AmmoLand Gun News

COLUMBUS/SANTA FE --(Ammoland.com)- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine and New Mexico Department of Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Gorden E. Eden, Jr. have signed an agreement that permits reciprocity between their states for citizens who have valid concealed carry permits.

“I am pleased that this agreement between Ohio and New Mexico will allow Ohioans who have concealed carry permits the same rights to carry a concealed handgun in the State of New Mexico, as well as New Mexicans who have concealed carry permits to do the same in Ohio” said Attorney General DeWine.

Secretary Eden reiterated those remarks. “As proponents of the Second Amendment, the New Mexico Department of Public Safety is happy to extend concealed carry rights to licensed Ohioans, as those same rights are extended to licensed New Mexicans who visit Ohio.”

Ohio law permits the Attorney General to enter into written agreements with other states whose laws are “substantially comparable” to Ohio’s eligibility requirements for a license to carry a concealed handgun. In New Mexico, this authority falls under the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

New Mexico’s and Ohio’s concealed carry laws are very similar to one another. Both states require a background check for long-term residents of their state or an FBI III check for short-term residents of their states, and both require training in order to be eligible for a concealed carry license.

Concealed carry permit holders will be required to comply with all of the other state’s laws regarding possession, transportation, storage and use of concealed weapons and all other applicable laws except those regarding issuance, suspension, revocation and renewal of concealed weapons licenses, which remain within the power of the issuing state.

Each state will make their verification systems available to the other to be able to check the status of the other state’s concealed carry licenses.

The agreement remains in force unless statutory authority for it is withdrawn by either of the state’s legislatures or terminated in writing by either party upon 30 days notice.

With this signing, Ohio and New Mexico each now have reciprocity agreements with 22 states.

Antelope Shot And Left To Rot South Of Estancia NM

New Mexico Game and Fish

ESTANCIA, NM --(Ammoland.com)- 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.

Remington Model 870 Police Pump Shot Gun

Remington Arms Company

Madison, NC --(Ammoland.com)- Remington Arms Company, LLC (“Remington”) is proud to announce that the Albuquerque Police Department again chose the Remington Model 870 Police Magnum as their department issued shotguns.

“We’re looking forward to receiving our most recent shipment of 100 Remington 870 P shotguns,” stated Commander Tim Gonterman – Albuquerque Police Department. “They have long been a large and integral part of our firearms and less-lethal inventory.”

The Albuquerque Police Department (“APD”) is one of the largest law enforcement entities in the State of New Mexico, serving the city of over one-half million residents.

They face many unique challenges in their jurisdiction and have found unique ways to address the problems. APD has a highly visible equestrian division which patrols downtown and events in the city. Police in Albuquerque are well-known for helpful, friendly, community policing.

The police department is a leader in the area for training with firearms and tactics having multiple ranges with diverse capabilities. Kirkland Air Force Base is located in Albuquerque bringing the pride, resources and challenges a military base brings to a community.

Remington is the leading law enforcement shotgun manufacturer in the United States and has produced more than 10-million Model 870 shotguns. The Model 870 was introduced in 1950 and continues to be a staple of hunting, competition, recreational and law enforcement. It is built with a solid steel receiver machined from an 8-pound block of ordinance steel. The dual action bars offer the most reliable operating system of any pump action shotgun.

The shotgun chosen by APD is the Model 870 Police Magnum which features an 18- inch barrel, parkerized metal finish, black synthetic stock and low-profile sight system. The sight system offers fast, accurate shot placement and reduced time to get back on target.

For more information on the Model 870 Police Magnum and other Remington Law Enforcement products, please visit www.remingtonle.com .

About Remington Arms Company:
Remington Arms Company, LLC, headquartered in Madison, N.C., designs, produces and sells sporting goods products for the hunting and shooting sports markets, as well as solutions to the military, government and law enforcement markets. Founded in 1816 in upstate New York, the Company is one of the nation’s oldest continuously operating manufacturers. Remington is the only U.S. manufacturer of both firearms and ammunition products and one of the largest domestic producers of shotguns and rifles. The Company distributes its products throughout the U.S. and in over 55 foreign countries. More information about the Company can be found at www.remington.com.

Ruidoso, NM to Ban All Guns

Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force

Alamogordo, NM --(Ammoland.com)- The above is from the mayor of Ruidoso, NM.

It is clearly an illegal act, as it violates Article II Section 6 of the NM Constitution. A law suit has already been filed by Miguel Garcia, a local civil rights attorney.

WE NEED YOUR HELP!
There will be a meeting of the Ruidoso city council on Tuesday, 13 september 2011, and we would like to have a group of people open carrying outside the building. The local police will not allow anyone who is armed into the building, so our group will remain outside as a reminder that we have a right to be there.

If you would be willing to help us make a statement here, please reply ASAP. We will provide details later as to where and when.

About:
The Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force is an association of private citizens engaging in the free exercise of their God-given, constitutionally protected right to be armed.Visit: www.alamogordo2atf.com

New Mexico Game and Fish

ALBUQUERQUE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Anyone with a hankering to fire a muzzleloader, tie a fishing fly, shoot a bow and arrow or learn dozens of other outdoor skills is invited to a free weekend of family fun Saturday and Sunday at the annual New Mexico Outdoor Expo at the Albuquerque Shooting Range Park.

The 10th annual event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the park just east of Albuquerque. Activities will focus on education and safe family outdoor fun with hands-on experience and one-on-one expert instruction in shooting, fishing and more. Dozens of organizations, sporting clubs and other groups will be on hand to promote outdoor recreation and conservation.

“This is a great opportunity for the Department of Game and Fish, our volunteers and partners to show people how to safely enjoy the lifetime sports of hunting, fishing and shooting,” said Jennifer Morgan, the Department’s Hunter Education Program Coordinator. “We’re hoping families will come out and learn new ways to enjoy the outdoors.”

Certified instructors will show participants of all ages how to safely shoot .22 rifles and pistols, shotguns and muzzleloaders. Expert archers will provide hands-on instruction with bows and arrows, and experienced anglers will teach fly and spin casting, and show how to tie fishing flies that really catch fish. Other activities include a climbing wall, a fishing pool loaded with lunker catfish, and fishing demonstrations in a huge aquarium filled with New Mexico game fish.

Thinking of taking an off-highway vehicle out for a spin this year? Learn the rules of the road and how to safely operate an OHV on the Department’s OHV simulator.

To get to the Albuquerque Shooting Range Park from Albuquerque, take Interstate 40 west to the top of Nine-mile Hill, exit and drive 4.2 miles north on Atrisco Vista Boulevard (formerly Paseo del Volcan), turn left at the park sign and drive 2.6 miles to the shooting range.

For more information about the Expo, please call (505) 222-4731.

Obama Administration Approves Illegal Multiple Sales Reporting Requirement **Oleg Volk

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- 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.”

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

**Image: by Olegvolk.net

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Wildlife across New Mexico may have become stressed or displaced because of wildfires, but although animals may appear to be lost or abandoned, that does not always mean they need to be rescued.

The Department of Game and Fish is urging people not to pick up deer fawns, elk calves, bear cubs or other wild animals that may appear to be injured or abandoned. Usually, the wild mothers are nearby and will return for their young shortly. Removing the young animals – even with the best intentions – decreases their chances of survival.

“It may seem like the right thing to do, but you’re not ‘rescuing’ a young animal when you take it from its mother,” said Chris Neary, the Department’s Northeast Area Chief in Raton. “In almost all cases, the best thing to do is just leave it alone and quietly leave the area.”

People who pick up wild animals also risk picking up diseases and parasites such as fleas and ticks the animals may be carrying.

It’s very difficult to successfully return wild animals – especially bears – to their natural environment once they have been closely associated with humans. Only licensed wildlife rehabilitators can legally care for injured or abused wildlife in New Mexico. Rehabilitors statewide have reported an increase in animals brought to them this summer, many related to wildfires.

