Background:
As you may have already read in the Albuquerque Journal article (NOTE: you may have to view an ad to read the article), Cimarron-area rancher Neal Trujillo used a shotgun and an ATV to chase down, shoot, and kill 39 antelope who were feeding in his wheat field. Video provided by NM Game & Fish is available online (WARNING: The video contains graphic images; viewer discretion is advised), which shows the dead and wounded antelope that Trujillo shot.

NM Game & Fish has been working with Trujillo over the past few months, and has had officers assist in removing the antelope from the property. The Department has also offered to give Trujillo the materials—and some of the labor—needed to reinforce his fence to keep the animals out; the Deparment also fixed a portion of Trujillo's fence, but some antelope continued to get into the wheat field.

Trujillo complained that "every time an antelope takes a bite out of my field, he's taking money out of my pocket." However, a study published in the Journal Of Wildlife Management shows that antelope have no effect on winter wheat. The study states: "...despite the intensive grazing pressure we imposed in our experiments..., we could not detect treatment effects on grain yields." You can read the entire study on our website.

These killings—and other depredation kills throughout New Mexico—represent (1) loss of revenue to the state, (2) loss of hunting opportunity for everyone, and (3) wasted meat that could have fed the hungry if Trujillo had called NM Game & Fish prior to the killings. In addition, Trujillo's inhumane behavior gives a black eye to responsible landowners and to New Mexico.

The depredation law which allowed these killings—known as the Jennings Law, for state Senator Tim Jennings, who wrote it—needs to be repealed. We know that most ranchers try to manage their lands in conjunction with the needs of wildlife; however, Jennings Law allows for incidents like this to occur.

We need your help to get this law overturned. Send Governor Richardson's office a fax telling him that you want him to try again to get the Jennings depredation law repealed. Governor Richardson has worked with sportsmen on other issues, has also tried to defeat Jennings depredation law in the past, and we need Richardson's help again.

Please send a fax now! When you take action, you'll also be entered in our current raffle, or receive an additional entry if you've already entered.

As always, please make your comments respectful.

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	Add your personalized message here:
	Your personalized message will be added to the message below: The Honorable Governor Bill Richardson Dear Governor Richardson, SUBJECT: Repeal Jennings Law Which Allows Slaughter Of Big Game [your personalized message will be inserted here] I am writing as a conservation-minded sportsman to ask for your help in repealing the "Jennings Law," which allows for slaughter of big game by irresponsible private landowners. I appreciate your past attempt to repeal this law, and I will fully support your renewed efforts to abolish the "Jennings Law." Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,