HOUSE BILL 59
56th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2024
INTRODUCED BY
Stefani Lord
AN ACT
RELATING TO QUAIL; CREATING AN EXCEPTION IN THE DEFINITION OF GAME BIRDS FOR DOMESTIC STRAINS OF QUAIL; ALLOWING PEOPLE TO RAISE QUAIL WITHOUT A PERMIT.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
SECTION 1. Section 17-2-3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1967, Chapter 8, Section 1, as amended) is amended to read:
"17-2-3. PROTECTED WILDLIFE SPECIES AND GAME FISH DEFINED.--
A. The following mammals are game mammals:
(1) all of the family Tayassuidae (javelina);
(2) within the family Bovidae:
(a) all of the genus Bison (American bison) except where raised in captivity for domestic or commercial meat production;
(b) all of the genus Capra (ibex) except for the domestic species of goats;
(c) all of the genus Ovis (bighorn sheep) except for the domestic species of sheep;
(d) all of the genus Ammotragus (aoudad);
(e) all of the genus Tragelaphus (kudu); and
(f) all of the genus Oryx (oryx);
(3) all of the family Antilocapridae (American pronghorn);
(4) all of the family Cervidae (elk and deer);
(5) all of the family Ochotonidae (pikas);
(6) all of the genus Sciurus (squirrels);
(7) all of the genus Tamiasciurus (red squirrels);
(8) all of the genus Marmota (marmots) of the family Sciuridae;
(9) all of the family Ursidae (bear); and
(10) all of the species concolor (cougar) of the genus Felis and family Felidae.
B. The following birds are game birds:
(1) all of the family Anatidae (waterfowl);
(2) all of the family Tetraonidae (grouse and ptarmigans);
(3) all of the family Phasianidae (quail, partridges and pheasants) except for the domestic strains of quail;
(4) all of the family Meleagridae (wild turkeys) except for the domestic strains of turkeys;
(5) all of the family Perdicidae (francolins);
(6) all of the family Gruidae (cranes);
(7) all of the family Rallidae (rails, coots and gallinules);
(8) all of the family Charadriidae (plovers, turnstones and surfbirds);
(9) all of the family Scolopacidae (shorebirds, snipe, sandpipers and curlews);
(10) all of the family Recurvirostridae (avocets and stilts);
(11) all of the family Phalaropodidae (phalaropes); and
(12) all of the family Columbidae (wild pigeons and doves) except for the domestic strains of pigeons.
C. The following fish are game fish:
(1) all of the family Salmonidae (trout);
(2) all of the family Esocidae (pike); (3) all of the family Ictaluridae (catfish);
(4) all introduced species of the family Serranidae (sea bass and white bass);
(5) all of the family Centrarchidae (sunfish, crappie and bass);
(6) all of the family Percidae (walleye pike and perch);
(7) all introduced species of the family Pomadasyidae (sargo);
(8) all introduced species of the family Sciaenidae (corvina, bairdiella and redfish);
(9) all of the genus Oreochromis (tilapia); and
(10) all of the family Moronidae (striped bass, hybrid striped bass, white bass and others)."
SECTION 2. [NEW MATERIAL] NO PERMIT REQUIRED TO RAISE QUAIL.--A person may raise quail for the purposes of producing meat or eggs without a permit.
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