Here is their wording on their website:
"A property within COER area that gets three or fewer ES and/or MB authorization could issue them all to non-residents if desired. Beginning with receipt of the 4th authorization, it would be required to provide at least one to a New Mexico resident of the property owner’s choosing. This would apply to all authorizations allowing for taking of bull elk, both ES and MB, separately or in aggregate, provided to each such property owner.
This requirement would result in a slight, but still significant, increase of total private RO bull hunting licenses going to New Mexico residents compared to present, based on state-wide totals tallied from 2016-17 NMDGF data. NMWF estimates this would increase the resident percentage of total bull licenses on RO properties from about 14% of MB and 18% of ES licenses now to about 22% each."
Sounds like some wishful estimates to me. I also think it has a snowball's chance of happening though it does bring up some interesting thoughts for me. NM went gangbusters into cutting down the NR % for drawable a number of years ago, but this is the first I have heard of trying to get any of the landowner tags specifically reserved for residents. I find it interesting that they understand the need for private individuals to get the most for their commodity but that the state should take a higher % of $548 or $773 tags and move them to $91 tags for their residents.
I also find it interesting that considering NM residents already have a $458 advantage in buying landowner tags (since a NR still has to pay the $548 to the state for the actual tag while a resident only pays $91) they (NMWF and their followers) now want the state to intervene and force landowners to create an artificial market for "resident landowner tags." Unfortunately, we know where that would go. Landowners would then complain that their tags are not worth as much anymore and therefore they need more tags to compensate for the damage the elk are doing to their fences, alfalfa, etc. NMG&F gives in and gives more tags and takes them away from the tags available to the public draw.
I'm curious what others thoughts on this are, especially other NRs like myself who can't afford landowner tags. (BTW, I grew up in NM and hunted it as a resident from high school until I was 33 but now have to hit the lottery to draw my 3rd choice unit which is only better than a CO hunt for me because I know it well).
No, selling them to a resident outfitter doesn't qualify. The tag must be assigned to a resident. Resident outfitters sell the authorizations to whoever pays them the most regardless of R or NR status.
As for your second post, that is what they are wanting to do is to force a lower cost for residents for MB or ES tags. I.e. if you limit the pool of customers to NM residents then the demand in theory will be lower thus driving down prices for residents while at the same time the result will increase demand for the remaining tags which will then cause prices to rise even more for NRs.
It also plays into their pandering that NRs get too many of "their" tags which plays well to residents who vote for the representatives who make the laws like the one limiting NR unguided tags to 6%.
On the flip side there are properties on which cows & calves hit the alfalfa in the spring but by hunting season the elk are far away so a RO tag for that property is worthless, despite the landowner actually contributing and feeding elk during a vital part of the year.
There's no easy answer, but the abuse of the system is out of control IMO.
And I agree with Darrell, we/NM screwed the NR DIY guys and catered to the outfitters and that isn't right.
Our problem is all of us have complained about the E-Plus for years but nobody has come up with a logical solution, myself included.
Here is my suggestion that I put in during the public comment. Put all elk tags in the public draw. Have a hunt code for private land only. Once you are drawn for private land you have to negotiate with landowners to pay an access fee to their ranch or already be contracted with an outfitter for access to private land. That way the antler less tags will get utilized, no more UW tags. Any tags not allocated for private land in the draw will go to public hunters. The downside is more hunting pressure on public land. It would be like the private land deer licenses.
NMWF's proposal isn't for 25% of the tags, just that tag #4 must be assigned to a NM resident. That is part of what is humorous in this. They are claiming it will increase resident use of LO tags but in reality, even if it got implemented which would be a miracle, might only bump the % a point or two at the most.
If it were up to me all animals would be herded off private land with fencing to keep them off. That will never happen due to the cost and the LO would fight it tooth and nail. They have used too much of the State land, BLM, and USFS for their personal use for so long they think they own it. Especially when they can have it landlocked with their private land. Corner hopping needs to be made legal.
