From: http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/50161.html

12:12 pm: Poachers face higher penalties in N.M.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
October 3, 2006

TUCUMCARI, N.M. (AP) - Poaching just got more expensive in New Mexico.

The state Game Commission has increased fines for people who illegally kill trophy wildlife. Poachers now face possible civil penalties ranging from $2,000 to $10,000, in addition to criminal fines that they might be assessed.

The fines will allow the state to recover losses of valuable trophy wildlife.

Previously, civil penalties were $250 for a deer or $500 for an elk.

The 2006 Legislature authorized the commission to set penalties based the value of a trophy big game animal or fish. The commission passed the new fines last week at its meeting in Tucumcari.

State law allows the Department of Game and Fish to seek damages from poachers for the value of the property. The minimum penalty is $2,000 for any trophy big game animal or any big game animal from which the head has been removed.

Fines will be determined according to trophy characteristics. For example, for deer or elk, the value will be based upon antler width, number of points or overall size as determined by Safari Club International scores.

The maximum penalty of $10,000 can be assessed for deer with antlers scoring 200 or more, elk at 350 points or more, bighorn rams at 150 or more, oryx at 101 or more and ibex at 100 or more.

The maximum fine antelope is $8,000; for barbary sheep, it's $6,000.

The new penalties also include a $150 fine for illegally taken trout measuring 20 inches or more and $500 for a tom turkey with a beard of at least 10 inches or spurs of at least an inch.

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