Albuquerque, NM – In an effort to increase public safety in the South Valley and shieldfamily homes from stray bullets, Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard todayannounced a restriction on hunting and trapping on 212 acres of state trust land along theRio Grande Bosque, adjacent to Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge (Refuge) in Bernalillo County.
Access to nearly 9 million acres of state trust land for hunters and other sportspeople is set out in an agreement between the New Mexico State Land Office and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF). The Rio Grande Bosque parcel of state trust land has historically not been used for hunting but saw an increase in hunting this year due to a new parking lot at the Refuge. The agreement between the two agencies, signed in 2016, is meant to improve access to state trust land for New Mexico hunters and sportspeople. Negotiations to renew the agreement for nearly 9 million acres of trust land have been underway between the agencies. The Land Office sought input from across the state—from recreationalists, sportspeople and the agriculture community in preparation for the negotiations.