Fishing with Jimmy Carter Middle School - Summer Challenge
2026-06-17 09:30 - 13:30 (America/Denver) | Tingley Beach, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Department staff will go over rod assembly, knot tying, casting, fishing etiquette, hook and water safety, baits and fishing with 40 students from Jimmy Carter Middle School as part of the Governor’s Summer Challenge Program. This event is closed to the public.

Fishing with Wilson Middle School - Summer Challenge
2026-06-18 09:30 - 13:30 | Tingley Beach, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Department staff will go over rod assembly, knot tying, casting, fishing etiquette, hook and water safety, baits and fishing with 40 students from Wilson Middle School as part of the Governor’s Summer Challenge Program. This event is closed to the public.

Wildlife presentation at Bosque Farms Library
2026-06-25 13:00 - 14:00 | Bosque Farms, Bosque Farms, New Mexico
Department staff will be giving a short presentation about wildlife at the Bosque Farms Public Library using wildlife specimens along with pictures and calls. This is for their summer reading program.

Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp
2026-06-26 16:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-27 08:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-28 08:00 - 12:00 | Vermejo Park Ranch, Raton, NM
This camp is open to youth ages 10-17 who are accompanied by a registered adult. The camp is free, meals will be provided and participants will tent-camp on the property.
Participants will learn safe and responsible firearms handling, ethical hunting behaviors, conservation, wildlife identification and basic survival skills. Additionally, participants will learn from Department conservation officers about their jobs, including wildlife investigations, decoy operations and working with wildlife, and they will test their marksmanship skills with bows and arrows, .22 rifles and shotguns. All equipment will be provided.
Registration opens May 6 — click here to register. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. To qualify for the camp, participants must have a Customer Identification Number account with the Department and complete the required homework before attending.

Catron County 3D Archery Shoot
2026-06-27 09:00 - 16:00 | Apache Creek Campground
This 3-D archery shoot will consist of approximately 15 targets set up around the perimeter of the Apache Creek Campground north of Reserve. Participants are allowed to bring their own bows and arrows, or they may borrow arrows and recurve bows from the Department of Wildlife. Participants will be shooting field-tipped arrows. Targets will range from 10-60 yards and each target will have a backstop to prevent arrows from traveling further distances. With enough participants, divisions may be created based on equipment, age and gender, and other short bow-shooting competitions may take place with prizes awarded. The U.S. Forest Service may also be present with a booth or equipment of their own.
This event is meant to foster community relations and provide opportunity for the residents of Catron County, but the event is open to anyone.
Registration will take place the morning of June 27. If there are enough participants, there will be six divisions: Men’s Open; Women’s Open; Youth Open; Men’s Traditional/NASP; Women’s Traditional/NASP; and Youth Traditional/NASP.

Casting with San Felipe Youth Program
2026-06-30 09:00 - 11:00 | San Felipe, NM, San Felipe, NM, United States
Department staff will go over rod assembly, knot tying, hook safety and casting with youth leaders who are assisting with the San Felipe Youth Program. This event is closed to the public.

Backyard Bass Activity with Highland Athletics
2026-07-02 09:00 - 11:00 | Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Department staff will have a casting activity as a station for students who are participating with the Highland Athletics program. This event is closed to the public.

Waterwise Fishing and Conservation Field Day
2026-07-11 08:00 - 11:00 | Tingley Beach, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Department staff will be fishing with 20 youth participants from the STEM is Child’s Play Foundation. This event is closed to the public.

Fishing with Crossroads for Women
2026-07-15 10:00 - 12:00 | Albuquerque, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Department staff will teach clients of Crossroads for Women how to fish. Skills taught will include rod/reel assembly, knot tying and casting. Fishing rules and funding sources for wildlife agencies will also be covered, as well as fishing etiquette. This event is closed to the public.

Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp - July 17-19
2026-07-17 16:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-18 16:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-19 16:00 - 21:00 | Navajo City, Navajo City, New Mexico
This camp is open to youth ages 10-17 who are accompanied by a registered adult. The camp is free, meals will be provided and participants will tent-camp on the property.
Participants will learn safe and responsible firearms handling, ethical hunting behaviors, conservation, wildlife identification and basic survival skills. Additionally, participants will learn from Department conservation officers about their jobs, including wildlife investigations, decoy operations and working with wildlife, and they will test their marksmanship skills with bows and arrows, .22 rifle and shotguns. All equipment will be provided.
Registration opens June 3 — click here to register. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. To qualify for the camp, participants must have a Customer Identification Number account with the Department and complete the required homework before attending.

STEM Day at Valles Caldera
2026-07-18 10:00 - 15:00 | Valles Caldera
Come explore careers and applications of STEM in the National Park Service and beyond! Park scientists, researchers, university partners and other organizations, including the New Mexico Department of Wildlife, will have interactive education tables set up in the Cabin District. This event is geared toward youth and families.

Fishing with CYFD and Farmington PD
2026-07-21 08:00 - 12:00 | Farmington, NM, Farmington, NM, 87401, United States
Department staff will work with CYFD and Farmington PD and fishing with approximately 22 youth. Knot tying, rod assembly, casting, funding sources for fish and wildlife programs, laws and fishing etiquette will be covered. This event is closed to the public.

Wildlife Presentation at Bloomfield Public Library
2026-07-22 10:00 - 11:00 | Bloomfield Public Library, 333 S. 1st Street, Bloomfield, NM, 87413, United States
The Department will be giving a wildlife presentation to youth at the Bloomfield Public Library as part of their Summer Reading Program. Contact Stacey York at syork@bloomfieldnm.gov for more information.

Wildlife Presentation at Aztec Public Library
2026-07-23 10:00 - 10:40 | Aztec Public Library, 319 S. Ash Street, Aztec, NM, 87410, United States
Department staff will be giving a short wildlife presentation using scientific specimens of skulls, horns, antlers, hides and tracks. Contact the Aztec Public Library at 505-334-7657 for more information.

3D Archery Shoot
2026-07-25 07:00 - 12:00 | Monica Cabin, Forest Road 549, Magdalena, NM, United States
This 3D archery shoot will take place Saturday, July 25, from 7 a.m.-noon at Monica Cabin, located in the Cibola National Forest west of Magdalena off Forest Road 549. Archery equipment will be provided from the Department’s NASP trailer. Participants may also bring their own bow to use during the event.
Hit or Miss Archery and the Archery Shoppe in Albuquerque are providing prizes — a bow from Hit or Miss for the top youth shooter using NASP equipment, and a gift card from the Archery Shoppe for the top youth shooter using his or her own equipment.
Click here to register. This link will create a scorecard that will be given to shooters the day of the event. Participants may also show up on the day of the event and participate without registering in advance.

Fishing Education with Indians in Sobriety
2026-07-25 08:00 - 12:00 | Bluewater Lake
Department staff will cover fishing education with Indians in Sobriety at their 39th Annual Retreat to be held at Bluewater Lake. This event is closed to the public.

Fishing with the Semilla Project
2026-07-28 09:00 - 14:00 | Fenton Lake
Department staff will be fishing with 30 students at Fenton Lake. Students will learn how to set up a fishing rod, tie a knot, bait a hook and cast. Fishing etiquette and rules will be discussed with students, along with laws and funding sources for wildlife and fisheries. This event is closed to the public.

Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp
2026-07-31 16:00 - 21:00 | Rio Mora Wildlife Refuge, Rio Mora Wildlife Refuge, Watrous, New Mexico
NMDOW will partner with the US Fish and Wildlife Service in hosting an Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp.
This camp is open to youth ages 10 to 17 who are accompanied by a registered adult. Camp is free, meals will be provided and participants will tent-camp on the property.
Participants will learn safe and responsible firearms handling, ethical hunting behaviors, conservation, wildlife identification and basic survival skills. Additionally, participants will learn from department conservation officers about their jobs and test their marksmanship skills with bow and arrows. All equipment will be provided.
Registration opens June 15, 2026 — Click here to enter. Slots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. To qualify for the camp, participants must have a Customer Identification Number account with the department and complete the required homework before attending.