The Department encourages people to report wild animals that are injured or could be considered safety threats. Reports can be made at offices in Santa Fe, (505) 476-8000; Albuquerque, (505) 222-4700; Raton, (575) 445-2311; Las Cruces, (575) 532-2100; or Roswell, (575) 624-6135.

For more information about how to keep wildlife alive and you safe, please visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us and click on the “publications” tab in the top-left corner of the page.

NM Keeping Wildlife Alive Brochure

New Mexico Game and Fish

LOS ALAMOS, NM --(Ammoland.com)-The Las Conchas fire displaced the residents of Los Alamos, and now that they’re returning home from a forced evacuation they are encountering a number of displaced bears.

The Department of Game and Fish and the Los Alamos Police Department have agreed to distribute Living With Large Predator brochures to residents of Los Alamos who are reporting the influx of animals to the community.

The highly mobile nature of black bears is making it impossible to determine how many bears are in town at this time.

“The natural food supply in the Las Conchas Fire area has been reduced by this fire, and the bears are on the move looking for food,” said Shawn Carrell, Cuba District Wildlife Officer for the Department of Game and Fish. As often happens with or without forest fires, bears turn to eating trash and garbage when natural foods are not available.

“We are asking the residents to remove anything that may attract bears like bird feeders, outdoor pet food, and trash,” Carrell said. “This will encourage these bears to move on and locate themselves back in the forest away from town.”

Only one bear has been euthanized due to injuries experienced in the Las Conchas Fire, the Department reported Tuesday. It was an average-sized female found off State Route 4 near the Valles Caldera, not far from where the state’s largest blaze started.

For more detailed information on how to keep bears alive and you safe, please visit the Department of Game and Fish website at www.widlife.state.nm.us and click on the publications tab in the top-left corner of the page. If you have any questions regarding this or any other Department issue, please contact the Albuquerque office at (505) 222-4700.

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. --(Ammoland.com)- The NRA International Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) program will return to Raton, New Mexico July 24-29, 2011.

More than 300 young hunters will descend upon the NRA Whittington Center in Raton along with several hundred parents, coaches, and volunteers from across the country.

The competition celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2010 and has continued to grow.

“YHEC has thrived for over 25 years because of the values and skills that the program instills in young people,” said Bill Poole, Director of NRA’s Education & Training Division.

“These young hunters are learning the benefits of teamwork, discipline and leadership in the field, and they’re also helping keep the tradition of hunting alive in this country for generations to come.”

Often referred to as NRA’s “graduate” program in hunter education, YHEC is comprised of eight events that test hunting knowledge and marksmanship skills. Four of the eight events are shooting-related, with participants competing in shotgun, muzzleloader, rifle, and archery challenges. Addition side events are held for fun including the Flu-Flu Arrow Shoot, Cherokee Run, and the annual tug-of-war.

The remaining four events, known as responsibility events, put the participants’ hunting knowledge to the ultimate test. These events include orienteering, a written test called the Hunter Responsibility Exam, a wildlife identification course, and the Hunter Safety Trail where the young hunters must use their judgment during simulated hunting scenarios.

The awards system for the International YHEC are divided into to two categories: individual and team, and then into two classifications: senior (age 15-18) and junior (age 14 and under). For each event, a maximum score of 300 points is possible for an individual and 1,500 points for a five-person team. When the scores for all eight events are combined, an individual can score a maximum of 2,400 points overall and a team can score 12,000 points overall.

This year’s International YHEC will see many new faces on the range this year thanks to the YHEC Mid-America Expansion Project which helped bring the YHEC program to many of the Midwestern states in late 2010 and 2011.

Each year, approximately 50,000 youth participate in YHEC events at a regional, state, or provincial level throughout the United States and Canada. The International event is open to all young hunters who have successfully completed a North American hunter education course and participated in their regional, state, or provincial YHEC program. Since its inception in 1985, YHEC has helped more than 1.2 million young sportsmen and women become safe, ethical and skilled hunters.

For more information on the YHEC program, contact NRA’s Hunter Services Department at (703) 267-1524 or visit www.nrayhec.org. Follow live coverage of the 2011 NRA International YHEC at www.nrablog.com

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Hunters who applied for New Mexico 2011-2012 deer, elk, antelope, ibex, javelina, bighorn sheep and Barbary sheep licenses can see if they made the drawing “lucky list” Wednesday, June 8, on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Hunters who were successful in the drawings will be mailed licenses and carcass tags according to species. Unsuccessful applicants will receive refunds for prepaid license fees — by check if the application was on paper, or by credits to credit cards if payment was online.

The Department received 141,462 applications for about 65,500 licenses, an increase of 8,701 applications – 8,179 residents and 522 nonresidents — from the previous year.

This was the second year the Department began requiring all applicants to pay the full license fees at the time of application. Previously, only those who submitted paper applications were required to submit full upfront payments, and online applicants were only charged the application fee upfront, with their credit cards charged for the license fee only if they were successful in the drawing.

More than 80 percent of this year’s applicants took advantage of the Department’s online application process, which was first offered in 2004.

Hunters wishing to check their drawing results can log in to their account on the Department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Hunters also can check their results in person by visiting Department offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces. Results will be available June 22 by telephone at (505) 476-8000.

New Mexico Anti-Gun Businesses

Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force

Alamogordo, NM --(Ammoland.com)- As you know, New Mexico law allows private property owners to forbid the carrying of firearms on their property.

Merchants who do this have made a business decision to deny you your God given, and New Mexico affirmed, rights.

They may cite various reasons for their decision, but your rights are abbreviated none the less. We would like to compile a list of these merchants, to assist the members in deciding where they would like to do business.

Personally, no business which makes this decision will ever see a penny of my hard earned money.

To this end, we would appreciate input about businesses which infringe on your right to be armed. The name and location of these businesses would be appreciated.

Also, some businesses do not post their property in accordance with NM law.

The standards for a sign are as follows:

1. Be printed legibly in English
2. Be at least 144 square inches in size
3. Contain the name and address of the person under whose authority the property is posted or the name and address of the person who is authorized to grant permission to enter the property
4. Be placed at each way of access onto the property

To read the whole sign law, go to www.emnrd.state.nm.us/FD/ForestMgt/LE/documents/30-14-6.pdf

A sign which simply says “No Firearms”, or a picture sign, is not in accordance with NM law.

If you encounter a sign which does not meet these requirements, we would like to have that information also. For example, I am told that Margo’s restaurant has a sign near the cash register, but not at the entrance. This is a clear violation of the sign standards, and would be of interest to us.

We’re hoping to get a lot of feedback.

About:
The Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force is an association of private citizens engaging in the free exercise of their God-given, constitutionally protected right to be armed.Visit: www.alamogordo2atf.com

New Mexico Game and Fish

TAOS, NM --(Ammoland.com)- A Taos man with a history of wildlife crimes has been charged with 39 counts of poaching in connection with the illegal killing and possession of 29 deer, five bears, one cougar and four elk through August 2010.

Ray Cortez, 25, also is accused of outfitting without a license and throwing the carcasses of several deer and elk off the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge. He pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to appear for a pre-trial hearing April 19 before Taos Magistrate Betty J. Martinez.

Cortez previously was convicted of hunting cougars in a closed area, hunting cougars without a license, hunting turkeys during a closed season, and violating the Valle Vidal summer closure.

The current charges against Cortez were filed Jan. 21 following an investigation by Department of Game and Fish officers that included three search warrants that turned up evidence alleging that Cortez possessed numerous game animal parts but no licenses or carcass tags to show legal ownership. A charge of tampering with evidence was filed after officers rappelled into the Rio Grande Gorge and recovered heads and carcasses of 12 deer and five elk.

Because of his earlier convictions, Cortez could face substantial enhanced criminal penalties. Many of the confiscated deer were trophy size, which subject him to possible enhanced civil penalties to reimburse the state for the loss of valuable game animals.

The Department of Game and Fish encourages anyone with information about wildlife crimes to call Operation Game Thief toll-free at (800) 432-4263. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for rewards in information leads to charges being filed.

