit as soon as BATFE sends the first demand letters.”

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Pheasants Forever Event Goes Back to Leopold’s New Mexico Roots

For the first time in its 17-year history, Pheasants Forever’s Leopold Education Project National Conference will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico, site of Aldo Leopold’s early career. The conference will be held at the Bosque School July 28-30 and registration is open to anyone interested in learning about Leopold’s land ethic as it applies to today’s natural resources and communities.

Pheasants Forever’s Leopold Education Project is a national network of educators and citizens who work to connect youth and adults to land stewardship and wildlife conservation practices using Leopold’s classic, A Sand County Almanac.

“This conference is unique and exciting because attendees will have the opportunity to explore how Leopold developed his ‘land ethic’ concept during his early years as a forester. We have a dynamic program planned with field trips to historic sites and renowned conservation speakers,” explained Janine Kohn, Pheasant Forever’s National Leopold Education Project Coordinator. “We will also be discovering how Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well in communities throughout the nation. I can’t imagine a more beautiful setting to connect to Leopold’s early work, which included establishing the first wilderness area in our country.”

This year’s keynote speakers include renowned conservationists William deBuys and David Parsons.

Writer and conservationist William deBuys was named a Lyndhurst Fellow for 1986-1988, a Carl and Florence King Fellow at SMU in 1999-2000, and a Guggenheim Fellow in 2008-2009. From 1982 to 1986 he directed the North Carolina Chapter of the Nature Conservancy and from the late 1980s through the 1990s he represented The Conservation Fund in the Southwest. His efforts have led to the permanent protection of over 150,000 acres of wild lands in North Carolina and the Southwest. From 2001 to 2004, under appointment by President Bill Clinton, he served as founding chairman of the Valles Caldera Trust, which administers the 89,000-acre Valles Caldera National Preserve under an experimental approach to the management of public lands.

David Parsons is a professional wildlife biologist, who retired after 25 years from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. He led the USFWS’s Mexican Gray Wolf Recovery Program from 1990-1999 as a Wildlife Biologist for the USFWS. Mr. Parsons has received the New Mexico Chapter of The Wildlife Society’s annual “Professional Award” in 2001, the “Alpha Award” for his “outstanding professional achievement and leadership toward the recovery of Mexican wolves” in 2006, the “Outstanding Conservation Leadership Award” from the Wilburforce Foundation and the “Mike Seidman Memorial Award” from the Sky Island Alliance for his conservation achievements.

The conference will host a special showing of the film, Green Fire, two-day Land Ethic Leaders workshops hosted by The Aldo Leopold Foundation, Leopold Education Project Workshop at the Rio Grande Nature Center and field trip to Mia Casita (home built by Leopold) at Tres Piedras, as well as a wide array of fabulous concurrent sessions presented by professionals from around the country.

Friday evening highlights include a banquet sponsored by Greater American Ribs, wine tasting, and Saturday will culminate with a genuine southwest dinner at the Posada horse ranch and musical entertainment by nationally recognized Illinois conservationists, Curt Carter and Tom Connelly. For more event details, contact Janine Kohn at (651) 209-4971 / Email Janine.

Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 135,000 members and 700 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Chapters are empowered to determine how 100 percent of their locally raised conservation funds are spent, the only national conservation organization that operates through this truly grassroots structure.

 

 

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