Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game New Mexico BLM and state land locked....

As others have mentioned, New Mexico has some public land with no public access since it's behind private land. This happens in most, if not all, western states.

In New Mexico a lot of state land is leased to ranchers in 99 year grazing leases. These leases are passed down through generations.

Some ranches are 100 percent state lease land and these can be hunted by public hunters.

Fully deeded ranches (no state lease land), like ours, are simply issued tag codes. Some ranchers sell them, some have friends and family come hunt, and some don't allow hunting.

Other ranches, probably the majority, are a combination of private deeded property and state lease. By law, the ranch owner can choose whether he/she wants hunting on the ranch or not, but it's an all or none proposition - public or state hunters must be allowed on these ranches if private hunters are allowed to hunt. Most ranches do allow hunting because a) they're hunter friendly and b) they need the revenue.

Some ranches do not allow hunting because they're opposed to hunting. This is a small percentage. Others don't allow hunting because they don't need the money and don't want to risk any liability. This is also a small percentage. The majority of ranches that don't allow hunting do so because of previous bad experiences with hunters and/or outfitters. This is the other way that state lands become locked.

NM Game and Fish does a fly over antelope census every spring/early summer. They then declare how many antelope they think should be taken per ranch. For round numbers, let's say a 10,000 acre ranch is half deeded acreage and half private. Fish & Game says 10 mature bucks can be taken off of this imaginary ranch. If the rancher allows hunting on the ranch, half of the hunters must be public. The other half, 5 tags, go to the rancher - he/she can sell them, give them to friends and family, or not use them.

I hope that clarifies things.

A few opinions:

1) I would agree that the A-plus system is confusing.

2) New Mexico's government is a mess.

3) There's probably not much that will ever change about fully public land or fully private land ranches. Where headway could be made is on the ranches that have combinations of private deeded and public lands. The outfitters that buy the private tags from ranches and resell them to hunters have to be held accountable by law enforcement - and by hunters. I literally cannot think of a game law I haven't seen an outfitter break in our corner of the state. Responsible outfitters would get more ranches opened up. To give you an idea of how bad the outfitters around us are, I'm certain that I could open a guiding business, approach the ranchers they're currently doing business with, and buy the tags for the same amount currently paid OR LESS. The ranchers hate doing business with them. (NOTE: I'm NOT casting shade on Mr. Drummond. He works in a different part of the state. I don't know him but, by all accounts here, he's well regarded. Kudos to him.)

4) In addition to better outfitters, the other thing that would help open up currently locked ranches are better hunters. A lot of hunters are drunk, and/or don't know or care about the game regulations, and/or don't know how to shoot, and/or don't know how to handle meat, and/or leave every closed gate they come to wide open. Be an ambassador for your sport. We've considered closing our ranch to hunting because of rude, dangerous and unlawful hunters, and the owners around us all tell me they consider it too every year. Our sport is on thin ice in a lot of places and unfortunately much of that has been earned.

all tracts of public land behind private land ,we the people need to have legislatures vote and force a public access road to that every mile or two with a public parking lot on the public land with a locked gate. like i said once hunting season opens foot travel only. these ranchers and public may use horses only before and after hunting seasons. the other part that should happen but probably never will is get all live stock out of the mountains permanently,its no wonder elk and deer come down to eat on lower land when the mountains have been over grazed for years,its almost shameful how the mountains have been ruined by livestock , over grazing,ponds,lakes ,trees and streams tore up and cow track humps all over. very few people will say anything against what has happen to the mountains most of this damage has been done by just a low percentage of people too,and we all know who it is ,just watch this post you will see who they try and protect.

What is your home state?

Apparently, the state of confusion.

all tracts of public land behind private land ,we the people need to have legislatures vote and force a public access road to that every mile or two with a public parking lot on the public land with a locked gate. like i said once hunting season opens foot travel only. these ranchers and public may use horses only before and after hunting seasons. the other part that should happen but probably never will is get all live stock out of the mountains permanently,its no wonder elk and deer come down to eat on lower land when the mountains have been over grazed for years,its almost shameful how the mountains have been ruined by livestock , over grazing,ponds,lakes ,trees and streams tore up and cow track humps all over. very few people will say anything against what has happen to the mountains most of this damage has been done by just a low percentage of people too,and we all know who it is ,just watch this post you will see who they try and protect.

all tracts of public land behind private land ,we the people need to have legislatures vote and force a public access road to that every mile or two with a public parking lot on the public land with a locked gate. like i said once hunting season opens foot travel only. these ranchers and public may use horses only before and after hunting seasons. the other part that should happen but probably never will is get all live stock out of the mountains permanently,its no wonder elk and deer come down to eat on lower land when the mountains have been over grazed for years,its almost shameful how the mountains have been ruined by livestock , over grazing,ponds,lakes ,trees and streams tore up and cow track humps all over. very few people will say anything against what has happen to the mountains most of this damage has been done by just a low percentage of people too,and we all know who it is ,just watch this post you will see who they try and protect.

Sorry for the confusion. Was just trying to differentiate between private, state, BLM and forest.

State land is not open to the general public and is not available to a LO on authorizations.

We do have some state wildlife mangement areas but that is totally separate .

Confused now?

And what is deeded land?

Are you saying that you're advocating for the Federal Government to take thousands of acres of private land via eminent domain?

Irrespective of some of NM's dumbass access rules for their state managed land, I sometimes like very restricted (not completely restricted, mind you) public access. I have several public land spots that are almost completely surrounded by private, with only a long, thin series of qt/qt sections of public land to access it by. It usually involves a lot of walking, but once you're through those oddball public areas, you can have several sections of public land virtually to yourself. I don't mind hiking in the dark to access these types of areas.

Just one more tool in the toolbox to get away from other hunters and into public land critters.

>>>>what i am saying all public land should have free public access to that land ,just like a lake has a public access for all people to use.

Land that is privately owned and on the state and county tax rolls.

( damned spell check!)

[quote=smokepole]Pete, public lands are supposed to be the "Lands of Many Uses." Your opinions are ignorant and myopic. I'm sure some ranchers would like to get rid of all the %$#@ hunters and that probably goes double for hikers, tree huggers, birdwatchers, and other public land users.

And I'm sure you'd be overjoyed if the federal government or state government came in and took an easment across your property without your consent, right

there is a easement across my property to public land i have no problem with it ,all public land should have free access for all residents and non-residents to use. your opinion is even more ignorant and selfish.

Thanks, MH. I guess we have a lot of that in Tx though it seems i only hear that term in relation to NM.

What is your home state?

bump

Bet he doesn't answer

He came here awhile back crying about non-residents having to pay more for tags etc.