WE NEED GAME & FISH REFORM TO:

COMMISSION
FIX THE STATE GAME

More than 100 years ago, the founders of New Mexico’s conservation community wisely set up the State Game Commission as an independent governing body to shield wildlife management from political influence.
​
Today that system is broken, and we must pass reforms this session to fix it.
FOR ALL POSITIONS:
PROPOSED REFORMS:
1
Add checks and balances to ensure legislative input on Game Commission candidates
2
Make the Commission more representative of all New Mexicans
3
Maintain a balance of urban and rural interests
4
Preserve the bipartisan makeup of the Commission
5
Ensure the voices of farmers, ranchers, hunters, anglers, biologists, and wildlife conservationists are all represented
6
Establish qualifications for experience and expertise
7
Prevent qualified Commissioners from being removed without cause
8
Ensure wildlife management decisions are made by the best available science
A REFORMED STATE GAME COMMISSION WOULD INCLUDE SEVEN MEMBERS, MADE UP OF:
THREE AT-LARGE MEMBERS
POSITIONS 1, 2, 3:
Must possess knowledge of wildlife issues in the state
FOR ALL POSITIONS:
-
The governor would retain executive authority to appoint Commissioners
​
-
No more than four Commissioners could be affiliated with the same political party
FOUR MEMBERS FROM NEW MEXICO COMMUNITIES
Position 4:
A rancher or farmer
POSITION 5:
A conservationist from a nonprofit habitat or conservation organization
POSITION 6:
A hunter or angler
POSITION 7:
An academic expert with accreditation in wildlife science

New advisory members would serve as non-voting members of the Game Commission, including:
A new nominating committee would be charged with submitting a list of qualified Game Commissioner candidates to the governor for all appointments and vacancies. This is modeled after the processes for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) and vacancies
for state legislators.

The Director of the Outdoor Recreation Division

The Director of the New Mexico Department of Agriculture

The New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands

The Secretary of Indian Affairs
THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE WOULD INCLUDE:
4 MEMBERS APPOINTED BY BIPARTISAN LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP:
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Minority floor leader of the House of Representatives
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Minority floor leader of the Senate
2 MEMBERS MADE UP OF ACADEMIC EXPERTS, INCLUDING:
Chair of UNM’s Department of Biology
Chair of NMSU’s Department of Fish, Wildlife and Conservation Ecology
1 MEMBER OF AN INDIAN NATION, TRIBE OR PUEBLO, APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR
21st CENTURY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT FOR NEW MEXICO:

Update the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish’s mission

Sustain our hunting and fishing traditions

Fix the State Game Commission

Improve wildlife conditions