NMGFD is proposing to increase harvest of bears and pumas without proper population studies. Current cougar quotas were derived from very limited camera trap data obtained from a very small area with only one type of habitat that can not be extrapolated to landscape scales to the entire state of New Mexico. Although the Department is stating that they will do population studies, they are proposing methods of take to increase the harvest prior to the results of those studies, or “the cart before the horse”.
Methods proposed that include snaring and trapping will allow any licensed person to place large traps and snares throughout New Mexico. That not only is consider for obvious reasons inhumane but will also result in the capture of non targeted animals such as bears, peccary, deer and even dogs.
Help us stop this non-scientific and inhumane proposal. We only have a few days!!!
Please send by email your comments to:
Chairman Kienzle: paul@kienzlelaw.com; and cc to: billmontoya@hotmail.com, dicksalopek@hotmail.com, robert_nmgf@live.com; ralphramos@comcast.net, bethryanlawyer@gmail.com, bob.ricklefs@gmail.com
