Question:
Has something been changed for out of state hunters in New Mexico?
I have heard rumors twice that all out of staters will have to have a
licensed N.M. guide.
Surely not. We have been hunting NM for years and feel just as
competent as the natives (most of which moved in from Texas or Oklahoma,
anyway).
Answer:
After posting previous message, I have received a response from the N.M.
state government. Yes, it is true, all of us out-of-state hunters can
no longer hunt any big game in N.M. without engaging a licensed
outfitter.
You are required to list the outfitter's number on your request for a
permit on the drawing for any big game.
As I see it we have three choices. Just stop going to New Mexico (watch
their economy suffer from this), try and lobby some sort of a change
(why will they listen to us, we don't vote there), or use our political
influence in our own home states to even the score and hope they get the
message.
I imagine the big majority of NM out of state hunters are from Texas.
I'm the Mayor of a Texas city and will be glad to join any others to
encourage the Texas Legislature to require a licensed Texas guide for
any N.M. residents who want to come our way. There's a lot of good
hunting in Texas and I know a lot of the NM guys take advantage of it.
