TAOS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico judge is weighing arguments over public access to prime hunting territory after a several weeklong bench trial in Taos.
White Peak has been the source of legal and administrative fights for decades, as hunters and others have sought access to public land amid an area of wilderness that often requires crossing through private property to access state trust land.
At issue in state district court is whether roads used to access the White Peak area are considered historic roads open to the public or private ranching roads.
Property owner and rancher David Stanley has argued that hunters and other members of the public have trespassed on private property for years to reach trust lands.
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Arguments in the trial ended Thursday. Judge Sarah Backus in Taos District Court heard the case.