Desert Sheep From Mexico Arrive At Red Rock Wildlife Area

New Mexico Game and Fish

LORDSBURG, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Desert bighorn sheep destined for a captive breeding program at the Red Rock Wildlife Area north of here arrived Saturday, Feb. 26, after more than two months of quarantine in Mexico.

The 10 young rams will provide new genes to a herd that was started at Red Rock in the 1970s.

The rams were provided to the state of New Mexico in exchange for pronghorn antelope that were moved to three wildlife management areas in Mexico during the last two winters.

The state of New Mexico started cooperative wildlife management programs with Mexican wildlife authorities in the 1970s. In 1972, desert bighorn sheep propagation at Red Rock began with five ewes from Mexico, and one ram from the San Andres National Wildlife Refuge on White Sands Missile Range.

Offspring from the Red Rock herd have helped rebuild desert bighorn across New Mexico’s desert mountain ranges. The species once was considered endangered in the state, but after decades of releases, selective predator control, and the support of numerous wildlife conservation groups the animals are candidates for delisting under the Wildlife Conservation Act.

“These rams from Mexico are 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 years old,” said Darrel Weybright, big-game project leader for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “The idea is that once these rams get a little older, we can take out all the existing Red Rock rams and allow the Mexican rams to do the breeding.”

Weybright said the Red Rock sheep need more genetic diversity. With the bulk of the sheep at Red Rock being from the San Andres, over the next decade offspring from the captive herd will be used to augment desert bighorn populations across New Mexico.

Sportsman Channel

New Berlin, WI --(Ammoland.com)- Sportsman Channel, the leader in outdoor TV for the American Sportsman, announced it has launched on Comcast’s HD service (channel 882) in Albuquerque and surrounding communities. Sportsman Channel is also carried on Comcast’s Digital Preferred tier on channel 278.

“We are excited about the continued expansion in our relationship with Comcast, rolling out our high-definition service to Albuquerque’s passionate base of hunters, shooters and anglers,” said Gavin Harvey, CEO of Sportsman Channel.

“Sportsman continues to innovate and improve the traditional media approach to serving the American Sportsmen with our slate of original programming. We are focused on delivering superior value to our partners and viewers via the highest quality and most entertaining content available, season after season, and in stunning HD.”

Sportsman Channel has recently announced new programming debuting this fall on the network, including shows targeting the outdoors lifestyle on public lands called On Your Own Adventures, and an original production with Beau Turner, son of media mogul Ted Turner, called Beau Knows Outdoors.

“Sportsman Channel will bring high-definition original and quality programming to our customers throughout the Albuquerque area,” said Chris Dunkeson, Area Vice President for Comcast. “The network’s outdoor programming looks stunning in HD, and the many avid sportsmen in our customer base will now be able to enjoy Sportsman Channel on an entirely new level.”

For more information on the Sportsman Channel, please visit www.thesportsmanchannel.com.

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

About Comcast Corporation
Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) (www.comcast.com) is one of the nation’s leading providers of entertainment, information and communications products and services. Comcast is principally involved in the operation of cable systems through Comcast Cable and in the development, production and distribution of entertainment, news, sports and other content for global audiences through NBCUniversal. Comcast Cable is one of the nation’s largest video, high-speed Internet and phone providers to residential and business customers. Comcast is the majority owner and manager of NBCUniversal, which owns and operates entertainment and news cable networks, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, local television station groups, television production operations, a major motion picture company and theme parks.

The winner, Orville Heltzer (alias Magnum) with 3 of our members, Matt St. John, Frank Gebbia, and Dean Woodruff...

Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force

Alamogordo, NM --(Ammoland.com)- We held our drawing yesterday for the Taurus Judge raffle. We would like to thank all of you who bought tickets.

Your support is appreciated. and every dollar goes back to you in the form of the literature we give away and the events we sponser.

Above is a photo of the winner, Orville Heltzer (alias Magnum) with 3 of our members, Matt St. John, Frank Gebbia, and Dean Woodruff.

About:
The Alamogordo Second Amendment Task Force is an association of private citizens engaging in the free exercise of their God-given, constitutionally protected right to be armed.Visit: www.alamogordo2atf.com

New Mexico Game and Fish

MILNESAND, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Artists of all ages are invited to try their hand at depicting one of New Mexico’s most colorful game birds as a participant in this year’s High Plains Prairie Chicken Festival poster contest.

The contest is among several events that will celebrate the 10th annual festival in and around Milnesand in eastern New Mexico.

The festival, limited to the first 100 registrants, sold out this year in record time. Those interested in receiving advance notice of next year’s event can sign up for early bird registration notification by contacting Tish McDaniel, (575) 762-6997 or pmcdaniel@tnc.org.

The deadline for original artwork submissions to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is March 1, 2010. The grand prize winning entry will be reproduced on the annual festival poster, and the artist will receive $300. Top winners in three age categories: adult, grades 7-12, and grades K-6, will receive $50. Prize money is courtesy of the Grasslans Charitable Foundation.

Any two-dimensional media, including but not limited to prints, oils, pastels, acrylics, water media, pen and ink, graphite, photography, digital and mixed media will be considered. Images should represent the lesser prairie chicken and its habitat.

Entries must be received by March 1 in the Public Information and Outreach Division, Department of Game and Fish, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507. Entries will be returned only if accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope, or may be picked up at the Department office in Santa Fe after March 30. Artists should submit 35mm slides, prints, high-resolution digital images or original work. Artwork must include the artist’s name, address, phone or e-mail, and entry category. For more information about the contest, please call (505) 476-8004.

Sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, The Nature Conservancy, the Milnesand community and other partners, the High Plains Prairie Chicken Festival celebrates the lesser prairie chicken and the Llano Estacado (staked plains) of eastern New Mexico. Festival participants see prairie chickens perform their remarkable early morning courtship dances, learn about the cultural and natural history of the southern Great Plains, take daily birding tours, and enjoy good food and western hospitality. Participation in the annual event is limited to 100 to protect the resource and the prairie chickens during mating season.

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has just published the new Big Game and Trapper Rules and Information Booklet for 2011-2012.

It is available online now at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Printed versions will be available by Jan. 1 at license vendors across the state and any of the Department’s five offices.

New information for the 2011-2012 hunting season includes:

• Feb. 2 is the deadline to apply for oryx draw licenses, oryx population management hunts, bear WMA permits and turkey draw permits.
• March 28 is the deadline to apply for public deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, ibex, Barbary sheep, javelina, bighorn sheep draw licenses and all population management hunts except oryx.
• Application fees have been reduced to $8 for residents and $20 for nonresidents.
• All Antelope Management Units (AMUs) have been replaced with Game Management Units (GMUs).
• Hunts for bighorn ewes (females) will be held in the Latir Mountains.
• Legal shooting hours have been increased to 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset for all big game and turkey hunts.

Online applications will be available after Jan. 5.

New Mexico 2011 2012 Hunting & Trapping Rules

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- HORSE SPRINGS – The carcasses of 12 elk found recently near Horse Springs apparently were the remains of legally harvested animals, an investigation by the Department of Game and Fish determined.

Conservation officers were alerted to the carcasses Oct. 26 through the Department’s toll-free Operation Game Thief line.

After visiting the site twice and consulting with the landowner and an outfitter, officers determined the elk were legally harvested and the carcasses dumped on unposted private land after processing. Ten of the carcasses were boned-out for the meat.

Two were left with some meat because it had spoiled before hunters could recover the animals during early archery seasons when the weather was warm.

Conservation officer K.C. Gehrt said the heads or antlers of all the elk had been removed and all animals appeared to be legally harvested. He said he also found the carcass of a legally taken bear at the same site.

The Department encourages hunters and others to report anything that appears to be a violation of the state’s wildlife laws by calling Operation Game Thief toll-free, (800) 432-4263. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for rewards if information leads to charges being filed.

