Folks:

As I posted earlier, Game and Fish is proposing some real restrictive regulations here in NM. They are proposing a total ban of aircraft being used for spotting, looking for watering holes, etc. from the beginning of hunting season to the end of hunting season. Basically, anyone that hunts would be in technical violation of the law if they overflew the area they were going to be hunting at any time during the ban. Here in NM the ban would go from the end of Aug to the end of Jan. Current regulations only require a 48hr delay from flying to hunting.

The enforcement folks are saying that NV and AZ have done the same in recent years and that move has eliminated illegal spotting by aircraft entirely. I am skeptical of that. I believe this will punish those who are making a living with their plane and doing it legally and playing by the rules and the bad actors will just keep on doing what they are doing. Would anyone from those states have first hand knowledge of how the new rules are working out and if there has been elimination of illegal spotting because of it??? Or if there are other states that are equally restrictive.

If anyone knows of any guides, enforcement officials or even hunters in those states that I could get first hand data it would be greatly appreciated!!

Also, I am going to be posting soon the new proposed legislation and New Mexico Pilot's Association's response to it. If anyone could take the time to fire off a few emails in support of our opposition, it would be greatly appreciated!! I will work up a post on this a little later in the week.

Thanks, Larry

Seen one of those bad actors at work over the last 7 years, very frustrating. Hope this all works out for the best, I'll be writing emails and licking stamps in the meantime!

Thks! Any help would be appreciated!!