NMDOW

Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp
2026-08-01 08:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-31 16:00 - 21:00 (America/Denver) | 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.

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.

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.

Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp
2026-07-19 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-07-18 08:00 - 21:00, 2026-07-17 16:00 - 21:00 | Navajo, Navajo, 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.

Draw application opens for pheasant, Sandhill crane permits
2026-07-15 08:00 - 2026-08-12 17:00 | New Mexico
The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will begin accepting applications for draw Sandhill crane and pheasant permits beginning July 16 at 10 a.m.
Applications can be made through your online account or by phone at 888-248-6866. The application deadline for draw Sandhill crane and pheasant permits is Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 5 p.m.

Deadline for special military/veteran hunt applications
2026-07-15 08:00 - 17:00 | Department of Game and Fish Santa Fe Office, 1 Wildlife Way,, Santa Fe, New Mexico
The deadline to apply for the following hunts is at 5 p.m. MDT on July 15:

Oryx hunts for injured military service members on White Sands Missile Range
Pronghorn hunts for resident Purple Heart recipients on Melrose Air Force Base
Pronghorn hunts for resident Purple Heart recipients on Melrose Air Force Base

You may apply online at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us, by telephone at 888-248-6866, or in person at any New Mexico Department of Wildlife office. All applicants, except resident Disabled Veteran cardholders for oryx, must submit supporting documentation prior to the application deadline. Proof of eligibility may be sent by email to special.hunts@dgf.nm.gov or by postal mail (must be received by the Department by July 15) to:
New Mexico Department of Wildlife
Attn: Special Hunts
1 Wildlife Way
Santa Fe, NM 87507

Bush Memorial Shooting Range is closed for maintenance
2026-07-15, 2026-06-17 | Stephen M. Bush Memorial Shooting Range, Clayton, New Mexico

OTC private-land, duck stamp, pigeon and Sandhill crane permits available
2026-07-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Department of Game and Fish Santa Fe Office, 1 Wildlife Way,, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Private-land deer, private-land pronghorn, private-land Barbary sheep, fall turkey, javelina, the federal duck stamp and free bandtail pigeon and Sandhill crane permits will be available over-the-counter beginning July 1. These can be purchased online at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us, by telephone at 888-248-6866, at New Mexico Department of Wildlife offices and at license vendors across the state.

Tres Piedras Primitive Shooting Range will be closed
2026-07-01 | Tres Piedras Primitive Shooting Range
Tres Piedras Primitive Shooting Range will be closed for maintenance.

Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp
2026-06-28 08:00 - 12:00, 2026-06-27 08:00 - 21:00, 2026-06-26 16:00 - 21:00 | 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.

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.

State Game Commission Meeting
2026-06-25 09:00 - 17:00 | Eastern New Mexico University, 1500 S. Avenue K, Portales, NM, 88130, United States
The New Mexico State Game Commission will meet Thursday, June 25, at 9 a.m. at Eastern New Mexico University, 1500 S. Avenue K, Portales, NM 88130. The full agenda, and other information, will be available on the Department of Wildlife website.

Draw application opens for special oryx and pronghorn military hunts
2026-06-17 08:00 - 17:00 | Department of Game and Fish Santa Fe Office, 1 Wildlife Way,, Santa Fe, New Mexico
The draw application period for three special military and veteran hunts will open June 17 at 10 a.m.:

Oryx hunts for injured military service members on White Sands Missile Range
Pronghorn hunts for resident Purple Heart recipients on Melrose Air Force Base
Pronghorn hunts for New Mexico active-duty military on Melrose Air Force Base

You may apply online at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us, by telephone at 888-248-6866, or in person at any New Mexico Department of Wildlife office. The application deadline is July 15 at 5 p.m. MDT. All applicants, except resident Disabled Veteran cardholders for oryx, must submit supporting documentation prior to the application deadline. Proof of eligibility may be sent by email to special.hunts@dgf.nm.gov or by postal mail (must be received by the Department by July 15) to:
New Mexico Department of Wildlife
Attn: Special Hunts
1 Wildlife Way
Santa Fe, NM 87507

Old Fort Days Fishing Derby
2026-06-13 13:00 - 16:00 | Bosque Redondo Lake, Billy the Kid Drive, Fort Sumner, NM, United States
This fishing derby is open to kids and adults, with prizes for the largest and smallest catch.