International Training Inc

SHACKLESFORD, VA --(Ammoland.com)- Team International Training, Inc. (ITI) shooter Morgan Allen continued to preserve his perfect record of IDPA State Match Division Titles for 2010 with his recent ESP Division win at the 2010 NM IDPA Championship, held in Las Cruces, NM on October 15 – 16, 2010.

Allen is now seven for seven in State Titles and 10 of 13 total titles for 2010. He also won High Overall.

The match, which was hosted by the Tactical Environment Shooting Team (TEST), featured 12 courses of fire. Allen won three of the twelve stages of fire and took the title home with a score of 203.17.

“It’s always a pleasure to travel out and see my friends in the Southwest, people who understand that value of a great match mixed with the perfect level of hospitality,” commented Allen. “With a great mix of stages testing a shooter’s skill with moving targets, different shooting positions, and targets at distance, the NM State IDPA Championship proved to be a challenging set of courses of fire.”

Allen’s next completion is at the 2010 IDPA GA State Championship, held in Conyers, GA on October 30, 2010, where he hopes to defend his past two division titles to make it three in a row.

• Follow Team ITI on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamITI
• Watch videos of ITI on YouTube: www.youtube.com/wwwitiwsicom

About Morgan Allen
Morgan Allen has only been shooting pistols since 2005, but has already amassed over 20 IDPA State and Regional Division Championship titles under his belt since 2007. Having moved up the ladder from an IDPA Novice to Master in only 14 months, Allen has also won three top five Division finishes at the Smith & Wesson Indoor Nationals. Allen is an NRA Certified Pistol Instructor, as well as an IDPA Safety Officer and PPC Master.

About International Training, Inc.
International Training Incorporated (ITI) is a subsidiary of Wackenhut Services Inc. Founded in 1989; ITI is committed to providing benchmark security training programs emphasizing professionalism, quality, customer service, and a fair price. ITI conducts both mobile and fixed site training in security assistance and security service programs for the U.S. Government, U.S. military, corporate America, and now private citizens. For more information on ITI or any of their courses, log on to www.itiwsi.com.

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- More than 500 late-season elk hunting licenses will be available Nov. 3 in a first-come, first-served sale on the Department of Game and Fish website.

Only hunters who were unsuccessful in the regular drawings or did not hold a 2010-2011 elk license are eligible to purchase the late-season licenses, which will be available only on the Department website. Hunters of all ages can purchase licenses beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 3.

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 license include:

Any legal weapon, antlerless elk:

• Unit 9 (including Water Canyon but not Marquez Wildlife Area) — Jan. 1-31, 50 licenses.
• Unit 34 (portions of unit open; click here for map) — Jan. 1-31, 100 licenses.
• Unit 53 (except Cerro portion) — Dec. 4-8, 50 licenses.

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

• Unit 12 — Nov. 21-24, 25 licenses.
• Unit 34 — Dec. 11-15, 200 licenses.
• Unit 37 — Dec. 4-8, 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 online, first-come, first-served sale. Distributing them through the normal draw process is unrealistic as it requires significantly more time than is available to ensure all successful hunters receive their licenses before the start of their hunt.

YOUTH ELK LICENSES STILL AVAILABLE;
More than 1,200 of the youth-only elk licenses for the 2010 season are still available on the Department of Game and Fish Web site. Youth Encouragement Hunt sales opened Aug. 4 for elk licenses reserved only for eligible youths younger than age 18. Sales will close 10 days before the beginning of the hunts.

Here are some details about the online sale:

• On sale: Now at www.wildlife.state.nm.us. To view available licenses or purchase a license, log in or create an account, click on “Online License System,” and then select “License Sales,” “Additional Opportunities,” “Youth Encouragement Elk.”
• Licenses available: Approximately 1,200 elk licenses for any legal weapon and muzzleloaders. All of the muzzleloader hunts are for elk of either sex. Most of the any legal sporting arm hunts are for cow elk. Hunt dates are scheduled to correspond with school holidays. A complete list of available hunts, including dates and unit numbers, is available on the Online License System.
• Eligibility: Only hunters younger than 18 who applied and were unsuccessful in the regular drawing for any big-game species, and whose applications were not rejected for reasons such as lack of funds, incorrect forms or failure to file a harvest report are eligible to purchase a youth encouragement license. Youths also must have successfully completed an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a license.

New Mexico 2010-2011 Big Game & Trapper Rules & Information

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- New Mexico’s Habitat Stamp Program is scheduling meetings across the state to gather public views of a change to landscape-scale projects for the program.

Money for the projects comes from a $5 validation paid by all hunters, anglers and trappers who use Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service lands in the state.

Recently, the State Game Commission extended the Habitat Stamp Program for another decade.

The public is welcome and encouraged to attend meetings scheduled from 6-8 p.m. at the following locations:

• Central: Sept. 23, Department of Game and Fish office, 3841 Midway Place NE, Albuquerque.
• Northeast: Sept. 24, U.S. Forest Service office, 11 Forest Lane, Santa Fe.
• Southwest: Oct. 4, Mimbres Valley Learning Center, 2300 E Pine St, Deming.
• Southeast: Oct. 5, Bureau of Land Management office, 2909 W. Second St., Roswell.
• Northwest: Oct. 19, Bureau of Land Management office, 1235 La Plata Highway, Farmington.

In its 24-year history, the Habitat Stamp Program improved more than 683,000 acres of habitat on public lands. Additionally, the program has funded 11,000 acres of riparian habitat enhancement, built 738 places for wildlife to drink water, surveyed 705 wildlife populations and habitats, transplanted wildlife 17 times, improved 83 fishing areas, maintained 7,400 previously built structures, and much more.

New Mexico Game and Fish

ALBUQUERQUE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- The State Game Commission will hear proposals and public comments about hunting seasons and licensing rules for bears, cougars, pronghorn antelope and deer at its meeting Saturday, Aug. 28, in Albuquerque.

Proposals include increased harvest limits for bears and cougars for the 2011-2014 seasons, and options to change the way the Department of Game and Fish allocates private-land pronghorn antelope licenses.

The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Albuquerque Marriott, 2101 Louisiana Blvd., N.E., in Albuquerque. The full agenda, detailed agenda-item briefings and other information are available on the Department of Game and Fish Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or by calling (505) 476-8008. Details of proposed hunting rules and opportunities to comment about them also are available on the Web site.

The Commission is expected to take final action on the 2011-2014 bear, cougar, pronghorn and deer proposals at its Sept. 30 meeting in Ruidoso.

Other agenda items Aug. 28 include:

• A proposal to accept the Department’s biennial review of the status of state threatened and endangered species under the Wildlife Conservation Act. No species are recommended for uplisting or downlisting.
• A request to approve the Department’s operating and capital projects budget requests for fiscal-year 2012.
• A report on Gov. Bill Richardson’s executive order to temporarily ban trapping in the Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area of southwestern New Mexico while the Department conducts a study to assess the risks to Mexican Gray Wolves from trapping and whether some methods of trapping could be allowed that pose minimal risk of injury to wolves.

The State Game Commission is composed of seven members who represent the state’s diverse interests in wildlife-associated recreation and conservation. Members are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Current members are Chairman Jim McClintic, Vice-chairwoman Sandy Buffett, Tom Arvas, Gary Fonay, Kent Salazar, M.H. “Dutch” Salmon, and Thomas “Dick” Salopek.

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 meeting, please contact Sonya Quintana, (505) 476-8030. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in various accessible forms.

New Mexico Game and Fish

CEDAR CREST, NM --(Ammoland.com)-One person killed a black bear when it approached aggressively Wednesday night, and another person killed one that was attacking a llama near Placitas, the Department of Game and Fish announced Thursday.

State law allows individuals to kill wildlife when it is a threat to human safety, or is destroying crops or other property. As of early this week, the Department has handled 151 bear complaints since April 1, with more coming in each day.

More than 30 bears have been killed statewide since April 1, mostly males that were observed breaking into houses, attacking livestock, or involved in bear attacks on humans.

