SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment regarding potential changes to fees currently charged by hunting and fishing license vendors.

Currently, all license vendors, including the Department, charge a fee of $1 per license sold. The passage of Senate Bill 5 by the New Mexico State Legislature during its 2025 session enables license collectors to “collect and retain a vendor fee for each license or permit issued; provided that the fee shall be just and reasonable; as determined by regulation of the State Wildlife Commission.”

The Department surveyed all license vendors statewide following the passage of SB 5, and the majority of vendors who responded expressed a desire to see the vendor fee increased, in addition to the introduction of an additional fee for the issuance of a carcass tag. Since 2017, external license vendors must hand-write each carcass tag they issue, but the Department prints a combination license and tag for walk-in customers in its offices.

The Department incurs significant costs for licensing software system planning, maintenance and development; as well as staff time for license sales that are not covered by the application fee for the special drawings.

The Department currently expends approximately $500,000 to cover all administrative costs associated with license sales outside of the special drawings. Vendor fees currently pay for approximately 20% of this cost.

The Department is seeking public comment regarding the following three proposals:

Proposal 1:

  • $2 fee for licenses sold either by the Department or a third-party license vendor
  • $1 fee for carcass tags sold either by the Department or a third-party license vendor

Proposal 2:

  • $1 fee for licenses sold directly by the Department
  • $2 fee for licenses sold by a third-party license vendor
  • $1 fee for carcass tags sold by a third-party license vendor

Proposal 3:

  • No fee for licenses sold directly by the Department
  • $2 fee for licenses sold by a third-party license vendor
  • $1 fee for carcass tags sold by a third-party license vendor

More information regarding the proposed license vendor fee increase is available by viewing the Department’s presentation from the June 13 State Game Commission meeting. Slides from the presentation are available here.

Comments on any or all of the above proposed license vendor fee structures, need to be received by July 25, 2025, and can be provided by mail: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Attn: License Vendor Fee Proposals, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507; or by email.