Turkey Education at NWTF Women in the Outdoors
2026-06-13 10:00 - 14:00 | Cloudcroft, Cloudcroft, NM, United States
Department staff will be going over wild turkeys with female participants at the NWTF Women in the Outdoors event, and also staying to judge their turkey-calling contest.
Contact Helen Butt at 575-649-9452 for registration and more information.

Foster Family Picnic and Fishing Event
2026-06-13 09:00 - 12:00 | Tingley Beach, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Join New Mexico Child First Network and the New Mexico Department of Wildlife with our friends, family and community as we celebrate foster care with our Fourth Annual FREE Foster Family Picnic and Extravaganza! Please plan for a day of full sun; please pack water, shade, hats and sunscreen.
Click here to register.

Tres Piedras Primitive Shooting Range Closed for Maintenance
2026-06-10 | Tres Piedras Primitive Shooting Range
The Tres Piedras Primitive Shooting Range will be closed for maintenance from sunrise on June 10 through sunrise on June 11.

Hunter Education
2026-06-07 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-06 08:00 - 17:00 | Pine Hill Center for Health Promotion, Indian Service Route 140 and Indian Service Route 125, Pinehill, NM, United States
Registration opens on May 23 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 Pine Hill Center for Health Promotion, Indian Service Route 140 and Indian Service Route 125, Pinehill, NM, 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.

Outdoor Adventure Day — Lake Maloya
2026-06-06 09:00 - 14:00 | Sugarite Canyon State Park, 160 NM-526, Raton, NM, United States
Come out and meet your local Conservation Officers, who will teach you how to shoot a bow and identify wildlife, and if you’re age 17 and under, they’ll teach you how to fish! The Backyard Bass event is appearing this year with a hands-on casting class designed for younger youth!
Bring your own fishing poles and tackle. Limited fishing supplies will be provided.
This event is a joint effort between the New Mexico Department of Wildlife and Youth Heartline of Raton. Contact Misty or Gayla to register beforehand and receive a goodie bag on the day of the event!

Fishing with a Cop
2026-06-06 08:00 - 12:00 | Young’s Park Pond, Las Crucesq, New Mexico
The Third Annual New Mexico Desert Dogs “Fishing with a Cop” event takes place at Young Park Pond in Las Cruces. The event is open to all ages and features giveaways, a skills station, a DJ, food and family fun! You can also pick up a free kids rod-and-reel combo while supplies last.

Sixth Annual Outdoor Adventure Day at Liam Knight Pond
2026-06-06 07:30 - 13:00 | Liam Knight Pond, Corrales, New Mexico
Join the New Mexico Department of Wildlife and Corrales Parks and Rec for the Sixth Annual Outdoor Adventure Day at Liam Knight Pond! This event includes a fishing derby for youth age 17 and under, as well as archery and pellet gun ranges. Prizes will be given for the largest and smallest fish, with a bag limit of two catfish per angler. There will also be archery and pellet gun shooting competitions. All you need to do is bring your own fishing equipment and bait.

New Mexico Youth Hunter Education Challenge
2026-06-05 - 2026-06-07 | NRA Whittington Center, Raton, New Mexico
The Department will be assisting the New Mexico YHEC 501c3 with putting on this year’s youth hunter education challenge.
New Mexico Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) is held once a year for kids ages 7-18 to help improve their hunting, marksmanship and safety skills.
Through simulated hunting situations, live fire competitions, and responsible hunting events, YHEC helps build upon skills learned in basic hunter education courses and encourages safer, lifelong hunting habits.
From rifle, bow and muzzleloader shooting at life-sized targets, to wildlife identification, map and compass orienteering and more, YHEC participants get hands-on training in eight skill areas, giving them expertise in all hunting practices.
Registration for the Youth Hunter Education Challenge (YHEC) will be on nmyhec.com.
Participants must have taken a hunter education class to compete.
