March 23, 2018
ALBUQUERQUE: As changes to the bighorn sheep hunting rule in New Mexico take form, the New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) urge the commission to continue to base their decisions in sound science and feedback from the many stakeholders involved in this issue. While we applaud the commission’s efforts to maintain a healthy bighorn sheep population and give more opportunities to the hunters of New Mexico, we urge the commission to also make sure that any population management activities and hunting opportunities are decided with public review and robust scientific evidence.
The new bighorn sheep rule has been debated in the last two public meetings of the game commission as according to new state law. However, to our knowledge, recent hunts aimed at reducing ewe numbers were done outside the scope of public comment. NMWF and NWF encourage the commission and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to assure adequate public comment procedures are followed when it comes to hunting and population regulations. We also encourage the commission and department to use science-based evidence when it comes to culling herds, as there are questions as to why only ewes were culled and if a smaller herd is truly going to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission. We also encourage the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish to work collaboratively across jurisdictional boundaries with agencies in Colorado to create effective management plans to address bighorn sheep migration and movement across state lines.
“The game commission has done a great job in bringing bighorn sheep back to a population size that is now allowing us to even have this discussion,” said New Mexico Wildlife Federation Acting Executive Director Todd Leahy. “However, we also want to make sure wildlife management decisions are being made based on sound science. Disease cross-contamination is a serious issue that we need the best data to combat.”
The NMWF and NWF also note that there are collaborative solutions to reduce the likelihood of disease transmission between bighorn sheep and domestic sheep.
“The best available science has shown the greatest tool in reducing the risk of disease contact is creating separation between domestic and wild sheep. While culling is one way to achieve separation, we urge the department to look at cooperative approaches with domestic sheep producers for long-term solutions” said Brian Kurzel, Regional Executive Director of NWF.
NMWF and NWF look forward to continuing to work with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish on this important matter.