The bear killed in Cedar Crest by a citizen who felt threatened was a male roughly 200 pounds or more, shot once at about 15 feet. The llama attack was the work of an older male bear with worn teeth and about 175 pounds. The llama survived.

Game and Fish Conservation Officer John Martsh also caught a large male bear in a trap Wednesday night, and then had to respond to two additional bear calls.

“The bear activity is not slowing down,” Martsh said.

Thursday’s trapped bear was approximately 300 pounds and is the second one to be caught this year at the same residence on Juniper Hill Loop in Cedar Crest.

Although food shortages typically create bear problems each spring and summer, the aggressive nature of bears this year also may be a sign of an expanding bear population in some areas of the state, Department officials said.

New Mexico Game and Fish

TORREON, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Patrick Almy of Switzerland came to New Mexico to study Sufi in the Manzano Mountains near here.

Tuesday morning he awoke to a small cinnamon-colored black bear sitting on top of his tent.

The bear scratched Almy during his efforts to get out of the tent and out from under the animal, said Department of Game and Fish Officer John Martsh, who interviewed the Sufi student later in the day.

In a written statement, Almy said he tried to run away from the bear, but then remembered what he had learned on a “cougar poster” he read while visiting a campground in the Cibola National Forest.

“I picked up a branch and some stones and threw them at the bear” Almy said. “The bear ran away, but stayed at some distance. I went back to my tent, but the bear was still close so I threw another rock.”

The camper told Martsh the Sufi students were storing food in a cement or block building with no door on it.

“It sounds like there’s quite a bit of trash there, also, and other things that would be interesting to bears,” Martsh said.

Conservation officer Darrel Cole said Game and Fish receives bear calls every year from the Sufi Foundation, an organization whose Web site says Sufi “develops higher intelligence and awareness.”

Earlier this year, the Department joined forces with Animal Protection of New Mexico, the U.S. Forest Service, Santa Fe County Open Space, and New Mexico State Parks Division to distribute “Cougar Smart” posters at trailheads from the Manzanos to the Carson National Forest.

The bear was described as playful and curious rather than aggressive, and a live trap was set at the Sufi Foundation.

Hikers and campers encountering bears and cougars should stand their ground and not run, keep pets leashed and children close, and fight back if attacked. This is the second incident this year when fighting back terminated a bear attack.

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Youth and adult hunters who missed a shot at a big-game hunting license during this year’s annual drawing will have another chance this August when the Department of Game and Fish puts more than 5,000 deer, elk and javelina licenses up for sale on the agency Web site.

The online sales will be first-come, first-served and will be conducted in two parts on different days.

The first sale will be Aug. 4 for elk licenses reserved only for youths younger than age 18. The second sale will be Aug. 11 for deer and javelina hunts available to youth and adults. Both sales will begin at 10 a.m. Mountain Daylight Time.

Here are some details about the sales:

Youth Encouragement Hunts

• On sale: 10 a.m. Aug. 4 at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
• Licenses available: Approximately 1,900 elk licenses, including about 1,700 for any legal sporting arm and 200 for muzzleloaders. All of the muzzleloader hunts are for elk of either sex. All but 100 of the any legal sporting arm hunts are for cow elk. A complete list of available hunts, including dates and unit numbers, will be announced soon on the Department Web site.
• Eligibility: Only hunters younger than 18 who were unsuccessful in the regular drawing and whose applications were not rejected for reasons such as lack of funds, incorrect forms or failure to file a harvest report are eligible to purchase a youth encouragement license. Youth also must have successfully completed an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a license.

Leftover deer, javelina licenses

• On sale: 10 a.m. Aug. 11 at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
• Licenses available: Approximately 430 javelina licenses and 2,760 deer licenses. Available deer licenses include about 259 hunts for any legal weapon, 1,668 archery hunts and 838 muzzleloader hunts. A complete list of available hunts, including dates and unit numbers, will be announced soon on the Department Web site.
• Eligibility: Residents and nonresidents of any age who meet youth hunter safety requirements and filed a mandatory harvest report if they held a deer or elk license for the 2009-2010 seasons.

Hunters are strongly advised to obtain or review an online customer account, including a Customer Identification Number, user name and password before the sales begin. Popular hunts sell out minutes, sometimes seconds after the sales begin.

For more information and updates about the leftover license and Youth Encouragement license sales, please check the Department Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Philmont Scout Ranch NM

New Mexico Game and Fish

RATON, NM --(Ammoland.com)- A  employee killed a bear early Wednesday after it jumped on a tent and scratched and bit a camper, the Department of Game and Fish reported Wednesday.

Injuries to the 14-year-old scout include a bite to the hand and a deep scratch to the head. The scout was treated at Philmont and then transferred to Santa Fe for additional treatment.

The bear, 2 to 3-year-old, 150-pound male, was killed within two miles of a previous attack on a camper at Philmont, the Department said. There was no apparent cause for the attack, and officials are hopeful the dead bear is the same one that was involved in a previous incident.

Game and Fish wants to remind campers that food, pets, the clothing you cooked in, and toiletries all can attract the attention of bears and lead to a a bear encounter or, in extreme cases, an attack.

This is the second bear killed at Philmont this summer. An earlier bear was killed after it attacked and killed a goat.

The head of the dead bear will be transferred to Veterinary Diagnostic Services to be tested for rabies.

Tune in to New Mexico Game and Fish TV:

“New Mexico Wildlife”

• 6:30 a.m. Saturdays on KASA Channel 2, Albuquerque
• 6:30 p.m. Sundays on KENW, Portales
• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KRWG, Las Cruces

• YouTube: www.youtube.com/NMGameandFish
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/NMDGF

New Mexico Game and Fish

TIJERAS, NM --(Ammoland.com)- A 250-pound male black bear was caught and killed early Monday at the Sandia Mountains picnic ground where a young woman was attacked early Sunday morning, the Department of Game and Fish announced today.

“We are more than 95 percent sure we got the right bear,” said Donald Jaramillo, the Game and Fish Department sergeant for the Albuquerque Supervisory District. The bear’s feces contained hair that appeared to match a dog that was killed and eaten during Sunday’s attack.

The bear was taken to Veterinary Diagnostic Services at the University of New Mexico for a necropsy.

The 20-year-old victim had surgery Sunday at the University of New Mexico Hospital. Her father told Sergeant Jaramillo that she would recovery completely. The victim was dragged from her tent Sunday morning, but fought the bear and got away. She stood up to appear larger, and then ran to her vehicle.

The bear, believed to be about 5 years old, was chased with hounds Sunday, but escaped early Sunday afternoon. It returned to the scene Sunday night or early Monday morning, and was caught in a live trap. The bear had a long scar across its face and did not appear to have been caught by Game and Fish previously.

The woman was attacked while camping with two male companions in the Sandia Mountains Sunday night. They had numerous items that would attract bears to their tent. Those included: the dog, Gummi Bears and Doritos.

Since Friday, Game and Fish has killed or authorized the killing of three black bears in the Sandia and Manzano Mountains. All three were believed to be dangerous and were either associated with this attack or attempting to break into homes or camping trailers.

“The Department wants to encourage everyone using our national forests to remember that bears have a tremendous sense of smell,” said Tod Stevenson, Director of the Department.

“No one should keep food or trash anywhere near where they sleep. Even toothpaste, deodorant and some insect repellents can attract bears.”

Department employees attribute the number of aggressive bears the agency is handling this year to good cub survival over the previous two years, followed by extremely dry conditions that occurred this spring.

For more tips about living with bears and other predators, visit the Department of Game and Fish Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

MISSOULA, Mont. --(Ammoland.com)- Wildlife conservation projects in eight New Mexico counties have been selected to receive grants from the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation in 2010.

The new RMEF funding, totaling $49,440, will affect Catron, Cibola, Mora, Otero, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Sierra and Socorro counties.

“These grants are possible because of the successful banquets and fundraisers staged over the past year by our New Mexico volunteers—most of whom are elk hunters as well as devoted conservationists,” said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.

“Since 1984, our annual grants have helped complete 239 different projects in New Mexico with a combined value of more than $18.3 million.”

