Jeremy Vesbach
As the deadline to sign legislation ticks down to noon on Friday, thousands of New Mexico hunters have a message for Gov. Susana Martinez: Don’t forget us.
Among the many bills Martinez has not signed is Senate Bill 196, a measure that would increase the percentage of big game licenses set aside for residents. State law currently gives residents just 78 percent of licenses; SB 196 raises the quota to 84 percent.
That’s still far from the 90 percent that most western states give their resident hunters, but it’s an improvement.
And it would be a concrete improvement for thousands of New Mexico families. If passed, SB 196 would provide some 3,400 additional licenses to residents, giving them a chance to put meat in their freezers during some tough economic times.
SB 196 has strong, bipartisan support statewide. More than 20 sportsmen’s organizations, along with dozens of businesses and thousands of individuals, have signed letters or petitions in favor. The New Mexico Senate passed the bill 38-3. The House approved it 45-21.
Guv said she would advocate for fewer nonresident licenses
One would think Martinez would jump at the opportunity to sign this bill, but she hasn’t. Nor has she said why. Her office never voiced objections or asked for changes as the bill moved through the Legislature. As a candidate, Martinez supported increased resident hunting opportunity. In answer to a questionnaire from our organization, she said flatly: “I would advocate for a decrease in nonresident quotas.”
Not only would SB 196 provide more big game licenses to residents, but it cuts the cost of a general hunting license and a deer license by $5 each, and cuts the combination hunting/fishing license a few dollars as well.
SB 196 does require all big game hunters to purchase a general (small game) hunting license first, but thousands of New Mexico hunters already buy that license, so their annual costs would drop by $5. The most common big game license available to hunters is the deer license, which would also drop by $5 for residents. Those who don’t already buy a general license to hunt small game would have to fork over an additional $15 – less than a box of rifle ammunition.
If Martinez is concerned about this small fee, it could easily be mitigated by modifying a change made in the Richardson administration that increased the non-refundable application fee paid by residents.
But as any hunter knows, the cost of a hunting license is the smallest cost associated with hunting, and these modest fees support our wildlife management and habitat conservation.
The economic benefit
Beyond the individual effect, there’s a broader economic benefit when locals get to hunt. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service finds that resident hunters spend more overall every year than nonresidents. (In 2001, residents outspent nonresidents in New Mexico $110 million to $24 million; in 2006, it was $94 million to $60 million.)
Resident hunters spend more because they travel to the same places and buy meals at the same cafes as nonresidents, but they also hunt year-round and they buy their equipment in New Mexico. The USFWS survey found that state residents account for about 98 percent of equipment expenditures for hunting in New Mexico.
The hunters of New Mexico have been waiting patiently for Governor Martinez to sign SB 196. But time is fast running out. Here’s hoping our new governor doesn’t forget the thousands of resident hunters waiting for her to take up the pen.
Jeremy Vesbach is executive director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation, a statewide organization representing more than 10,000 resident hunters and anglers.