Hunter Education
2026-08-01 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-08-02 08:00 - 17:00 | Department of Wildlife Santa Fe Office, 1 Wildlife Way,, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Registration opens on July 18 at 9 a.m. and is conducted through the student’s Customer ID Number (CIN) Account. Once in the account, click on Hunter Education, then click the Register for Hunter Ed Classes button and follow the prompts.
What do I need for class:

Obtain a copy of the hunter education student manual by picking up a hard copy at the New Mexico Department of Wildlife Headquarters, Santa Fe, NM 87507, between 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, or download a free electronic manual from www.hunter-ed.com/newmexico/manual/.
Complete the worksheets from the student manual. Worksheets can be printed from the website listed above OR completed on pages 91-94 in the back of the hard copy student manual.
There are no fees associated with Department hunter education courses; however, donations may be offered to volunteers to help offset out-of-pocket expenses to put on the course.
Bring a sack lunch, snacks and drinks.
Students will be outdoors for portions of the class, so please dress accordingly.

Special notes:

Student worksheets must be 100% complete prior to class or students will not be allowed to participate in the course (no exceptions).
DO NOT bring firearms or ammunition to the course. Firearms are provided.
Students MUST attend all course sessions. Students arriving late will not be permitted into class.
Students 10 years of age and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times during class.

If you need to cancel, please log on to your CIN account and drop the course or call the Hunter Education Office at 505-222-4731.

Santa Ana DNR Environmental Fair
2026-08-22 10:00 - 14:00 | Santa Ana Wellness Center, 225 Ranchitos Rd., Santa Ana Pueblo, NM, United States
Department staff will have a wildlife booth at the Santa Ana DNR Environmental Fair.

Hunter Education Instructor Coffee Talk
2026-08-26 18:00 - 19:00 | virtual or zoom
Hunter Education instructors are encouraged to attend this online meeting to touch base about the program, introduce new staff, answer any questions and have discussions on engagement.
Click here to join the Zoom meeting.

Waterfowl Hunting Workshop
2026-08-30 09:00 - 17:00 | Department of Wildlife Albuquerque Office, 7816 Alamo Rd NW, Albuquerque
The New Mexico Department of Wildlife, in conjunction with Roadrunner Hunting Retriever Club, will host a beginner adult waterfowl hunting workshop at the Department’s Northwest Area Office in Albuquerque on Sunday, Aug. 30. Participants will learn hunting techniques, waterfowl identification, necessary gear, rules and regulations, locations, dog use and calls. Open to adults with little or no waterfowl hunting experience.
Registration will open at 8 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10. It will close when the workshop is full. Please only register if you have not previously attended this workshop.
Click here to register.

Fly Fishing 101
2026-09-12 08:00 - 17:00 | Eagle Nest Lake State Park, Visitors Center (Colfax CO.)
This event is hosted by Trout Warriors of Enchanted Circle Trout Unlimited.
This Fly Fishing 101 course introduces military veterans to fly fishing and fly tying as emotional and physical therapy for disabled and combat veterans.

Small Game Hunting Camp
2026-09-25 12:00 - 2026-09-27 12:00 | El Caso Forest Service campground, Quemado Lake, New Mexico
Spend a weekend bonding with your family and learning skills that will last a lifetime. Join us for our Family Small Game Hunting Camp! Learn squirrel identification, rules and regulation, shotgun shooting, squirrel hunting techniques and how to field dress a squirrel. Open to families who have never hunted at all or who have never hunted squirrels before. Hunting licenses and stamps are required, and attendees are asked to bring two boxes of shotgun shells. Please do not register for this camp if you previously attended a squirrel hunting camp. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own shotguns (12 or 20-gauge).
Registration opens at 8 a.m. Monday, Sept. 7, and closes when the camp is filled.

Second Annual Tiger Pond Fishing Derby
2026-09-26 | Tiger Pond, Aztec, New Mexico
Officers from the Department’s Farmington Supervisory District will host the Second Annual Tiger Pond Fishing Derby. Activities will include a pellet-shooting trailer, a National Archery in the Schools Program trailer, and OHV education.