RMEF grants will help fund the following projects, listed by county:

• Catron County—Mechanically treat 716 acres of encroaching conifer to improve forage for elk in Pelona Mountain area of BLM lands; repair water tanks and windmills and construct fencing to improve permanent water sources for wildlife and livestock in Sweazea Draw Meadow area.
• Cibola County—Launch first phase of a multi-year 30,000-acre project to restore ponderosa pine forest and meadow habitat for elk and other wildlife in Cibola National Forest near Grants, N.M. First-phase treatment includes enhancing 1,388 acres of ponderosa pine and mountain meadow habitat.
• Mora County—Restore grassland, wet meadow and riparian habitat in Wagon Mound area to benefit the region’s elk herd.
• Otero County—Thin up to 800 acres of overgrown forests in Lincoln National Forest to rejuvenate habitat for elk, mule deer, wild turkey, Montezuma quail and other species.
• Rio Arriba County—Prescribe burn 3,000 acres of ponderosa pine to create forage openings and improve forage for elk and other wildlife in Santa Fe National Forest.
• Santa Fe County—Thin 30-40 acres of encroaching conifer to reduce hazardous fuels and improve habitat for elk in the La Cueva area of the Santa Fe National Forest.
• Sierra County—Prescribe burn 5,000 acres of mixed conifers to restore grazing quality for elk and other wildlife in the Gila National Forest.
• Socorro County—Prescribe burn 18,422 acres, and mechanically thin 2,536 acres, to restore forage areas, aspen stands, seeps and springs for elk in Cibola National Forest.

Projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities.

Partners for 2010 projects in New Mexico include the Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, U.S. Forest Service, other agencies, corporations and landowners.

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 5.7 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.

New Mexico Wildlife Supervisor Mckim Named Officer Of The Year

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Kathy McKim, the Department of Game and Fish district wildlife supervisor stationed in Farmington, has been named New Mexico Wildlife Officer of the Year, a prestigious award sponsored by the conservation organization Shikar-Safari Club International.

McKim, a 23-year veteran with the Department, oversees law enforcement and wildlife conservation efforts in northwestern New Mexico, one of the state’s busiest districts because of its trophy deer, world-class San Juan River trout fishery and active oil and gas industry.

“Kathy is an all-around conservation officer who sees the bigger picture and works diligently on all issues that affect wildlife,” said Brian Gleadle, the Department’s Northwest Area chief.

“She excels in everything she takes on, from complex law enforcement investigations to coordinating educational events in the community. She is an exceptional representative for the Department of Game and Fish.”

McKim is a graduate of New Mexico State University.

Shikar-Safari Club International was founded in 1952 by an international group of hunters interested in exchanging ideas about the sport. Each year, the club sponsors an award for the Wildlife Officer of the Year in all 50 states, 10 Canadian provinces and the territories of both nations. Shikar-Safari is recognized worldwide for its efforts in the protection, enhancement and preservation of wildlife, and has placed particular emphasis on endangered and threatened species through the promotion of enforcement of conservation laws and regulations.

Be Cougar Smart New Mexico

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- National Get Outdoors Day will be celebrated across New Mexico Saturday, June 12, and Governor Bill Richardson wants outdoors people to be “Cougar Smart” as well.

Governor Richardson signed a proclamation declaring Saturday “Cougar Smart New Mexico Day,” alerting hikers, bikers and other outdoor recreationists that New Mexico is Cougar Country, and encouraging them to stay aware of their surroundings. Good advice for bear country, too.

“New Mexico is cougar country,” said Governor Richardson. “As people get outdoors and enjoy the state’s wildlife and wildlands heritage, they need to stay alert to the possibility that cougars and bears share those lands. While cougar attacks are extremely rare, following a few simple steps can help people cut their risk.”

The steps for dealing with cougars and bears include:

• Don’t run; stand your ground if a cougar is seen nearby.
• Keep children close and calm.
• Hike in groups and make noise to avoid surprising a cougar.
• Carry a walking stick and use it to fight back in the rare event that an encounter becomes an attack.

“Cougar attacks are extremely rare,” said Tod Stevenson, director of the Department of Game and Fish. “Recreationists should know that it’s a remote possibility, but it can happen and the results can be terrible. We want New Mexicans to know that just because they haven’t seen a cougar in 30 years of living here, that doesn’t mean the animals are not nearby.”

In support of the “Cougar Smart New Mexico” initiative, trailhead posters informing hikers and others to the presence of cougars have been prepared and are being distributed by a working group of representatives from Animal Protection of New Mexico, Santa Fe County Open Space Program, U.S. Forest Service, New Mexico State Parks, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

The Governor’s “Cougar Smart New Mexico Day” proclamation reads:

“WHEREAS, the State of New Mexico has a bountiful natural and outdoor heritage; and

“WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of people enjoy New Mexico’s open spaces and wildlife throughout each and every year; and

“WHEREAS, the state’s black bears and cougars are a valuable and treasured segments of that wildlife heritage, and

“WHEREAS, on rare occasion bears and cougars do present a clear and real danger to citizens hiking or otherwise visiting or living near the State’s forests and wild lands; and

“WHEREAS, a group of citizens and agencies has assembled clear guidance on how outdoors people of all ages can behave appropriately to reduce potentially dangerous incidents; and

“WHEREAS, that group, for reasons of public safety, has initiated concrete actions to make New Mexico’s wild lands users “Cougar Smart”;

“NOW, THEREFORE I, Bill Richardson, Governor of the State of New Mexico, do hereby proclaim June 12, 2010 as:

“Cougar Smart New Mexico Day” throughout the State of New Mexico.”

Kofa Boghorn Sheep

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(Ammoland.com)- Desert bighorn sheep, once one of New Mexico’s most imperiled native wildlife species, have met the requirements for removal from the state endangered species list.

The Department of Game and Fish has started an investigation into delisting the species and is accepting public comments before a proposal is submitted to the State Game Commission.

Desert bighorns were listed as endangered under the state Wildlife Conservation Act in 1980, when statewide populations of wild sheep had dropped to fewer than 70. Since then, aggressive transplanting efforts combined with cougar control have helped increase the statewide herd to more than 550 in six mountain ranges. At its current rate, the population is projected to surpass 700 by 2012.

According to the Department’s desert bighorn recovery plan, the threshold for delisting is a statewide population of 500, with at least three separate herds of 100 or more.

The Department will present its recommendation at the July 8 meeting of the State Game Commission in Silver City. The Commission is expected to make its decision Dec. 9 in Clovis following public meetings and opportunities for public comments. A report summarizing desert bighorn biological data will be available by May 21 on the Department Web site, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. A schedule of public meetings will be published on the Web site following the July 8 Commission meeting.

Public comments are welcome about the delisting proposal. Comments can be directed to Elise Goldstein, Department of Game and Fish, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504, (505) 476-8041 or elise.goldstein@state.nm.us.

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- The Department of Game and Fish received about 150,000 applications for 62,475 licenses in this year’s drawing for deer, elk, antelope, ibex, javelina, bighorn and Barbary sheep hunts.

Many applicants swarmed the Department Web site April 7, pushing the deadline all the way to the 5 p.m. cutoff.

The Web site held its own, barely breaking stride despite the pressure of more than 56,000 visits in the two days before the deadline. The site averages about 7,000 visits a day. The Department also expects about 39,000 paper applications, which had to be postmarked by April 7 to meet the deadline.

The drawing for the 2010-2011 licenses will be in June, and hunters can check their results in mid-June by logging on to their account at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

This year, hunters who applied online for public-land deer licenses were able to purchase discount, combination hunting and fishing licenses along with necessary stamps and validations at the same time they applied. Applicants whose credit cards were accepted can now download and print their license and a validation number from their online account. Applicants who are successful in the draw also will be mailed a license and deer tag. Unsuccessful applicants may use their printed, online license and validation as their license for the April 1-March 31 license year.

