New Mexico SNAP discount on permits

[Dos Perros]

Also, actual utility or worthiness of the bill aside, this is just politics. Some politician trying to do something that won't have any actual measurable benefit just so they have something to talk about when they are running for re-election.

 

[NMJM]

This is how they keep us divided and squabbling over things that do not matter. Every time the government gives special privileges to one group over another they will cause in fighting and discord so we do not pay attention to the issues that really affect our lives. Both sides do it, whether it is reduced tag prices for certain groups or not taxing tips and overtime or who gets hired or admitted into college. As long as there are special interests groups getting us riled up about the latest issue we will not notice losing basic rights or the politicians getting rich beyond their means.

 

[IdahoBeav]

No discount should be given to any class or group of people for fishing or game hunting licenses.

How about vets, seniors, the disabled, etc.?

 

[taybou]

The "government".......local, state, or federal, ABSOLUTELY shouldn't be doing any of that.

It never was the purpose or responsibility of "government" to provide welfare to "the people". But once it did start.......we've been on a downward spiral as a nation ever since. Now it's just considered SOP and an expected entitlement by a very large majority of the population. All of those folks have been conditioned to this practice whether they are receiving it or vote to continue it.

I think this is where we disagree on the solution, in that I'm not sure what your suggestion is. Everyone looks out for themselves? We're an interconnected society where we can no longer live in isolation in small tribes and communities, we're not setup to meet our individual needs without support from a larger entity like government. There's too many people to require everyone provide for their own needs.


If it's not government that supports those who can't care for themselves, who is it? Telling someone to get a job, what if there isn't a job? I'm seeing those around me lose their jobs due to automation, and I'm not seeing new jobs being created.

Anyways, that's all to say, I have more faith in government to solve this problem than capitalism. I don't see wealthy folks caring about the average person.

 

[Bugger]

Will a $22.50 discount on a $90 bull tag encourage any new residents to jump all in and start hunting? Highly unlikely. Any money lost on the few that qualify and already hunt is more than made up for in a single NR exotic tag with low success rates. It matters none.

 

[butcherboy]

Just another stupid bill pushed through by the hopeless left idiots in Santa Fe. A small discount is not going to encourage them to draw a tag or buy a fishing license. Most of those already on some kind of govt assistance can’t afford a rifle. They could probably borrow one from someone. The people that live in or close to the mountains have always shot and will continue to just shoot whatever they need/want whenever they want. I’ve heard plenty of rifle shots in wilderness areas and the borders of them during archery elk season. Even heard some on the borders of the Valles Caldera when I had an archery tag there in 2023.

 

[TaperPin]

There’s not a lot of empathy for poor communities and working poor families, and I don’t know how to teach it - kids seem to be born with it or not. One of our sons would give someone the shirt off his back if they needed it and the other lives in la la land thinking poor families all fit some stereotype. The 30 year old who doesn’t understand the real world, wants me to take him hunting where I grew up to see the country and hunt the places where a lot of good stories came from. I said sure, but it will be on the budget and gear I would have had back then, we’ll hunt with inexpensive gear, eat peanut butter sandwiches on white bread, lots of beans, spaghetti Os, BarS hotdogs on white bread for buns, sourdough pancakes for breakfast and half of lunch, and generic potato chips and Sam’s choice cola for a treat. There is no budget for hunting gas so before we go something has to be cut out to save up for the trip so no movies, no driving around for fun, no eating out, and eat cheaply at home for two months including pancakes every single day if he feels like eating or cooking them or not. Pickup gas is too expensive so we’ll borrow a nephews crappy little car to make the trip and borrow an old pickup from a childhood friend when we get there. No eating out on the trip, no money for expensive snacks at the gas station, we’ll have a styrofoam cooler and only the water brought from home in 2 liter soda bottles. There’s no money for a doctor so a couple of childhood friends tore a tendon in sports or some outdoor accident and always had a major limp after that.

I was lucky and had a job at the local gas station and grocery store since I was 12 to buy ammo and a better rifle than most of the kids I grew up with, but still had to borrow binoculars and a spotting scope until my 20s. Nobody was getting rich because those jobs just didn’t exist unless you move away.

He thinks I’m a jerk for not just taking him, but that’s the reality of growing up in a poor working class family that he doesn’t understand and doesn’t want to. A break on hunting license cost would have been nice.

The acquaintance of mine who will bitch the loudest has a taxable income over $2 million a year and he cry for a month over $15 of a $60 cow tag going to a poor family in New Mexico.

