Southwest Region (Arizona - New Mexico - Oklahoma - Texas)
http://southwest.fws.gov
For Release: January 20, 2012
Contacts: Shawn Gillette, (575) 835-1828 or shawn_gillette@fws.gov
Youth Spring Turkey Hunt Offered at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge will conduct its Spring Rio Grande turkey hunt for youth hunters (ages 17 and under) during the 2012 New Mexico Spring Turkey Season. The Bosque del Apache NWR Spring Turkey Hunt is a limited youth hunt. A total of five permits are available. Hunts will be conducted over a period of four weekends: April 7-8, April 21-22, April 28-29, and May 5-6; the fifth hunt will be offered Sunday/Monday, April 15-16. Eligible hunters will be drawn randomly from a pool of qualified applicants. Letters to successful applicants will be mailed by the week of March 26, 2012. Applications will be available beginning February 1, 2012. A non-refundable application processing fee of $6.00 is required per application. Applications can be obtained at the refuge visitor center, located on Hwy. 1, eight miles south of San Antonio, NM, during normal business hours of 8am to 4pm weekdays and 8am to 4:30pm on weekends for an application. Electronic applications are currently available on-line at: HYPERLINK "http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque" www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/newmex/bosque/huntfish.html Completed applications must be received on or by March 16, 2012. Youth hunters selected must possess a hunter education course certificate, and be accompanied by a parent or guardian age 21 or older.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov. http://southwest.fws.gov
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
YOUTH SPRING RIO GRANDE TURKEY HUNT
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE YOUTH ONLY SPRING TURKEY HUNT:
Read complete letter and information here:YouthSpringTurkeyHuntLetter.pdf
Download Application here:BigGameHuntApplication.pdf -Same as (FWS Form 3-2356)
The Youth Spring Turkey Hunt at Bosque del Apache NWR is a permit-only hunt. Youth hunters are selected by a public drawing. Complete the attached application to participate in the drawing. A standardized application (FWS Form 3-2356) has been provided and must received at the Refuge no later than March 15, 2011. The application only permits one hunter to apply per application. Eligible youth hunters (age 17 and under) can apply only once, if a hunter’s name appears on more than one application, those applications will be voided.
A $6.00 application fee is required for each application and must accompany each application returned to the refuge. Make checks or money orders payable to: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge.
For the Spring 2011 turkey hunt, a maximum of 4 permits will be issued for the youth- only hunt.
Individual permits are valid only for the selected weekend that the hunts will be offered
(April 16-17, April 25-26, April 30-May 1, May 7-8).
Applicants may list specific weekend choices when submitting their application; however, the Refuge reserves the right to assign selected applicants available hunt dates... read more here...YouthSpringTurkeyHuntLetter.pdf
For Immediate Release Jan 14, 2011
REFUGE TO RE-OPEN AREAS CLOSED DUE TO MOUNTAIN LION ACTIVITY
Tom Melanson, Manager of Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, announced today that beginning Tuesday, February 1, 2011
areas within the Bosque del Apache NWR, which have been closed due to Mountain Lion Activity will re-open to the public.
The areas to be re-opened include the Rio Viejo Hiking Trail, the Education Campgrounds, and all refuge lands east of
the Low Flow Conveyance, and the Little San Pascual Wilderness Area.
“An increase in mountain lion activity in 2010 warranted the temporary precautionary closures,” said Melanson.
“We initiated a study and while the study is still being conducted, re-opening the closed areas on the refuge will not impact
its outcome.” Mountain Lion Warning Notices will be posted on all trails, observation structures, overlooks,and throughout
the refuge visitor center complex. In addition, notices will appear in refuge brochures, on its web-site,
and in future media. Additionally, pet restrictions currently in effect will continue to be enforced throughout the refuge.
“There are still mountain lions on the refuge,” Melanson said, “But we feel confident that with these measures in place,
a better informed public will act accordingly when visiting the refuge.”
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife,
plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner
in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources,
dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people
who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
See official release
For Release: October 1, 2010
PORTION OF REFUGE REMAINS CLOSED DUE TO CONTINUED MOUNTAIN LION PRESENCE
Beginning immediately several isolated areas within Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge will continue to be closed to the public due to continued mountain lion activity. The areas closed will include the Rio Viejo Hiking Trail, the Education Campgrounds, and all refuge-owned lands east of the Low Flow Conveyance, including the Low Flow Channel Service Road, the Rio Grande, and the Little San Pascual Wilderness Area. These areas have been closed to public access since January 2010.
Included in this closure is all access for hunting during the 2010-2011 hunt season. The closure, which is expected to last through April 2011, will impact some public uses on the Refuge. Due to the remote location of these areas and the fact that access to them is restricted to foot traffic only, the impact to the public will be minimal and should only affect day hikers, hunting activity, and school groups utilizing the Refuge's overnight facilities. "We regret that this closure will affect some individuals,&qupt; said Tom Melanson, Manager of Bosque del Apache, "but we must balance public safety with our mission to protect and enhance wildlife and habitat. The increase in mountain lion activity warrants this temporary precautionary closure until we have a clearer picture of lions use of the Refuge and then make recommendations in policy regarding these large predators.%quot;
v Not affected by this closure include the Refuge's 12-mile scenic Wildlife Auto Tour Loop, all observation decks, all hiking trails (with the exception of the Rio Viejo Trail), all observation pullouts, and the Chupadera and Indian Well Wilderness Areas.
This closure will not affect any activities associated with the annual Festival of the Cranes, November 16-21 (www.FestivaloftheCranes.com).
Beginning in January of this year the Refuge and conservation partners initiated a mountain lion study in the east boundary of the Refuge. The study included setting remote sensing equipment to observe mountain lion activity in the area, and collaring of mountain lions on the Refuge. Study efforts to date have resulted in the successful radio collaring of four mountain lions. Juvenile mountain lions have also been observed.
See map of closure area
NEW! e-Bird Trail Tracker
Bird Sightings on the Refuge!
E-Bird Trail Tracker What is eBird Trail Tracker?
Please scroll down past the Tracker for What's New
Bosque del Apache NWR and Friends of the Bosque
eBird Trail Tracker is an electronic gateway created and maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to gather information on bird sightings. It enables you to find out which birds are being reported and where at the Refuge, and to record your own sightings. These observation records become part of eBird, an online checklist program that scientists and birders with Internet access can use to review bird observation information from specific locations across North America, including many National Wildlife Refuges. eBird Trail Tracker also includes photos, audio, video and life history information for the birds seen at the site.
Be sure to enter your sightings at the new eBird Trail Tracker the next time you visit our refuge! Please retrun to this site to see what's being seen at Bosque del Apache NWR!
Public Notices are provided by the Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge
Web Pages ©1996-2011 by The Friends of the Bosque National Wildlife Refuge
All photos & Graphics ©2010 Friends ofthe Bosque. All Rights Reserved. Please do not use without permission!