NM game official criticized over illegal deer hunt

ALBUQUERQUE — Conservation officers in New Mexico are calling for the resignation or replacement of the top official in the state Game and Fish Department after he lost his hunting license for illegally killing a deer.

Department Director Bruce Thompson pleaded no contest this year to unlawful hunting and illegal possession of a deer on a ranch in southeastern New Mexico during a hunt in November 2007. It's illegal to hunt on private property in New Mexico without permission from the landowner.

Thompson, who had a valid deer hunting license, said he believed he was on federal land, judging by his global positioning unit.

He lost his hunting privileges in New Mexico and more than two dozen other states when the New Mexico Game Commission voted Thursday to revoke his license for two years.

But the New Mexico Conservation Officers Association also wants Thompson out of the department. In the group's letter to the game commission, it called on Thompson to "step aside and let a qualified and trustworthy person take the reins."

"It's frustrating for us," Colin Duff, the officers association's president, told The Associated Press. "For a guy to be in that position, he's been convicted and is still signing laws that pertain to everybody else's hunting privileges, we don't really see how he can keep doing that."

Thompson said Friday that he had not seen the letter, and he defended his ability to lead the department.

"You should examine the accomplishments that the department and the Game Commission have demonstrated over many years," he said, pointing to expanded sportsmen's opportunities, resource management projects and the department's access to nature program.

Commission Chairman Tom Arvas said he didn't believe the license revocation would interfere with Thompson's ability to do his job.

But officers claim Thompson fought the revocation process, forcing his own employees to testify against him. Duff also said officers and the public have become frustrated with the director.

Duff said similar violations involving wildlife officials in other states have resulted in resignations or terminations long before court action.

Thompson was ordered to serve 182 days of unsupervised probation and pay fines as a result of his no-contest plea.

Thompson, who was appointed by Gov. Bill Richardson in 2003, works at the commission's pleasure. A spokeswoman for the governor said Friday that Richardson believes the commission acted "fairly and consistently" in Thompson's case.

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On the Net:

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/

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