Jemez Springs poaching tip leads to felony conviction, hunting ban in NM

JEMEZ SPRINGS, N.M. — Deep in the woods and often far from marked trails, New Mexico wildlife officers face dangers that come with enforcing the law in remote areas. In Jemez Springs, those officers are also seeing results from tips provided by the public.

In October 2024, hunters in the Jemez area reported suspicious activity through Operation Game Thief, a tip line operated by the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. The tip launched a multiyear investigation that led to an arrest, a sentencing and, most recently, the revocation of a hunting license.

The case involved two elk that were left beheaded in the Jemez Mountains.

“We were able to find these heads for sale on social media, and then we were able to go in and catch the individual selling them,” said Ariel Perraglio, a sergeant with the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.

Perraglio said the department’s work can vary widely from day to day.

“Some days we’re out dealing with poachers or honest hunters. Some days we are dealing with bears,” Perraglio said.

Perraglio was among the officers who arrested Julian Lopez in the poaching case.

The department charged Lopez with felony poaching. Lopez later accepted a plea agreement and admitted guilt. Now a convicted felon, Lopez had his hunting privileges revoked for the next 20 years by the New Mexico Game Commission.

“We don’t want to waste the animal that we’re killing, right? So if we kill something, we need to respect that animal and remove all of the edible portions of meat from the field,” Perraglio said.

Perraglio has worked for the department for a decade. While Operation Game Thief has existed for 50 years, she said reports from the public have become more frequent in recent years.

In August and September, conservation officers recorded 325 incidents. The department also has issued 2,612 citations this year.

“There’s not a lot of us in the field. So we really rely on the public to let us know if they see a violation,” Perraglio said.

The New Mexico Department of Wildlife credits tips from members of the public with helping protect hunting opportunities and wildlife viewing for future generations.

Officials encourage anyone who witnesses a potential wildlife violation to report it through Operation Game Thief.

RESOURCES:

• Phone Hotline: Call 1-800-432-4263 (1-800-432-GAME). [1, 2]
• Online: Submit a confidential report here: New Mexico Operation Game Thief Report Form.: https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/public/ogt

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