Conservation News

SANTA FE – Once Thanksgiving is over, many New Mexicans take the opportunity to decorate their homes for the holidays. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish would like to remind the public as they prepare to hang up those colorful strands of light and bring that inflatable Santa Claus out of storage to ensure that their holiday decorations do not pose a safety hazard to wildlife that may become entangled. Some tips to keep wildlife safe this holiday season include: Consider placing decorations on the inside of windows. Consider restricting outdoor decorations to those areas immediately around your house. If possible, consider having outdoor decorations that are firmly attached to door/window frames. Avoid placing outdoor decorations in areas around your home or yard that wildlife frequently visit or use as a travel corridor. Avoid using outdoor decorations with a net or closed circle design. String lighting should [...]

SANTA FE — Roadrunner Food Bank, the Food Depot and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish are pleased to announce the relaunch of the New Mexico Hunters Helping the Hungry program, a partnership between Roadrunner Food Bank and the Food Depot that enables hunters to donate wild game meat to help feed hungry New Mexicans. Hunters can donate deer, elk, antelope, oryx, ibex or Barbary sheep meat to one of two processors: Honest Processing, located at 945 S. 2nd St. in Raton, or Padilla’s Meat Cutting and Processing, located at 72 Hondo Seco Rd. in Arroyo Hondo. Honest Processing can be reached at 575-779-6612, and Padilla's Meat Cutting and Processing can be reached at 575-776-1233. The processors will then grind and package the meat, which will be collected by Roadrunner Food Bank or the Food Depot for distribution through their pantries and food bank partners. "The program [...]

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has experienced a BOT attack, which has caused the Department to shut down its online payment processing system. This affects all credit and debit card transactions for license and permit purchases.  During this time, customers will be unable to purchase licenses or permits with a credit card through the Department's online system. We are working diligently to resolve this technical issue and will provide an update as soon as possible. In the interim, we have a solution to ensure our customers can still get out into the field and enjoy New Mexico’s outdoors. All NMDGF licenses and permits can be purchased with cash at any of our approved vendor locations across the state. Many vendors are also able to take credit cards. Approved Hunting License Vendors can be found here.  We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding and [...]

Reseeding efforts in the Gila National Forest, Grant County, aim to jumpstart regrowth, stabilize soils and support wildlife and watershed recovery.  SILVER CITY, N.M. - In the wake of the Trout Fire in Grant County, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) and the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) swiftly reseeded burned areas in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to restore over 1,200 acres of key habitat near the Bear Canyon Lake Wildlife Management Area through targeted reseeding efforts. The state agencies' quick reaction was crucial because the rapid response bypassed the potentially lengthy federal approval process that could have jeopardized seeding efforts due to impending monsoon rains. Located approximately 31 miles northeast of Silver City, the Bear Canyon area was significantly impacted by the wildfire. On July 15-16, 2025, state agencies in collaboration with their federal partners mobilized to help the land heal, spreading a [...]