Santa Fe New Mexican <br>
by Jessie Deubel
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In a state known for its rugged landscapes and abundant wildlife, New Mexico’s elk management system stands out for all the wrong reasons.

The recent release of the second Take Back Your Elk report sheds light on the persistent issues plaguing the system and underscores the urgent need for reform.

One glaring problem highlighted by the report is the disproportionate allocation of elk licenses, favoring those with deep pockets over ordinary residents. New Mexico’s Elk Private Land Use System (EPLUS) allocates a significant portion of licenses directly to landowners, with a staggering 75% of these licenses ending up in the hands of nonresident hunters. This not only raises concerns about fairness but also undermines the principle of equal access to our state’s natural resources.

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Jesse Deubel, Executive Director @ the New Mexico Wildlife Federation discussing the longstanding problems with our elk tags system. The Game Commission and the EPLUS system and other issues have New Mexicans not getting anywhere near the amount of tags that they should.