Tag Archives: elk

April, 2017

  • 13 April

    Time to hunt sheds

    Shed hunting is a family-friendly activity that provides an opportunity to spend quality time outdoors. James Gonzales was out with his parents on a shed hunting expedition that resulted in the discovery of shed elk antlers. Photo by Joe Gonzales, New Mexico Wildlife magazine Spring 2017 Vol60, Num1, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

    Spring is here, it’s time to hunt sheds Spring is a time many hunters put their gear away and begin the painstaking wait for autumn and the arrival of the 2017 hunting season. But hunting season is far from over. For those suffering from cabin fever and ready to enjoy …

  • 13 April

    Bear-resistant dumpsters

    Bob Osborn, assistant chief of private land programs for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, affixes a “Be Bear Aware” sticker to one of the new bear-resistant dumpsters installed at the Los Alamos Medical Center. NMDGF photo by Zen Mocarski, New Mexico Wildlife magazine Spring 2017 Vol60, Num1, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

    Bear-resistant dumpsters benefit wildlife, people There is a difference between unintentional and intentional or negligent feeding of wildlife. Unfortunately, the end result is often the same. Bears are notorious for becoming quickly conditioned to human surroundings and habituated to human foods after consuming enticing treats found in garbage. Following such …

  • 13 April

    GAIN and outdoor enthusiasts

    It is easy to get caught up in the moment watching sandhill cranes standing on a frozen pond at the Bernardo Wildlife Management Area with a picturesque mountain background. NMDGF photo by Zen Mocarski, New Mexico Wildlife magazine Spring 2017 Vol60, Num1, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

    GAIN changes benefit outdoor enthusiasts The scene is a bit like Jurassic Park, minus the dinosaurs, with eyes wide open, afraid to blink for fear of missing out on a spectacular experience. Faces pressed against the window of a car or eyes peering through binoculars or the viewfinder of a …

  • 13 April

    Wildlife telemetry

    Tracking devices exist that can aid in the research of birds, mammals, fish, insects and arachnids, but with each different species come separate challenges. This backpack-style transmitter works well with wild turkeys. NMDGF pthoto by Zen Mocarski, New Mexico Wildlife magazine Spring 2017 Vol60, Num1, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

    The importance of telemetry in wildlife conservation Wildlife tracking has been around for centuries, but most of the time it had little to do with research. More than 500 years ago, falconers in Europe were known to place leg bands on their birds as a sign of ownership, but it …

October, 2016

  • 28 October

    Elk calf survival rates

    Shawn Carrell, Jemez conservation officer for the Department of Game and Fish, looks on after releasing a cow elk. The elk was fitted with a GPS collar and a vaginal implant transmitter. The transmitter is designed to be expelled during birth, allowing biologists to locate the calves quickly to affix radio tags. NMDGF photo by Nicole Quintana. Photo by Nicole Quintana, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    Wildlife management can be challenging, especially when research data has yet to be collected and a theory needs scientific support. While wildlife surveys can provide New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists with insight to population trends, they don’t provide answers when a decline is documented. So, when biologists …

  • 28 October

    Finding elk calves

    An elk calf lies still after researchers attached an ear transmitter. Calf survival has been low in the Mount Taylor area and researchers are trying to understand the reason. In the event of a death, researchers can respond to the scene quickly to identify the cause. Photo by Katelyn Shanor, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    As dawn broke over Chivato Mesa, a group of New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists, conservation officers and volunteers fanned out in search of calving elk. They climbed hilltops and used binoculars and spotting scopes to scan the vast meadows and clusters of scrub oak that dot the …

  • 28 October

    Positive forecast for elk

    Strong precipitation in the winter of 2014 and a good monsoon season last year helped produce an abundance of forage, which has been beneficial to the elk population and the overall health of herds around New Mexico. Photo by Dan Williams, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    When habitat conditions are strong, wildlife tend to flourish and the overriding factor is precipitation. Adequate rainfall and snow in 2014-15 produced an abundance of available forage, resulting in healthy elk herds throughout most of New Mexico. “We had a prolific monsoon season in 2015, which created an abundance of …

  • 28 October

    It’s a trophy

    Game and Fish biologist Eric Rominger takes elk antler measurements. While it was a large rack, the measurements came up short of the record book minimum. Photo by Martin Perea, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    Ask a hunter about the trophy mounted on the wall, sitting on a table or neatly placed in a cabinet, and a story will unfold — of outdoor experiences, an important hunt and deeply held values. The term “trophy” generally refers to a large game animal that has been mounted, …

  • 28 October

    Driving: protect yourself & wildlife

    Wildlife in the roadways can be dangerous for those in a vehicle as well as the animal. Even smaller animals, such as cottontails and jackrabbits, can prove to be hazardous as motorists break or swerve in an effort to avoid a collision. Photo by Zen Mocarski, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF

    As the colors change and the temperature’s drop, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts are spending time outdoors and hunters are getting gear ready for time in the field. All are signs of fall, which also means the days are getting shorter and more vehicles will be on the road at times …

  • 28 October

    Helping feed the hungry

    Hunters take aim at helping feed the hungry. New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    Fall is a time of year when many people begin to think about charity . . . and hunting. Now, the two can be combined to benefit those in need. The New Mexico Hunters Helping the Hungry program started by the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico, with support from …

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