After many years of unsuccessful attempts at reforming the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, a new bill is speeding through the 2025 legislative session.
The New Mexico Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (NM BHA) is committed to ensuring that the voices of hunters and anglers are heard in shaping the future of wildlife conservation in our state. We appreciate the invitation to provide recommendations on Senate Bill 5 (SB 5), co-sponsored by Senators Pete Campos, Peter Wirth, and Representative Matthew McQueen. During introduction, SB 5 received two other sponsors upon amendment, and now is sponsored by Crystal Brantley and Nathan Small.
An Underfunded Department & A Broken Game Commission
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is in financial trouble. Hunting and fishing license fees, which provide a majority of the department’s funding, haven’t increased in nearly 20 years. With rising environmental and financial pressures, our wildlife managers desperately need additional resources to effectively steward our fish and wildlife populations for current and future generations.
Hunters and anglers have always been the backbone of conservation funding in North America. Our user-pay model, backed by science-based wildlife management, has proven to be the most effective system in the world. NM BHA supports smart, long-term funding solutions to build upon this legacy of conservation.
The Need for Game Commission Reform
For years, New Mexico’s State Game Commission has been in disarray. Right now, the Governor has the unilateral power to remove commissioners without cause, leading to:
- Abrupt removals of qualified commissioners working to solve politically sensitive issues.
- An unstable and inconsistent governing body, subject to political turnover.
- A lack of transparency in appointments, with minimal qualifications required and no formal vetting process.
- Commissioners appointed to serve special interests rather than the broader hunting, angling, and conservation community.
This system has resulted in mismanagement, dysfunction, and a failure to represent the people who fund and rely on our wildlife resources. While no means of nomination is perfect, defining qualifications and establishing a nominating committee is a much improved proposal.
Key Provisions of SB 5
New Mexico BHA supports SB 5 because it addresses these critical issues by establishing long-term funding solutions, creating a more transparent and qualified Game Commission, and ensuring that the department can effectively manage wildlife.
READ NM SB 5
Sustainable Funding for Conservation
- Adjusts hunting and fishing license fees, which haven’t increased in over 20 years, to ensure NMDGF has the funding necessary to manage wildlife effectively.
- Introduces inflation-based fee adjustments to keep pace with rising costs.
- Provides discounted licenses for low-income residents participating in SNAP.
Game Commission Reforms
- Creates a new State Wildlife Commission Nominating Committee to ensure transparent, merit-based appointments.
- Requires commissioners to be New Mexico residents with knowledge of wildlife, hunting, and fishing.
- Includes a dedicated seat for a hunter and angler, ensuring representation for those who provide the majority of conservation funding.
- Establishes clear qualifications for commissioner removal, reducing political influence and preventing unnecessary vacancies.
Department Rebranding & Expanded Authority
- Renames the Department of Game and Fish to the Department of Wildlife, reflecting a broader focus on wildlife conservation beyond just game species.
- Expands the department’s authority to manage species of greatest conservation need and publish conservation data.
We are watching this bill closely and will continue to advocate on behalf of hunters and anglers across the state.
How You Can Help
- We encourage all members to review the bill, share feedback, and attend the hearing to make their voices heard.
- Join BHA to elevate the voice of hunters and anglers in New Mexico and nationally.
- Sign up for our newsletter to receive policy and chapter updates.
- To share feedback or ask questions about SB 5, policy priorities, fundraisers, or stewardship events, email us at [email protected].