By BEN NEARY
NMWF Conservation Director
SANTA FE — Conservationists increasingly must work together to ensure the future of hunting in New Mexico, speakers from several groups said Monday at a gathering at the State Capitol.
Dozens of people turned out on Mon., Feb. 3, for the “Camo at the Capitol” event, organized by the New Mexico Wildlife Federation and other groups.
Dr. Karl Malcolm, southwest regional wildlife ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service, said it’s important that people not try to gauge their success in the outdoors by how much wildlife they can harvest, but rather by how they can give back by protecting the land and natural resources and by encouraging others.
Malcolm related that he recently took his cousin hunting in New Mexico. The man’s previous hunting experience involved hunting near Chicago, where his hunting consists of applying through a lottery to get a specific location where he could erect his tree stand.
Over six days hunting wild lands in New Mexico, Malcolm said he and his cousin saw dozens of bucks. As he drove his cousin to the airport after their hunt, Malcolm said he asked him if he realized how lucky he was to live in New Mexico. He said he did.
“There’s been a lot of talk over the last six years or so, about what makes America great,” Malcolm said. “I always come back to our public lands.”
People such as Teddy Roosevelt and Aldo Leopold who are now considered to be great conservationists were often reviled and ridiculed in their own times, Malcolm said.
Hunters need to be translators and bridge-builders who talk to other members of society about why wildlife and other resources matter, Malcolm said. “We have a lot of negative stereotypes to overcome,” he said, saying that leaving shotgun shells along the Rio Grande is just one example.
Katie DeLorenzo, representing the New Mexico Chapter of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, said people need to be able to access wild places to develop a connection with the land, whether it’s a 200-acre parcel near the state’s largest urban center or the Gila Wilderness.
DeLorenzo said she hopes conservation groups and everyone who cares about wildlife and conservation can come together to present a unified front.
Michael Sloane, director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, told the crowd that sportsmen have been behind the successful restoration of elk, desert bighorns and other species in the state. He said their work has kept the Rio Grande cutthroat trout off the federal Endangered Species list and has made substantial progress on restoring the Gila trout.
“You understand that wildlife are here not just for this generation, not just for us to have here today, but for future generations,” Sloane said.
Rep. Alonzo Baldonado, R-Los Lunas, noted that longstanding hunting areas along the Rio Grande have been closed off recently with no prior notice to hunters.
“It’s very frustrating to see that happen,” Baldonado said.
It’s important that hunters serve as advocates for the areas they use, Baldonado said. “When you get out to properties, and see a bunch of spent shells, and all that, it’s not good,” he said. “We need to be part of that solution instead of being a hindrance to our own endeavors and what we want to do.”
Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, said that last year, when the state developed its Office of Outdoor Recreation, there wasn’t a lot of talk about equity, and making sure everyone was included. Expanding the base of public support will help increase the number of people who care about taking care of the land, she said.
Rep. Nathan Small, D-Las Cruces, said he often hears from constituents that the state isn’t doing enough to improve resident hunting opportunities and take better care of the land.
Small, the husband of U.S. Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M, encouraged people to share their hunting experiences with others and explain why the activity is important to them. “Share your hopes for your kids who haven’t had the same opportunity,” he said.
Matthew Monjaras of Impact Outdoors, a group that encourages students and others to get outdoors, said a high school biology teacher helped to fire his lifetime passion for biology and wildlife.
Monjaras said he’s seen the Rio Grande change over the years as a result of increasing populations and property development. “I’m here today because I’m concerned,” he said. “We have decisions being made today about our access, and the resources that we hold dear.”
Monjaras said he’s increasingly realizing that it’s important to share the word about cherished hunting and fishing spots so that others know about them and will help speak up to protect them when they’re under threat.