Former NM state senator joins Game Commission

Jun. 24—Former New Mexico senator, Jal cattle rancher and oilman Gregg Fulfer is the newest state Game Commissioner.

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's latest commission appointment was announced at the June 17 meeting in Santa Fe.

The former Lea County commissioner also served on the state Environmental Improvement Board for 8 years.

Fulfer runs Fulfer Oil and Cattle Co. in Jal and Delaware Water Company.

"Water is one of my favorite topics," he said. "We're cleaning about 1 million and a half gallons a day of produced water and reusing it for the fracking and drilling operations."

Fulfer received an electrical engineering degree from New Mexico State University.

As a state legislator representing a corner of southeast New Mexico from 2018 to 2020, he supported a law that made it easier for surveyors and engineers licensed in Texas or New Mexico to work in either state.

Fulfer helped secure road repairs for an oilfield highway in his district and supported a forest and watershed restoration law.

"I'm learning a lot right now, but hunting and fishing have always been one of my big interests," Fulfer said. "It's important to create growth of that industry and protect hunting, fishing and wildlife."

The commissioner said he enjoys fly-fishing at a family lodge in Colorado just north of Chama, New Mexico.

"Ranching is a big part of my life," he said. "We raise beef cattle, and do a lot of taking care of the country here for birds and quail."

Fulfer voted against a law that funded Game and Fish to work with the Transportation Department on a wildlife corridors action plan.

He also voted against a wildlife trafficking law and a law that banned coyote-killing contests.

The seven-member Game Commission now has two vacancies.

The board sets state hunting and fishing rules and oversees the Game and Fish Department's budget.

In recent years, the commission has waded into issues like stream access and elk hunting licenses for residents and out-of-state landowners.

Fellow commissioner Deanna Archuleta said Fulfer is a "delightful individual who really gets things done."

Other Game Commissioners are:

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—Sharon Salazar Hickey — former Los Alamos National Laboratory employee, appointed 2020

—Roberta Salazar-Henry — former Game and Fish employee, appointed 2019

—Tirzio Lopez — Rio Arriba County farmer — appointed 2019

—Deanna Archuleta — ExxonMobil senior director for federal relations — appointed February 2022

The commission's next meeting is on July 22 at 9 a.m. in Ruidoso.