By KRWG News
New Mexico – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish wants the public to comment on agreements that would open some private lands to public hunting and trapping in exchange for closing some state trust land to those activities.
State officials say the agreements among the department, the state Land Office and several landowners in southeastern New Mexico are designed to benefit sportsmen and landowners.
The agreements call for the trust land to be treated as private property, closed to hunting and trapping. The private lands covered under the agreements then would be open to public hunting and trapping.
It gives landowners greater flexibility in maintaining ranching operations on often-landlocked state trust lands.
The agreements cover several ranches in Chaves, Lincoln and Guadalupe counties.
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Online:
www.wildlife.state.nm.us, click the recreation tab
Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.