The state of New Mexico just screwed non-resident hunters today.
The bottom line is if you want to enter the draw starting next year you have to pay $65 to buy a non-resident hunting license. In addition to the added fee just to enter the draw, they reduced your chances of successfully drawing a tag, - fewer non-resident tags in the hat.
April 8, 2011
Governor hears sportsmen, signs SB 196
Sportsmen’s strong support of Senate Bill 196 paid off today when Gov. Susana Martinez signed the bill we have been waiting for. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of hunters flooded her office with calls and e-mails in recent days encouraging her to do the right thing. She did, and now she deserves our thanks.
“This is a great day for our resident hunters,” said Ray Trejo, vice president of New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “This bill is a good first step toward bringing New Mexico’s big game quota law in line with other western states. Gov. Martinez had said last year that she wanted to increase resident hunting opportunity. Today she made good on her word.”
In a press release, the governor said something similar. “It’s only common sense to increase the opportunities for New Mexicans to hunt on their own state land,” she said. “This provision also brings New Mexico’s split between the issuance of resident and non-resident licenses into closer alignment with other states.”
Sen. George Munoz of Gallup, who sponsored the bill, said sportsmen played a role in its success. “With all their support, and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, United Bowhunters of New Mexico, the governor’s staff and so many others, this piece of legislation will finally change something for the better for New Mexico hunters.”
SB 196 will give resident hunters 84 percent of every hunt code, up from the current 78 percent. In addition, residents will get all elk licenses in the state wildlife management areas, plus all cow elk licenses statewide.
Unguided nonresidents get 6 percent of licenses. The remaining 10 percent of licenses are set aside for hunters from any state who must, by law, hire a New Mexico outfitter.
SB 196 also reduces general hunting and deer license fees by $5, and requires every hunter who applies for a Big Game Draw or over-the-counter big game license to purchase a general hunting license – a provision common in most western states.
Sportsmen should write a note of thanks to Gov. Martinez for signing SB 196. Click here for her contact information.
But Sen. Munoz is the real hero of this story. He took on this unprecedented effort on behalf of all New Mexico hunters and put an enormous amount of work to successfully steer the bill through the Legislature and get it before the governor for her signature. He deserves the thanks of every sportsman in New Mexico. You can send him a note at munozgeo@gmail.com. Better yet, send a letter expressing your appreciation to his local newspaper, the Gallup Independent, or your own paper. Here is contact information for the major newspapers of the state:
The bottom line is if you want to enter the draw starting next year you have to pay $65 to buy a non-resident hunting license. In addition to the added fee just to enter the draw, they reduced your chances of successfully drawing a tag, - fewer non-resident tags in the hat.
April 8, 2011
Governor hears sportsmen, signs SB 196
Sportsmen’s strong support of Senate Bill 196 paid off today when Gov. Susana Martinez signed the bill we have been waiting for. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of hunters flooded her office with calls and e-mails in recent days encouraging her to do the right thing. She did, and now she deserves our thanks.
“This is a great day for our resident hunters,” said Ray Trejo, vice president of New Mexico Wildlife Federation. “This bill is a good first step toward bringing New Mexico’s big game quota law in line with other western states. Gov. Martinez had said last year that she wanted to increase resident hunting opportunity. Today she made good on her word.”
In a press release, the governor said something similar. “It’s only common sense to increase the opportunities for New Mexicans to hunt on their own state land,” she said. “This provision also brings New Mexico’s split between the issuance of resident and non-resident licenses into closer alignment with other states.”
Sen. George Munoz of Gallup, who sponsored the bill, said sportsmen played a role in its success. “With all their support, and the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, United Bowhunters of New Mexico, the governor’s staff and so many others, this piece of legislation will finally change something for the better for New Mexico hunters.”
SB 196 will give resident hunters 84 percent of every hunt code, up from the current 78 percent. In addition, residents will get all elk licenses in the state wildlife management areas, plus all cow elk licenses statewide.
Unguided nonresidents get 6 percent of licenses. The remaining 10 percent of licenses are set aside for hunters from any state who must, by law, hire a New Mexico outfitter.
SB 196 also reduces general hunting and deer license fees by $5, and requires every hunter who applies for a Big Game Draw or over-the-counter big game license to purchase a general hunting license – a provision common in most western states.
Sportsmen should write a note of thanks to Gov. Martinez for signing SB 196. Click here for her contact information.
But Sen. Munoz is the real hero of this story. He took on this unprecedented effort on behalf of all New Mexico hunters and put an enormous amount of work to successfully steer the bill through the Legislature and get it before the governor for her signature. He deserves the thanks of every sportsman in New Mexico. You can send him a note at munozgeo@gmail.com. Better yet, send a letter expressing your appreciation to his local newspaper, the Gallup Independent, or your own paper. Here is contact information for the major newspapers of the state:
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