To obtain a license and validation number, hunters must visit the “online license sales” page from the Department home page, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, and then log in to their account, click on “license sales,” select “view receipt,” and click on “print receipt” in the top-right corner. The proper receipt should include a bear-head watermark and must be carried by the hunter or angler while they are in the field.

For more information about the drawing or licenses, please call (505) 476-8000.

Tune in to New Mexico Game and Fish TV:

“New Mexico Wildlife”

• 6:30 a.m. Saturdays on KASA Channel 2, Albuquerque
• 6:30 p.m. Sundays on KENW, Portales
• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KRWG, Las Cruces
• YouTube: www.youtube.com/NMGameandFish

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- Spring turkey hunters may encounter closed or impassable roads early in this year’s April 15-May 10 season, courtesy of a generous snowpack on mountain ranges statewide. Hunters are advised to call the appropriate U.S. Forest Service district office before going afield to avoid getting blocked by snowdrifts, mud or locked gates.

Forest Service officials in various ranger districts around the state have closed forest roads to protect the resources and prevent travelers from getting stuck.

“We will have some roads still gated either because they are impassable or to protect the area from resource damage due to travel on muddy roads,” said Steve Romero, Pecos-Las Vegas District Ranger. He said back-country travel is problematic throughout the forest, which encompasses the south Sangre de Cristo, Jemez and San Pedro mountains east, west and northwest of Santa Fe.

Farther north, areas of the Carson National Forest are experiencing similar closures to vehicle traffic because of heavy snowfall and mud. Gates to Forest Roads 156, 710, 697 and 155 off N.M. 76 south of Chamisal to Truchas were closed last week. Many other roads that are closed for the winter are expected to open as normal on May 1. Access to the Valle Vidal is open from the east side.

In the Cibola National Forest, some roads are being reopened as recent warm weather dries the forest. Although some roads remain closed to prevent damage to roads and resources, areas that have reopened in time for turkey hunting include Bonito Canyon (Forest Road 447, areas below San Mateo Mesa (Forrest Road 192), and Limekiln Canyon (Forest Road 448). N.M. 400 and county roads 49 and 50 remain open.

In southern New Mexico, the Smokey Bear District of the Lincoln National Forest has closed Forest Service Road 107D because of mud. Nogal and Tanbark canyons also remain closed until further notice, and forest travelers are advised to use extreme caution on roads that are open.

Few roads have been closed in the Gila National Forest, but hunters and other travelers are encouraged to call a ranger district office in advance of their trip. Some roads in the higher elevations, including Bursum Road and Forest Road 59, remain closed because of the heavy snow.

As always, hunters should carry appropriate gear to deal with all kinds of road and weather conditions. At a minimum, outfit your vehicle with tire chains, a tow strap, jack and shovel in addition to the usual personal survival gear.

Here are contact numbers for district ranger stations of New Mexico’s five national forests:

Carson National Forest
Canjilon Ranger District: (575) 684-2489; El Rito Ranger District: (575) 581-4554; Jicarilla Ranger District: (505) 632-2956; Camino Real Ranger District: (575) 587-2255; Tres Piedras Ranger District: (575) 758-8678; Questa Ranger District: (575) 586-0520.

Santa Fe National Forest
Espanola Ranger District: (505) 753-7331; Pecos-Las Vegas Ranger District: (505) 425-3535 or (505) 757-6121; Jemez Ranger District: (575) 829-3535; Cuba Ranger District: (575) 289-3264; Coyote Ranger District: (575) 638-5526.

Cibola National Forest
Mount Taylor Ranger District: (505) 287-8833; Magdalena Ranger District: (575) 854-2281; Mountainair Ranger District: (505) 847-2990; Sandia Ranger District: (505) 281-3304.

Lincoln National Forest
Smokey Bear Ranger District: (575) 257-4095; Sacramento Ranger District: (575) 682-2551; Guadalupe Ranger District: (575) 885-4181.

Gila National Forest
Black Range Ranger District: (575) 894-6677; Glenwood Ranger District: (575) 539-2481; Quemado Ranger District: (575) 773-4678; Reserve Ranger District: (575) 533-6232; Silver City Ranger District: (575) 388-8201; Wilderness Ranger District: (575) 536-2250.

Refuse To Be A Victim

FAIRFAX, Va. –-(Ammoland.com)- The award-winning crime prevention and personal safety seminar, Refuse To Be A Victim®, will be conducted on April 17, 2010, at the Central New Mexico Community College, 4700 Morris Avenue, J-122, Lecture Hall, Montoya Campus, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The seminar will begin at 8:00 AM and end at noon.

The seminar is open to the public and costs $5 to attend. To register, contact the NRA Refuse To Be A Victim® Executive Counselor conducting the course, Edward O’Carroll, at 703-475-4598 or rtbav911@yahoo.com.

Refuse To Be A Victim Seminars teach methods to avoid dangerous situations and prevent criminal confrontations. Experts agree the most important factor in surviving a criminal attack is to have an overall safety strategy before you need it. Seminar topics address personal safety issues as well as home, automobile, telephone, technological, and travel security. Seminar participants are presented with a variety of common‑sense crime prevention and personal safety strategies and devices they may integrate into their daily lives.

Refuse To Be A Victim® was developed by the National Rifle Association in 1993 in response to nationwide requests for crime prevention seminars. Members of the law enforcement community across the country have endorsed the program. The program is appropriate for teenagers and up. With more than fourteen hundred instructors, seminars have been held in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago. Tens of thousands of men and women have benefited from the program and its life saving message.

A list of additional Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminars is maintained on the program website at www.nrainstructors.org.

New Mexico Game and Fish

New Mexico --(Ammoland.com)- New Mexico residents who apply online and are successful in the drawing for public-land deer hunting licenses can save at least $20 this year by buying a combination general hunting and fishing license at the time of application.

The only hitch is they won’t receive their fishing license immediately at the time of purchase.

To take advantage of the savings, a deer-license applicant will have to wait until they receive a license authorization number to legally fish in public waters. Anglers who don’t want to wait can purchase a fishing license or a combination small-game and fishing license, which are valid April 1 through March 31. General hunting and fishing licenses, available only to state residents, cost $62 and include a deer license. Purchased separately, a deer license and a combination small-game and fishing license cost $82. A fishing license alone costs $25.

Junior, senior and handicapped license buyers can save even more by purchasing combination licenses.

The Department of Game and Fish will begin issuing authorization numbers a few days after the April 7 application deadline for deer, elk, antelope, ibex, javelina, Barbary sheep and bighorn sheep. Applicants will be notified by e-mail when they can obtain their authorization numbers on the Department Web site.

Successful applicants for deer licenses will be issued an authorization number and later mailed a paper fishing, small-game and deer license, and deer tag. Unsuccessful applicants will receive only an authorization number, which can be printed out and used as a small game and fishing license the rest of the year.

This year, the State Game Commission eliminated the deer hunting permit, making the process of applying for a public-land deer license the same as for most other big-game licenses. To legally hunt deer, hunters must draw a public-land deer license or purchase a private land-only deer license, valid only with landowner permission. Private land-only deer licenses will be available from license vendors.

Tune in to New Mexico Game and Fish TV:

• “New Mexico Wildlife” 6:30 a.m. Saturdays on KASA Channel 2, Albuquerque
• 6:30 p.m. Sundays on KENW, Portales
• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays on KRWG, Las Cruces

YouTube: www.youtube.com/NMGameandFish

National Rifle Association

FAIRFAX, Va. – -(Ammoland.com)- An Instructor Development Workshop will be held for the National Rifle Association’s award-winning crime prevention and personal safety program, Refuse To Be A Victim®.

The Instructor Development Workshop will take place on April 17, 2010, at the Central New Mexico Community College, 4700 Morris Avenue, J-122, Lecture Hall, Montoya Campus, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The workshop will begin at 8:00 AM.

The workshop is open to the public. Tuition for the class, which includes materials, is $140. Pre-registration is required. To register, contact the NRA Refuse To Be A Victim® Executive Counselor conducting the course, Edward O’Carroll, at 703-475-4598 or rtbav911@yahoo.com.

