Wildlife Management Education

Wildlife Identification/Management programs have been conducted throughout the year in Grant County. This agent has been working with youth involved in 4-H and FFA wildlife judging competitions. This year 22 youth from the Silver FFA chapter have attended practices for the FFA career development events throughout the state. Programs are based on general wildlife and environmental knowledge, wildlife identification from slides, and wildlife practicum identification. At the conclusion of the FFA competition year, 5 students involved switch gears and begin practicing the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program for 4-H competition. This year Grant County placed Second as a team at state with the. This is a time consuming program, requiring at least 4 hours (one evening) per week beginning in May. The added time in studying does give these youth the basic knowledge needed for land and wildlife management.

This agent worked with the Extension wildlife specialist to conduct the New Mexico FFA, Wildlife CDE. This contest has nearly the highest participation of any contest at State FFA Judging with over 100 participants. They were challenged with 75 slides, 50 general knowledge questions, and 25 specimens for identification.

Short, medium and long term objectives accomplished:
1) County Extension Agents and natural resource management agencies have learned, and incorporated into their education programs, techniques for improving wildlife habitat.
2) Ranchers, farmers, and other resource managers have learned the basic concepts of wildlife management and the techniques for monitoring wildlife populations.
3) Scientific investigations have been conducted leading to a better understanding and the co-management of domestic livestock and wild ungulates on rangelands and forests in New Mexico.
4) The general public, agricultural producers, and state and federal resource managers have gained an appreciation for the challenges and responsibilities faced by resource managers in their management of wildlife habitat. In many cases, this has led to an improvement in wildlife habitat, their relationships with managing and regulating agencies, and agricultural producers have maintained their ranching operations thereby improving or maintaining their economic situations.
5) Education programs on natural resource management targeted to New Mexico youth has resulted in increased knowledge of wildlife and fisheries management to more than 250 high school students.

The Grant County Extension Wildlife Committee has formed the New Mexico Big Buck Tournament to recognize quality New Mexico Whitetail and Mule deer and the to recognize the outstanding deer managing landowners. This contest will provide harvest data to landowners/managers and hunters and can be used to improve the quality of New Mexico deer herds. Participants will receive a written account of antler score, age, weight, and body condition of the deer harvested. The New Mexico State University Wildlife Specialist has asked for the data collectors to also check heart fat and give a rating from a scale provided. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has also been approached with the intentions of providing them with any information or data that might be needed. Sponsors of this contest will be recognized through signage on prizes and signs at the check station. Local media has been informed of the contest and a website has been designed. www. newmexicobigbucktournament .com will serve as the official website for the contest. Updates, standings, winners, and sponsors will be on this website throughout the year. This program will promote economic income for Grant County. Any profits will benefit the Grant County 4-H Council.

Wildlife Identification/Management programs have been conducted throughout the year in Grant County. This agent has been working with youth involved in 4-H and FFA wildlife judging competitions. This year 13 youth from the Silver FFA chapter and 4 youth from Cliff FFA have attended practices for the FFA career development events throughout the state. Programs are based on general wildlife and environmental knowledge, wildlife identification from slides, and wildlife practicum identification. At the conclusion of the FFA competition year, 12 students involved switch gears and begin practicing the Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program for 4-H competition. This year Grant County placed Second as a team at state with the 1st and 2nd high individuals. This is a time consuming program, requiring at least 4 hours (one evening) per week beginning in May. The added time in studying does give these youth the basic knowledge needed for land and wildlife management.

This agent worked with the Extension wildlife specialist to conduct the New Mexico FFA, Wildlife CDE. This contest has nearly the highest participation of any contest at State FFA Judging with nearly 168 participants. They were challenged with 75 slides, 50 general knowledge questions, and 25 specimens for identification.

Justin Armenta has signed on to support Wildlife Management Education within Grant County.