NM Mule Deer Foundation Prepares for Banquet

By Misty Cryer

The line of thinking that if an issue is observed, it is time to step up and do something about it is common in Carlsbad. Kristy Maley, State Chair for New Mexico’s Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), did just that. She is organizing the annual banquet that serves as a fundraiser for the foundation to help achieve its mission, with the assistance of Demetrio Rubio, the Texas Regional Director.

From a family of hunters, Kristy said she has always hunted, and over the last decade, they have hunted all species. “We’ve noticed a pretty significant decrease in the mule deer population, especially in southeast New Mexico,” she said.

Kristy started looking for organizations or resources to help with that. She said a friend of hers in Las Cruces was the State Chair for New Mexico’s MDF and encouraged her to get involved. She served as co-chair for quite a while, stepping up to state chair when her friend stepped down.

MDF is a national organization focused on restoring, improving, and protecting mule deer and black-tailed deer, and their habitats, through conservation programs supported by grassroots efforts. “Our vision is to unite deer, people, and landscapes for the betterment of habitat, communities, and our way of life,” said Kristy.

The foundation also plays a role in public access, wildlife management, and conservation policy issues while supporting regulated hunting with a commitment to mentoring the next generation in the traditions of hunting, shooting sports, and conservation, said Kristy.

The organization’s conservation efforts are accomplished through partnerships with state and federal agencies and other non-profit organizations, with funding provided through donations and fundraisers. “Carlsbad has one of the most successful banquets in the state,” said Kristy.

“A good portion of the funds raised at this banquet benefit Eddy County alone,” said Kristy, adding that it can be used all over the state. For instance, she said a mule deer decoy was purchased for Socorro to set somewhere to catch poachers.

Some projects that MDF has accomplished in southeast New Mexico include installing drinkers in remote areas, fixing water wells for local wildlife, and purchasing thermal equipment and improved optics to help Game and Fish fight the poaching issue, said Kristy. She said they also do fence improvements and changes.

“We’ll take the barbed wire off the top of the fence and put a smooth wire so that if something jumps over, they won’t get hung up,” said Kristy, adding that rolling up old, abandoned wire also helps to keep wildlife from getting hung up. “These improvements don’t just benefit the mule deer; all wildlife benefits from our actions,” she said.

In Carlsbad, the annual banquet is typically held in the middle of August. The tentative date this year is August 15. It includes a steak dinner, live and silent auctions, a full bar, games, and raffles with giveaways. Giveaways include about eight guns and a hunt, she said, adding that the hunt generally goes to a kid, a veteran, or an active-duty military member.

To attend the banquet, the cost is $100 per couple, which includes two steak dinners and a Mule Deer Foundation membership, said Kristy. “We also have corporate tables,” she said, adding they seat eight and include eight memberships and a bunch of raffle tickets.

“We have a corporate table for $1,000 that does not come with a gun. Then we have a corporate table that comes with a gun that’s $1,500,” said Kristy. “The buyer of the table gets a gun of their choice or a gift certificate to Courtesy Pawn,” she said.

Appreciative of all the sponsors of the banquet that have previously included local organizations, Kristy said, “Last year, Top Nock donated their venue to the banquet, so that helped a lot. Courtesy Sporting and Pawn, he’s usually our Federal Firearms License, and he gives us some discounts on some of the guns that we get. Paul’s Veterinary Supply and Roswell Livestock always donate really cool auction items, just to name a few.” She also said that FFA and 4-H kids have helped set up and take down the banquet in previous years.

Anyone interested in helping with the Mule Deer Foundation, attending, or donating to the banquet can contact Kristy Maley at 575-308-3287.

“We have a fencing project coming up,” said Kristy. Service organizations can help with rolling up fences or putting up new fences and, she said, they can always use equipment to help with fixing drinkers.

“If anyone wants to donate anything to the banquet for auction items, the banquet is a huge part of our fundraising and how we get our money to spend around here,” said Kristy. “Anything helps,” she said.