Albuquerque, NM (KKOB) — The killing of feral cattle without brands, tags or documented ownership by sharpshooters in the Gila Wilderness by helicopters in 2022 and 2023 drew lawsuits by the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association and area ranchers. Plaintiiffs argued the practice was unlawful and cruel, degraded the environment and risked killing branded cattle. New Mexico Cattle Grower’s Association President Tom Patterson told the Albuquerque Journal on Thursday, “There’s no way that from a helicopter up in the sky they’re going to know whether these cattle are branded or not.” At the end of 2023, the agency said the removals were complete. The plaintiffs sought a permanent federal injunction against aerial shootings and appealed after New Mexico’s federal district court dismissed their claims in 2025. The lawsuit challenging the removal of unauthorized cattle from the Gila Wilderness was dismissed Wednesday by a federal appeals court.