 

[5MilesBack]

I think this is where we disagree on the solution, in that I'm not sure what your suggestion is.

I'll just say that I am as incapable of thinking emotionally, as many are incapable of thinking logically. But when you throw government into the equation, we've ruined capitalism and a free market. Then you throw insurance AND government into the equation, and we've ruined healthcare. We are already a socialist country whether we want to believe that or not. It's impossible to fix that without a lot of pain and sacrifice.

 

[fmyth]

Poor people in New Mexico are not starving. If anything we need to make food more expensive.

View attachment 888734

"Based on self reported weight and height."

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Doesn't matter what we think,

"The New Mexico Legislature passed Senate Bill 5 during the 2025 Legislative Session. New Mexico residents participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are eligible to receive a 25% discount on all licenses as established in 17-3-13 NMSA for the following license year."

SNAP is federal funded not funded by the individual states so yeah it does matter what we think.
Be interesting to see how budgets bills tracking thru congress will affect this..especially if the states have to start paying part of the SNAP benefits for their state.

I am wondering if NM F&G is pulling the accumulated discount in dollars from the federal SNAP funds...aka finding a way to siphon federal dollars for state agency.
I have no issues with subsistence carve outs, but the agency that makes the decision needs to bear the financial burden. I suspect that is probably not happening here.

 

[Dos Perros]

"Based on self reported weight and height."

Propose an alternative data source then.

 

[fmyth]

Propose an alternative data source then.

Data from yearly physicals required to keep your Medicaid/SNAP benefits.

 

[cornfedkiller]

"Based on self reported weight and height."

So if anything, the obesity rates are probably underreported. I doubt many people are reporting that they are heavier or shorter than they really are.

 

[Dos Perros]

Data from yearly physicals required to keep your Medicaid/SNAP benefits.

Post away.

 

[LostArra]

The "government".......local, state, or federal, ABSOLUTELY shouldn't be doing any of that.

It never was the purpose or responsibility of "government" to provide welfare to "the people". But once it did start.......we've been on a downward spiral as a nation ever since. Now it's just considered SOP and an expected entitlement by a very large majority of the population. All of those folks have been conditioned to this practice whether they are receiving it or vote to continue it.

When was the last time you glanced over a young single working mother's monthly budget? With a kid or two daycare alone probably exceeds housing costs. If our country cannot subsidize some food on the table then you are correct. We are on a downward spiral.
I agree there is abuse of the system but remember the baby and the bath water. Fix the system.


The hunting license discount for SNAP recipients is nothing but a stunt and not one to fret about. Discounts are already allowed for veterans, old folks, youth, and tribal members have all sorts of hunting perks . Even the big bad Wyo G&F gives discounts to NON RESIDENT youth. Why should Fred Eshelman's kids get a discounted elk tag??

 

[roadrunner]

How about vets, seniors, the disabled, etc.?

What about them?

 

[LCguy]

How about vets, seniors, the disabled, etc.?

They all get discounts in NM

 

[Gila]

I am all for helping to feed the Hungry…but giving a license discount to people who are on SNAP doesn’t make any sense to me. Residents have lottery odds in the big game public draws. The license is the cheap part of hunting. I see it as a slap in the face to the poor…sort of like “let them eat cake”. Wasting time out hunting instead of working isn’t something the poor want to do anyway. Donating meat from depredation hunts makes more sense to me. I have seen it done in other states. For some reason New Mexico seems to be behind the eight ball when it comes to hunting, fishing and trapping.

I think raising license fees and burning up all of that money to “rebrand” to the “Dept of Wildlife” is a mistake. Chasing bad money with good money isn’t any type of solution for any wildlife IMO. I would rather the money be spent on private landowners for hunting and fishing access. Get those landowner tags back into the public draw where they belong. Shaking up the Commission or whatever they want to call it is a good thing but only if the Dept. gets out of the outfitter business.

 

[Gila]

When was the last time you glanced over a young single working mother's monthly budget? With a kid or two daycare alone probably exceeds housing costs. If our country cannot subsidize some food on the table then you are correct. We are on a downward spiral.

Well said!

 

[atmat]

The license is the cheap part of hunting.

I do think you’re overestimating the cost of hunting for lots of people. I know tons of folks using great grandpa’s rifle who go many years with a box of Core Lokts, who have no fancy gear, and who are successful hunters.