The New Mexico Game and Fish Department is considering a proposed agreement with private landowners that would expand public hunting opportunities for deer and Barbary sheep.
The department says the agreement would open some private lands to hunting in southeastern New Mexico in exchange for closing areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The department has had these types of agreements involving state trust lands for more than 20 years. It's now proposing expanding the agreements to include BLM lands.
The BLM would close certain areas to give landowners better control of trespassing problems that have been caused by the checkerboard sectioning of public and private lands in southeastern New Mexico.
The public has until Friday to comment on the proposal.
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UPDATE FROM KUNM TO AP STORY:
The Department of Game and Fish is also considering possible changes to the rules for hunting pronghorn and to the system used to distribute pronghorn licenses to private landowners.
Members of the public can comment on the new rules by attending any of the following meetings (all of which are from 6 to 9 p.m.):
- Datil: Tuesday, Oct. 2, Datil Elementary School gym.
- Albuquerque: Thursday, Oct. 4, Department of Game and Fish Office, 3841 Midway Place, NE.
- Raton: Wednesday, Oct. 10, Department of Game and Fish Office, 215 York Canyon Road.
- Taos: Thursday, Oct. 11, Juan Gonzales Memorial Agricultural Center, 202 Chamisa Road.
- Roswell: Wednesday, Oct. 17, Department of Game and Fish Office, 1912 W. Second St.
- Carrizozo: Thursday, Oct. 18, 5 to 7 p.m., Lincoln County Commission Chambers, 300 Central Ave.
For more information online: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/index.htm