By Mary Alice Murphy

Capt. Mike Matthews of the Southwest Region of the New Mexico Game and Fish Department spoke at the monthly Silver City-Grant County Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Thursday, March 3.

He talked about the deer management project the department has been doing for the past few years in and around Silver City.

"The department's work is supported by hunting and license fees," Matthews said. "We manage wildlife in the best interest of people. Call us about anything related to wildlife, except rabbits and skunks."

The Game and Fish Department has a commission, with members appointed by the governor.

"In about 2008, the deer population in Silver City became a growing problem," Matthews said. "It took us a while, but in 2010, we did animal surveys. In 2011, we became more proactive. We decided we were going to use a three-pronged process: 1) we were going to try to trap the deer; 2) we would remove them lethally in constricted areas; and 3) we would hold archery hunts and give landowners permission to allow hunters.

"In 2012, we started trapping," he continued. "It was not effective. We got six deer." Subsequent years were more successful, with 110 trapped and relocated in 2013; 76 in 2014; and 53 in 2015.

The vehicle/deer collisions continued. "We were getting lots of deer hit by cars and dying in yards and in the roadways. We tried trapping deer using a drop net over baited areas. We tied their legs and blindfolded them so they would quit fighting after they were trapped. If we were going to such manpower-intense efforts, we decided to do a study. We put radio collars or GPS on the deer that we relocated. In 2013, we also put implants in the does, so that when they had their fawns, the implants dropped out."

Silver City removed deer killed by vehicles with 40 in 2012; 54 in 2013; 24 in 2014; and 12 in 2015, so relocation efforts seem to be working. Lethal take by G&FD comprised 25 in 2012 and 41 in 2013. Since then archery hunts succeeded in removing 36 in 2014 and 47 in 2015.

"By 2014, the deer population was down," Matthews said. "The main area we tried these effort in was north of Cain Drive between Little Walnut and Swan. The trapping effort was waning, because the deer were getting smart enought to not go under a net. We did the trapping in February and March so the deer didn't overheat.

"Part of the problem was people feeding the deer, plus the deer love freshly mowed grass," Matthews said. "And houses were being built in deer habitat."

In a ground survey it was determined that the ratio was about 69 fawns per 100 does. The surveys were done early morning and around sunset.

"It was a losing battle," Matthews said, "although we did remove deer from localized places. This year we are re-evaluating the process.

"In 2014, we put in the archery hunt, so the hunters could take the meat home to eat," he said. "We will go back to the County Commission and ask whether the constituents like the program. We need input on whether to keep doing it or forget it."

He said the next local GFD Commission meeting would take place at 9 a.m. Thursday, May 12, at the Murray Hotel.

"Prior to our doing this, it was considered a no-no to do this to mule deer, because they stress out too easily," Matthews said. "However, through our study, we learned that the deer had a 65 percent survival rate for those transplanted. That's really good. We started using a calming drug, which helped." He noted that transplanted big horn sheep have a 90 percent to 95 percent survival rate.

"We moved half the transplants to near Alma, and half to the northern Peloncillo Mountains," he said. ""We have had a high lion predation rate on the big horn sheep, so we want to relieve that predation with deer.

"We did a soft release in a five-acre fenced in area," Matthews said. "We fed them and got them acclimated. Others we just kicked out of the trailers. We saw no difference in survival rates. We put them into the wild environment from their being fed and having good food in populated areas.

"We haven't gotten this year's harvest rates yet to see how many hunters got their deer," he continued.

He said if a person hits a deer, he can drive away and leave it or can call the local game and fish person. The number at the Las Cruces facility is 575-532-2100. Likely a call to local dispatch will get you the local phone number.

"If the meat is salvageable, we'll give it to someone who needs it. If the deer is in the roadway, it is the road department's responsibility," Matthews said. "If you are outside the city limits, call us, we will give you permission to move it out of your yard."

To a question about how many permits are available for the archery hunts, Matthews said hunters already have permits for bucks in Units 23 and 24. "If a hunter does not harvest a buck, he or she can doe hunt. About 800 hunters can take advantage of the archery hunt. This is the third year of it, so people should know about it."

A question was asked about what other communities in the state do, and what happens if nothing is done.

"In Ruidoso, they don't do anything," Matthews said. "They want the deer for the tourists. These hunts are common back East, but white-tailed deer remain in small areas, unlike mule deer."

To another question, Matthews said if one shoots a deer and it dies on someone else's property, the proper etiquette is to knock on the door and ask permission to harvest it.

"If we're going to do the program, it's a big effort," Matthews said. "It takes a lot of manpower, so it's costly. If we continue trapping, we will do a big effort and hopefully make a dent."

In answer to a question about wolves and deer, Matthews said the department hasn't monitored where wolves have been placed, but "there are usually fewer deer and more elk in those areas. We have seen the elk calf to cow ratio drop. We need a 40 percent calf rate to keep the elk population stable."

Another person asked about the drizzlers for wildlife water. "We are trying to maintain the waterers put in the 1950s and '60s, but the tanks are rusting. We can't do anything in the wilderness. We can fix but cannot bring in new tanks or waterers without a lot of permitting."

Dave Thomas, chamber board president, asked for announcements.

Pat Hunt of the Copper Cowbelles said the annual Shindig would take place on Saturday, April 30, at the Flame Convention Center, with tickets available from Cowbelles.

Jeremiah Garcia announced a donkey basketball game that evening in Cliff to benefit the FFA.

April 7 will feature a health care symposium from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Western New Mexico University third floor seminar room in the Student Memorial Building.

Rebecca Spann announced the Grant County Federated Republic Women would hear from state Rep. John Zimmerman at its monthly luncheon at 11:30, March 16, at the Sunset Room next to the WNMU cafeteria.

Scott Terry, chamber director, said people could enter their own calendar items on the new website at silvercity.org.

The next chamber luncheon will take place on April 7, at 11:45 a.m. in the Sunset Room.