The Instructor Development Workshop begins with a Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminar and then concentrates on the technical aspects of the program, instructor responsibilities, and certification guidelines. Participants also learn about speaking techniques, presentation skills, and seminar marketing. Upon completion of the workshop, participants are certified to instruct Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminars.

Refuse To Be A Victim® Seminars teach methods to avoid dangerous situations and prevent criminal confrontations. Experts agree the most important factor in surviving a criminal attack is to have an overall safety strategy before you need it. Seminar topics address personal safety issues as well as home, automobile, telephone, technological, and travel security. Seminar participants are presented with a variety of common‑sense crime prevention and personal safety strategies and devices they may integrate into their daily lives.

A list of additional Refuse To Be A Victim® Instructor Development Workshops and Seminars is maintained on the program website at www.nrainstructors.org.

New Mexico Game and Fish

CHAMA, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- As winter slowly draws to an end and people start thinking about outdoor activities such as hiking, horseback riding and shed antler hunting, the Department of Game and Fish is reminding everyone to give wildlife a break so they can rest and give birth.

Some state wildlife areas, including the Rio Chama Wildlife Area and the Humphries Wildlife Area in northern New Mexico, are closed to protect deer and elk until after they have their calves and fawns. The only exception is for hunters who draw for the special April 15-30 turkey hunt.

“Wildlife Management Areas are purchased to allow wildlife a safe place during crucial breeding and wintering times,” said Bill Taylor, Game Manager for the Northwest Area. “Deer and elk need a place where they can be free from human interaction during this time,” he said.

The Humphries and Rio Chama will reopen Memorial Day weekend for shed hunting, horseback riding and hiking. The areas are open to hunters and anglers who have a current Habitat Access and Management Validation with their license, and people ages 18 and older who have a Gaining Access into Nature (GAIN) permit. Permits are available at all license vendors and Department offices.

For more information, please call (505) 476-8000 or visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

New Mexico Game and Fish

SAN MARCIAL, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- Seventy-one wild turkeys that were becoming a nuisance on a Tucumcari-area farm recently were trapped and moved to the Rio Grande Valley south of Albuquerque.

The Rio Grande subspecies turkeys will join existing flocks in the area near San Marcial. After they were trapped, the birds were inspected by Department of Game and Fish biologists and then placed in individual transport boxes and a trailer donated by the National Wild Turkey Federation.

New Mexico has three native subspecies of wild turkey: Merriam’s, Rio Grande and Gould’s.

Large Mountain Lion Sighted

New Mexico Game and Fish

SANTA FE, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- The Department of Game and Fish is advising residents of a neighborhood near downtown Santa Fe to be on the lookout for a large mountain lion that has been sighted and may be living in a residential area.

Department wildlife biologists sighted the lion at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, about an hour after area residents reported seeing the animal. The lion eluded capture by traveling along walls and through back yards in the quiet but densely populated neighborhood near Cordova Road and Don Gaspar Avenue. Based on many fresh and old tracks discovered while pursuing it, the biologists believe the lion is a resident of the area.

The Department continued to search for the lion Tuesday afternoon. If and when it is located, it will be tranquilized and removed from the area.

Residents and others who frequent the area surrounding Cordova Road and Don Gaspar Avenue are advised to be aware that a large predator may be around and to take precautions to protect themselves, their pets and their neighbors. Children should be closely supervised and not allowed to play outside during the hours before dusk until well after dawn. Pets should not be left outside at night, and all food and garbage should be securely stored inside a building.

Anyone who sees the mountain lion is urged to call Game and Fish dispatch at (505) 827-9376 at any time. Sightings also can be reported at Department offices in Santa Fe, (505) 476-8000, or Albuquerque, (505) 222-4700, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Although human-cougar encounters are relatively rare, the Department advises residents — especially those in outlying areas — to be aware of their surroundings and to take precautions to avoid encounters with large predators.

Lions generally are attracted to communities for food. They are most active from dusk to dawn, although they sometimes travel and hunt in daylight. Lions prefer to eat deer; however, they also kill elk, small mammals, livestock and a variety of domestic animals such as dogs and cats.

Here are some ways to protect yourself, your family and wildlife from unwanted encounters with mountain lions and other large predators:

• Do not feed wildlife. Use native plants in landscaping, not non-natives, so as to not attract deer, which are the primary prey of lions. Remember, predators follow prey.
• Do not let your pets roam around outside. Bring them in at night. If you keep pets outside, provide a kennel with a secure top. Do not feed pets outside where the food can attract lions or other smaller animals which lions prey upon. Store and dispose of all garbage securely.
• Closely supervise children. Make sure they are home before dusk and not outside before dawn. Make lots of noise if you come or go during times when mountain lions are most active — dusk to dawn. Teach your children about lions and what they should do if they encounter one.
• Landscape or remove vegetation to eliminate hiding cover for lions, especially around areas where children play. Make it difficult for a lion to approach unseen.
• Install outdoor lighting, especially in areas where you walk, so you can see a lion if one were present.
• Close off open spaces below porches or decks.
• Place all livestock in enclosed sheds or barns at night. Close the doors to all outbuildings so that an inquisitive lion is prevented from going inside to look around.

Mountain lion encounters and attacks are extremely rare, but if you do encounter a lion in the wild or in town, you should:

• Stop or back away slowly if you can do so safely.
• Stay calm when you come upon a lion talk calmly yet firmly to it and move slowly.
  Immediately pick up all children off the ground and tell them to stay calm.
  Do not run from a lion as fleeing behavior may trigger the instinct of the lion to attack.
  Face the lion — do not turn your back — remain in an upright position and look as large as possible (raise your arms, open up your coat, if you’re wearing one).
• Carry a walking stick and use it to defend yourself by keeping it between you and the lion. If the lion approaches closer or behaves aggressively, arm yourself with the stick, throw rocks or sticks at the lion, and speak louder and more firmly to the lion. Convince the lion you are dominant and a danger to it.
• Fight back if a lion attacks you. Use any possible object within reach as a weapon, such as rocks, sticks, jackets, a backpack or your bare hands. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. Stay standing and if you fall down try to get back up on your feet.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is responsible for managing, conserving and protecting wildlife. If you have an encounter with a lion or an attack occurs, please contact the Department at (505) 476-8000 during regular business hours, or your local sheriff’s or police department if you feel you are in danger.

For more information about mountain lions and living around large predators, please visit the Department Web site and check out the publication, Living with Large Predators in New Mexico.

New Mexico Game and Fish

ALBUQUERQUE, NM --(AmmoLand.com)- Hunters, anglers and other outdoor adventurers are invited to join the Department of Game and Fish this weekend at the state fairgrounds, where visitors will find information about upcoming seasons, all-terrain vehicle riding, the latest gear and more.

Bob Gerding’s Outdoor Adventure and Hunting and Fishing Show will be from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Manuel Lujan Building at EXPO New Mexico, also known as the state fairgrounds. Admission is $8 for adults and free for children ages 11 and younger.

The Department will be at the show with the new Big-Game rules and Information Booklets, 2010-2011 hunting applications and plenty of advice about hunting and fishing rules and the best places to try your luck.

If you’re interested in all-terrain vehicles, the Department will have an ATV simulator that will give riders a hands-on feel for the ride while emphasizing safety. The simulator is used in Wyoming schools to teach safety and ethics. The Department is exploring various methods used by other states to teach young ATV riders as the agency develops its ATV safety training program.

“The purpose of the simulator is to give people of all ages a hands-on learning experience in a completely controlled environment,” said David Chester, off-highway vehicle coordinator for the Department. “A student can actually learn proper riding techniques on the simulator and feel the sensational differences that leaning or standing incorrectly will cause on different terrain.”

This is the 12th year for the popular show that features exhibits from guides, outfitters and lodges from around the country. An African safari outfitter also is scheduled to attend.

For more information about the show, call (505) 299-5204.