A. The director of the department of game and fish, or any other officer charged with enforcement of the laws relating to game and fish if so directed by the director, may bring a civil action in the name of the state against any person unlawfully wounding or killing, or unlawfully in possession of, any game quadruped, bird or fish, or part thereof and recover judgment for the following minimum sums as damages for the taking, killing or injuring:

for each elk                                                                                                            $ 500.00 for each deer                                                                                                            250.00 for each antelope                                                                                                     250.00 for each mountain sheep                                                                                     1,000.00 for each Barbary sheep                                                                                            250.00 for each black bear                                                                                                 500.00 for each cougar                                                                                                        500.00 for each bison                                                                                                         600.00 for each ibex                                                                                                         1,000.00 for each oryx                                                                                                         1,000.00 for each javelina                                                                                                     100.00 for each beaver                                                                                                         65.00 for each bird                                                                                                             20.00 for each fish                                                                                                                 5.00 for each endangered species                                                                                 500.00 for each raptor                                                                                                         200.00 for each turkey                                                                                                         150.00 for each jaguar                                                                                                     2,000.00.

B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, the state game commission shall establish damages recoverable by civil judgment on a game animal, bird or fish designated to be a trophy animal by commission rule.

C. Damages recovered pursuant to this section are intended to compensate the state for the loss of unique public resources and shall not be limited or reduced by the extent of fines assessed pursuant to any criminal statute. The department of game and fish shall not award or issue a license, permit or certificate to a debtor owing damages pursuant to this section until the judgment has been paid in full to the department.

D. No verdict or judgment recovered by the state in an action shall be for less than the sum fixed in this section. The action for damages may be joined with an action for possession, and recovery may be had for the possession as well as the damages.

E. The pendency or determination of an action for damages or payment of a judgment, or the pendency or determination of a criminal prosecution for the same taking, wounding, killing or possession, is not a bar to the other, nor does either affect the right of seizure under any other provision of the laws relating to game and fish.

F. The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to prevent, constrain or penalize a Native American for engaging in activities for religious purposes, as provided in Section 17-2-14 or 17-2-41 N.M. Stat. Ann..

G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a landowner or lessee, or employee of either, who kills an animal, on private land in which the person has an ownership or leasehold interest, that is threatening human life or damaging or

destroying property, including crops; provided, however, that the killing is reported to the department of game and fish within twenty-four hours and before the removal of the carcass of the animal killed; and provided further that all actions authorized in this subsection are carried out according to rules of the department.