New Mexico Trapping Ban Vote on Friday-Urgent Calls Needed!

The New Mexico House Energy and Natural Resources Committee is set to vote on House Bill 579, a bill that would ban trapping in the state. The vote is scheduled for Friday, March 1st at 8:00 A.M. in Room 309 of the New Mexico State Capital in Santa Fe.

Sportsmen need to call members of the Committee today and tell them to vote NO on House Bill 579.

The bill, sponsored by Representative Roberto Gonzales (D-Taos), would ban nearly all forms of trapping. It would also make it a crime for a landowner to allow trapping on their lands. Additionally, the bill prohibits buying or selling the raw fur of any furbearer taken by trapping even if they were legally trapped out of state.

“It’s ironic that they titled the ‘New Mexico Wildlife Protection and Public Safety Act,’” said Jeremy Rine, U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance in-house counsel. “If passed, the bill would actually put the public and wildlife at a greater risk. Trapping is one of the most effective means at controlling wildlife populations that spread diseases like rabies.”

Trapping would only be allowed in very limited circumstances like pest trapping, trapping to abate property damage, or by government officials.

“Trapping is a proven and important means of managing wildlife and does not pose a risk to the public or other wildlife populations,” said Rine. “If the anti’s are successful here, they’ll simply turn their sights back to hunting. All New Mexico sportsmen should speak out in opposition to this ill-conceived bill.”

Take Action! New Mexico sportsmen should contact members of the committee today and ask them to vote NO on House Bill 579.

House Energy and Natural Resources Committee

Chairman Brain Egolf, Jr. (D-Santa Fe)

(505) 986-4423 brian.egolf@nmlegis.gov

Vice Chair Jeff Steinborn (D-Las Cruces)

(505) 986-4435 jeff.steinborn@nmlegis.gov

Rep. Donald Bratton (R-Hobbs)

(505) 986-4757 don.bratton@nmlegis.gov

Rep. Stephen Easley (D-Santa Fe)

(505) 986-4242 stephen.easley@nmlegis.gov

Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell (R-Roswell)

(505) 986-4450 csecows@aol.com