All game and fish seized under the game laws shall without unnecessary delay be sold by the officer making such seizure, or by the state warden [director of the department of game and fish], except when such sale is impracticable or likely to incur expenses exceeding the proceeds, in which case the same shall be donated to some charitable institution or needy person not concerned in the unlawful killing, or possession thereof. The officer making such seizure shall sign and give to each purchaser or donee an invoice stating the time and place of disposition, the kind and weight as near as may be of the game or fish disposed of and the name of the purchaser or donee. Such invoice shall authorize possession, transportation and use within the state, and storage for thirty days from date. The proceeds from such sale, after deducting the cost of seizure and sale shall, if made by the state warden [director] or any deputy [conservation officer] under salary, be paid into the game protection fund, but if made by a deputy warden [conservation officer] not under salary, or any other officer, shall be paid one-half to the officer making such seizure.
History: Laws 1912, ch. 85, § 23; Code 1915, § 2446; C.S. 1929, § 57-232; 1941 Comp., § 43-226; 1953 Comp., § 53-2-24.
ANNOTATIONSBracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Laws 1955, ch. 59, § 2 transferred the duties of the state game warden. See 17-1-6 NMSA 1978.
Cross references. — For sale of skins, pelts or furs involved in violation, see 17-5-9 NMSA 1978.
Return of game or proceeds after wrongful confiscation. — Where the department of game and fish confiscated an elk from a person charged with a hunting misdemeanor, and the magistrate court dismissed the case because the game officer failed to identify the defendant at the hearing as the person charged, the department was not required to return the elk, or the proceeds from the sale of the elk, to that person. 1988 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 88-43.