John Crenshaw President | New Mexico Wildlife Federation
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation will hold its next “Wildlife Wednesday” event on August 13 at Marble Brewery’s Northeast Heights Taproom in Albuquerque. The free gathering, scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m., aims to help hunters prepare for the upcoming season.
Matthew Fuentes-Tanuz, a native of Albuquerque and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, is set to speak at the event. Fuentes-Tanuz served six years as a reconnaissance scout sniper and completed several training schools focused on mountain survival and other specialties. After his military service, he worked as a private security contractor in various locations including the Middle East, Europe, and the Philippines.
Currently serving with the NM Army National Guard shooting team, Fuentes-Tanuz competes in matches representing New Mexico. He also owns Legacy Ranch in Edgewood, which offers a sporting clays course as well as rifle and pistol ranges.
During his presentation, Fuentes-Tanuz will discuss planning and preparation for different types of hunts that are common across New Mexico. Drawing from his experience as both a marksman and hunter, he plans to cover hunt preparation methods and ethical harvesting practices.
Fuentes-Tanuz notes that many new hunters reach out each year seeking guidance on how to start hunting—questions often include what gear is necessary or how far one should be prepared to shoot in the field. He emphasizes that every hunter must understand their own limitations and be ready with solid marksmanship skills before heading out.
His talk will also offer practical advice about what items to pack depending on factors such as weather conditions or trip duration. “Is it an early season upland hunt, which looks wildly different from like a late-season archery elk hunt in terms of gear preparation,” Fuentes-Tanuz said.
He added: “What you’re hunting, where you’re hunting and when you’re hunting, would be the three broad-stroke topics… Each of those requires a different level of planning on your behalf, and then taking that a step further, who’s in your party? Is it just you? Is it you and one of your best buds and you always go hunting together? Or is it you and your 10-year-old son you’re introducing to elk hunting? Is it a group of you? If so, there are other considerations. So there are a lot of potential tangents.”
The event is part of an ongoing series designed to support both experienced sportsmen and newcomers interested in learning more about safe and responsible hunting practices.
