Marietta Eaton Board Member | New Mexico Wildlife Federation
The Jicarilla Apache Nation has requested the New Mexico State Game Commission to take emergency measures to reduce deer licenses in a hunting unit near their lands. They argue that state-permitted hunters are depleting young bucks in Unit 2-B, which borders Colorado between Bloomfield and Chama. The tribe seeks a management shift by 2026 from an "opportunity" area to a "quality" area, aiming for fewer deer kills and more mature trophy animals.
Jicarilla wildlife biologist Kyle Tator highlighted the decline in buck deer due to state hunting programs. He noted that while the Jicarilla harvest 50 deer annually from their reservation, the state issues 1,750 licenses for adjacent Unit 2-B. Tribal officials also expressed concerns over lack of consultation regarding increased deer tags.
Commissioner Fernando Clemente acknowledged declining mule deer populations in the region. Stewart Liley from the game department mentioned that killing buck deer doesn't significantly impact overall herd numbers unless males fall below 10% of the population. Tator emphasized the need to restore age class among bucks rather than total herd numbers.
Tribal representatives urged a meeting with game department staff to address these management issues and plan future actions, hoping for resolution by June 13. Commission Chairman Richard Stump said they would consider the request but noted it's a significant ask for state hunters.
Simultaneously, Catron County commissioners raised concerns about Mexican Gray Wolves posing threats to public safety. The county declared a state of emergency earlier this month, seeking authority to kill threatening wolves, though they remain federally protected.
Since reintroduction in 1998, wolf populations have grown, with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reporting at least 286 wild wolves by January's end in Arizona and New Mexico. Commissioner Audrey McQueen cited insufficient funds for ranchers losing cattle to wolves and called it a public safety crisis.
Game department director Mike Sloane explained federal goals require at least 320 wolves yearly for four years plus another 200 in Mexico before protections could end. Commissioner Gregg Fulfer questioned if limiting wolf numbers or creating support roles was possible but was told federal litigation complicates such actions.
Commissioner Sharon Salazar Hickey stressed public safety responsibility while Liley noted federal Wildlife Services' role in non-lethal wolf control had diminished recently. Rancher Tom Paterson suggested halting wolf-reintroduction discussions with federal officials as current approaches seem unresponsive.
WildEarth Guardians' Joanna Zhang proposed expanding wolf ranges north of Interstate 40 as one solution. Albuquerque's Brandon Wynn criticized habitat degradation due to drought and cattle grazing on public lands, arguing against commission favoritism towards ranchers over wildlife conservation.
