NM: Proposal to eliminate non-resident sheep tags
At a recent public meeting in New Mexico, a preliminary review of the Bighorn Sheep Rules was heard by the State Game Commission. The biggest issue discussed was the allocation of resident and non-resident sheep draw permits. Proposals presented by some individuals and sportsman’s organizations sought to increase bighorn sheep hunting opportunities for residents. Of the 50 state-wide permits, the discussion centered around the 7 permits available for non-resident.

This discussion resulted in a push-pull debate over out-of-state hunters, outfitting, wild sheep conservation funding, and the historic success the state has seen in recovering its wild sheep resources.

The proposed rule changes, if adopted by the Commission, would eliminate all 7 non-resident draw allocations. WSF, B&C and NMWSF have submitted letters to the New Mexico Game Com

I don't see any thing wrong with that, all residents should have first oppertunity

I don't think they should eliminate all NR tags. The draw odds are so terrible for residents, anyway, that 7 more tags won't make any difference. The difference to nonresidents of a tiny chance to no chance is huge. Add in the money raised by those tags, and I just don't think the upside is worth it.

And yes, full disclosure, I just put in for a sheep tag.

With that logic, let’s eliminate the the ability of non residents to apply for Texas public land hunts. All residents should have first opportunity.

I gave up on hunting NM ever again several years ago. They just seem to dislike out of state money for some reason.

are those sheep on state land or federal land? If the latter, you and I own it and should have a fair opportunity to hunt it...

I’ll keep my $1600 loan to NM

I agree 100% but it’s not a popular opinion.

That simply isn't true. The State owns the wildlife within its borders, regardless of where it's standing. It's the same reason you still need a state tag to shoot a deer on your private property. This isn't Europe, landowners don't own game.

You are talking 2 whole NR Ram tags or less vs resident min of 42 ram… Res do have first come first serve as they are drawn first and can actually draw part of the NR allocation. There is a max Five ram tag outfitter allocation but Res do apply in some of the Outfitter pools for different species, as they may have better odds

Hunting won’t exist legally in NM in 20 years they way they are head anyway. They want no NR, no outfitters or LO tags and will likely get it. As one of the poorer states the residents won’t be able to offset tag cost to maintain a Wildlife Department, and the wildlife will take a hit.

Public trust is public trust. States arent Indian reservations. States should absolutely have the ability to manage their wild life as they see fit. By manage I mean set tag allocations in accordance to success rates on a sustainability model, not license plates of US citizens .

If states are going to use application mandated license of NR’s for P&R money then they need to make it far. If not no more PR money and PR should allocation should strictly go to those with total # of Hunting license sold that allow all US citizens to hunt.

I see the the reasoning behind removing NR from the once in a life time species but in turn they should give up ALL NR licenses #’s to be used for PR or PR money in general

I also could see some of the biggest conservation group diverting money to more NR friendly states.

Very well said.

Double that. Bighorn tags are over $3,000 in NM.

What the state should do is get rid of the outfitter draw. There’s no reason for a state to have a landowner tag system and an outfitter pool of tags dedicated in the public draw. Just make it 90/10 and call it a day.

NR will never see those LO tags on their side of the draw application. What units have 10 unit wide vouchers in a particular weapons season? May be two. That means another Net loss, and elimination of outfitter pool means NR loosing as high as 6% ability right of that bat and twice the applications

90/10 plus elimination outfitter And LO vouchers means a huge huge reduction in NR opportunity.

I’m a Wild sheep foundation lifetime member. If NM passes this, I’m done with my membership since WSF gave 500k+ to NM last year

Does the State of New Mexico Game and Fish Department want to throw away @22,000 each year? That is the total cost for the 7 Big Horn Sheep tags for non-resident hunters!

Not to mention another $2000 to $5000 extra dollars that non-resident hunters brings with them into the state.

Yeah, they could dole out more tags for the resident hunters that do their road hunts, driving around in circles for a week! That's their preferred method of hunting(?) and certainly does not generate the local incomes that the non-res brings with them!