In July, Secretary Ryan Zinke toured the Sabinoso Wilderenss with the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and our partners at Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, United Bowhunters of New Mexico, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. As a sportsmen himself, we knew Zinke would understand the unique hunting opportunities available in this area. During the visit, Secretary ZInke said he wanted to see the area open by hunting season.
A couple weeks after his visit, Secretary Zinke announced he was interested in completing the land donation and opening up Sabinoso, and in November the deal was finalized! On November 10th the Sabinoso Wilderness was open to hunters, hikers, and other outdoor recreationists for the first time.
This is a great example of what happens when sportsmen and women fight for their access. Hundreds of NMWF members signed our petition telling Secretary Zinke to open up this wilderness – a huge victory years in the making!
The Sabinoso Wilderness lies hidden in the plains an hour southeast of Las Vegas, NM. Unique to the region, the area’s 16,030 acres feature breathtaking, sinuous canyons lined with towering sandstone cliffs that evoke classic Hollywood images of the American west.
Thanks to the premier hunting available in this area and the support of the local community, Congress designated the area wilderness in 2009. By designating the Sabinoso a Wilderness Area, Congress directed the Department of the Interior to manage this unique natural resource for the “use and enjoyment of the American people.” However, because the Sabinoso was entirely cut off from public roads by private land holdings, the American public couldn’t access the Sabinoso wilderness until the finalization of the deal in November.
The rugged landscape of the Sabinoso supports piñon and juniper forests interspersed with stands of ponderosa pine. Within these forests lies a labyrinth of canyons that hold water and riparian meadows, which provide ideal habitat for game species including elk, mule deer, Barbary sheep, mountain lion, black bear, wild turkey, and migratory waterfowl.
Hunting the Sabinoso would give sportsmen and women a unique opportunity to pursue bountiful game in a pristine environment that offers a window into the origins of our hunting heritage.
It is not only hunters that were missing out. Outfitters, guides, and other local businesses in San Miguel County will enjoy a boost from increased hunting activity in the area, and increased sales of hunting and game licenses and tags would mean more resources for the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish to devote to habitat and wildlife management. Opening up the Sabinoso Wilderness represents a huge economic opportunity for San Miguel County and New Mexico.
Sportsmen and women, outdoor recreationists, and local businesses have waited patiently for public entry to these pristine, and we are so excited to explore this wilderness area with our fellow New Mexicans. For years, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation has worked alongside Senator Martin Heinrich, mulitiple sportsmen organizations, and local leaders to finalize this deal and open up the last inaccessible wilderness in the country.
New Mexico is filled with unique landscapes, but the Sabinoso Wilderness is truly something special. We hope to see you out there on a hunt soon!
