New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
Public contact: (505) 476-8000
dan.williams@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 8, 2009:

APPLICATION DEADLINE EXTENDED TO APRIL 17 FOR BIG-GAME LICENSES, PERMITS

SANTA FE -- The Department of Game and Fish has extended the deadline to apply for big-game licenses and permits to Friday, April 17, in response to delays caused by extreme pressure on the agency's telephones and computer server.

Many customers who waited until the last few days before the original April 8 deadline were not able to connect by computer to obtain a new Customer Identification Number. The number is required this year for everyone applying for licenses and permits. The free numbers only can be obtained online or at a Department office in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell or Las Cruces. Two days before the original deadline the Department Web site recorded more than 1.6 million hits, almost three times the daily average.

Department office telephone lines also were deluged with calls about the Customer ID Number, forgotten passwords and other questions.

The Department is expecting to receive more than 150,000 applications for about 50,000 available licenses and permits for deer, elk, antelope, javelina, ibex, Barbary sheep and bighorn sheep.

Online applications must be received by 5 p.m. MDT April 17. Paper applications must be postmarked by April 17 or delivered to the Department office in Santa Fe by 5 p.m. MDT April 17.

Online applicants are encouraged to apply early to avoid missing the deadline because of forgotten passwords or other computer-related issues at the last minute. Late applications will not be accepted.

Applicants are reminded that everyone applying for a public-land license or permit, or purchasing a license via a private land authorization or the Valles Caldera must first obtain a free Customer ID Number online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us or in person from any Department office. This number must be included on each application, paper or online, or the application will be rejected.

All applicants who were licensed to hunt deer or elk, or to hunt or trap furbearers in the 2008-2009 seasons must have submitted a harvest report to be eligible for the upcoming drawing. Hunters and trappers who did not report by the deadlines -- Feb. 15 for deer and elk hunters, April 7 for furbearer hunters and trappers -- can still participate in the 2009-2010 drawings if they submit their harvest survey and pay an $8 late fee before applying. Hunters who fail to report their 2008-2009 harvest results -- successful or not -- will have their 2009-2010 applications rejected. Harvest reports can be submitted online at www.newmexico-hunt.com or by calling toll-free (888) 248-6866.
    
Results will be available in early June on the Department Web site or in person at any Department office.

To apply for a hunt or for more information, please visit www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or call (505) 476-8000.

Application tips:

• Don't wait until the last day, hour or minute to get your Customer Identification Number and apply, whether online or on paper.
• Write down your user name, password and Customer Identification Number and keep them in a safe, accessible place.
• Apply from your home computer rather than your work computer. Web site pressure is greatest during working hours.
• Apply during odd hours. 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. is best.
• Write down your chosen hunt codes and have them handy when you apply, instead of trying to look them up in the Rules & Information Booklet while online.
• If you use the online Rules and Information Booklet, download it to your hard drive and access it from there while applying to relieve pressure on your Web browser.
• If you cannot connect on your first try, all available spaces on the server are busy. Wait a little while and try again.

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