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Saturday, September 22, 2001
Board Lets Hunters Kill More Bears, Elk, Cougars
By Fritz Thompson, Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer
More bears, cougars and elk could be killed next year in New Mexico as the result of decisions made Friday by the state Game Commission.
Commissioners approved additional permits and significantly relaxed hunting rules at a session in Albuquerque, attended by more than 100 people. Few if any animal-rights advocates were pleased with the decisions.
For the 2002-2003 season, the commission voted:
* To allow two bears to be killed by any hunter who buys a license over the counter and hunts in units near Chama, Silver City, Ruidoso, Red River, Angel Fire and Philmont.
* To raise the number of hunting permits for cougars statewide from 176 to 234.
* To issue 8,089 additional hunting permits for elk.
During the discussion of the cougar issue, Lisa Jennings, a spokeswoman for Animal Protection of New Mexico, angrily told the commission that it had created a climate of fear in the Department of Game and Fish and that biologists are now fearful of reprisal if they speak up.
The bear decision had previously been unanimously agreed upon by a department advisory committee and included a provision that hunting would not begin until Aug. 15.
Commissioner Bud Hettinga proposed that bear hunting season be moved back to Aug. 1 to make up for a time reduction that ends the season in mid-November instead of mid-December. That passed 4-2.
A department biologist later said that the early date will impact sows with cubs that are trying to put on weight for fall hibernation. In early August, bears have also not developed heavy pelts that hunters look for, he said.
The two-bears-apiece rule was prompted by the record number of bear-human contacts this summer, including a bear that broke into a Mora County woman's house and killed her.
"You go behind any restaurant in Chama, out by the Dumpster, and you'll find five or six bears," said Commissioner Steve Padilla.
Joanna Lackey, chief of the department's northeast quadrant, said 94 bears were killed in that corner of the state this summer, most of them by landowners who perceived them as threats, or by stockmen who found bears killing sheep or calves.
Jennings cited a study in which biologists say long-range management of cougars calls for killing no more than 11 percent of the state's cougars. The department's new plan, adopted by the commission, would issue permits to kill nearly 33 percent.
An estimated 1,000 cougars are in New Mexico.
Board Lets Hunters Kill More Bears, Elk, Cougars
By Fritz Thompson, Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer
More bears, cougars and elk could be killed next year in New Mexico as the result of decisions made Friday by the state Game Commission.
Commissioners approved additional permits and significantly relaxed hunting rules at a session in Albuquerque, attended by more than 100 people. Few if any animal-rights advocates were pleased with the decisions.
For the 2002-2003 season, the commission voted:
* To allow two bears to be killed by any hunter who buys a license over the counter and hunts in units near Chama, Silver City, Ruidoso, Red River, Angel Fire and Philmont.
* To raise the number of hunting permits for cougars statewide from 176 to 234.
* To issue 8,089 additional hunting permits for elk.
During the discussion of the cougar issue, Lisa Jennings, a spokeswoman for Animal Protection of New Mexico, angrily told the commission that it had created a climate of fear in the Department of Game and Fish and that biologists are now fearful of reprisal if they speak up.
The bear decision had previously been unanimously agreed upon by a department advisory committee and included a provision that hunting would not begin until Aug. 15.
Commissioner Bud Hettinga proposed that bear hunting season be moved back to Aug. 1 to make up for a time reduction that ends the season in mid-November instead of mid-December. That passed 4-2.
A department biologist later said that the early date will impact sows with cubs that are trying to put on weight for fall hibernation. In early August, bears have also not developed heavy pelts that hunters look for, he said.
The two-bears-apiece rule was prompted by the record number of bear-human contacts this summer, including a bear that broke into a Mora County woman's house and killed her.
"You go behind any restaurant in Chama, out by the Dumpster, and you'll find five or six bears," said Commissioner Steve Padilla.
Joanna Lackey, chief of the department's northeast quadrant, said 94 bears were killed in that corner of the state this summer, most of them by landowners who perceived them as threats, or by stockmen who found bears killing sheep or calves.
Jennings cited a study in which biologists say long-range management of cougars calls for killing no more than 11 percent of the state's cougars. The department's new plan, adopted by the commission, would issue permits to kill nearly 33 percent.
An estimated 1,000 cougars are in New Mexico.
