CHAMA -- The Department of Game and Fish will conduct public meetings in Tierra Amarilla and Farmington on June 17 and 18 to review and listen to comments about the Department's recommendations for big-game hunting rules for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

The Department will consider public ideas and suggestions in developing the big-game hunting rules, which will be presented to the State Game Commission at the commission meeting July 23 in Las Vegas. The Commission will adopt the final rules Oct. 2 after further revisions and public comments.

Each spring, the National Wild Turkey Federation’s wildlife biologists hear the fears of concerned hunters who don't understand that prescribed burns in March and April -- months generally known as wild turkey nesting months -- are far more beneficial than harmful to wild turkey populations. However, the NWTF's wildlife biologists have research showing the years of improved nesting and brood habitat created by a growing season prescribed fire is far more important to the turkey population than the loss of a few nests.