SENATE MEMORIAL 109

53rd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2018

INTRODUCED BY

George K. Munoz

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF GAME AND FISH TO STUDY THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF ELK DEPREDATION IN NEW MEXICO AND PROVIDE A REPORT.

     WHEREAS, the resident elk herd population in New Mexico has been estimated at seventy thousand, and the Colorado migratory elk herd population has been estimated at three hundred thousand; and

     WHEREAS, wildlife management areas established by the department of game and fish in northern New Mexico have become elk sanctuaries; and

     WHEREAS, depredation by elk that comprise the resident herd or migratory herd or elk living in the wildlife management areas has had negative social and economic impacts on private landowners; and

     WHEREAS, anecdotal evidence suggests that the level of social and economic impacts suffered by private landowners is increasing; and

     WHEREAS, laws designed to protect the social and economic interests of private landowners have been enacted; and

     WHEREAS, it has been alleged that the department of game and fish has not fully enforced existing laws, to the continuing detriment of private landowners;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of game and fish be requested to study the social and economic impacts of elk depredation in New Mexico and report its conclusions and recommendations on how to improve the situation to the appropriate legislative interim committee on or before October 31, 2018; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the department of game and fish be requested to cooperate with private landowners and use its authority under current law to minimize the social and economic impacts of elk depredation; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the governor, the director of the department of game and fish, the Rio Arriba county commissioners, the northern New Mexico stockman's association and the Lincoln county cattlemen's association.

- 2 -