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News2026-05-22T16:53:06-06:00

NMDGF News

For Hunter Education classes, please see Hunter Education Course Schedule and for the Hunter Educator Workshops schedule please see Hunter Educator Instructor.

ATTENTION 2025-2026 Draw Applicants

The Department of Game and Fish strongly recommends that all draw applicants for 2025-26 hunts verify their contact information and provide a valid e-mail address and phone number in their online licensing system account.Please contact the Department at 888-248-6866 if you need assistance updating or creating your account.White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) and Fort Bliss:WSMR and Fort Bliss use the contact information you provide in your account to communicate specific hunt information necessary if you are successful, including payment of the mandatory access fee.Don't miss out on a potential once-in-a-lifetime hunting opportunity because we can't contact you!!!The Department strongly recommends that you DO NOT wait until the last minute to provide your documents. Due to the influx of draw applications at the end of the application period, the Department cannot guarantee that your documents will be entered into the system if they are submitted after March 14, 2025.The Department further strongly recommends that hunters [...]

Jan 29, 2025|

Department conservation officers free Ruidoso elk from lawn furniture

RUIDOSO – New Mexico Department of Game and Fish conservation officers have freed a cow elk with a metal stool hanging from her neck in Ruidoso. This is the latest incident in an ongoing saga of Ruidoso elk becoming tangled in lawn furniture. Residents are reminded to avoid feeding wildlife and to secure outdoor furniture to help protect local elk. Department officers responded to reports of the ornamented cow elk as soon as she was spotted. Tranquilizing or otherwise capturing a wild animal can cause significant stress or injury, so it may not always be the best first option for the animal’s safety. The stool on the elk’s neck was hanging loosely and did not appear to disrupt its eating, drinking, breathing or movement. Therefore, officers responded by giving the elk a chance to free herself from the loose-fitting stool before taking more drastic measures. After giving her sufficient [...]

Jan 2, 2025|

Game Commission to meet Jan. 10

SANTA FE – The New Mexico State Game Commission will hold a meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, at the New Mexico State Library, Piñon Room, 1209 Camino Carlos Rey, Santa Fe, NM 87509. The full agenda, and other information, will be available on the Department of Game and Fish website. If you are interested in participating or providing comments, but cannot attend the meeting in person, you are encouraged to pre-register to attend the meeting on the Zoom Webinar platform. For those who wish only to view the meeting, there will be a live webcast on the Department's website. If you are an individual with a disability who needs a reader, amplifier, qualified sign language interpreter or any other form of auxiliary aid or service to attend or participate in the meeting, please contact Darren Vaughan at 505-476-8027 or darren.vaughan@dgf.nm.gov. Public documents, including the agenda and minutes, can be provided in [...]

Dec 27, 2024|

Monastery Lake Closed

SANTA FE – Monastery Lake, near Pecos, has been closed to fishing until further notice due to unsafe ice conditions. Ice fishing is not allowed at the Benedictine Monastery lake that is leased through the Department's Open Gate program. A layer of ice has formed on the lake, prompting the closure. The lake will reopen when there are sufficient open areas of water available to allow fishing from the bank. Anglers can find good winter trout fishing in the Albuquerque area drains, at Tingley Beach and at other fishing waters throughout the state. Visit our website for more information on trout species, the weekly fishing report, a list of convenient fishing locations and fish stocking reports.

Dec 12, 2024|

Help Keep New Mexico Beautiful!

You’re enjoying the outdoors and suddenly you see someone trying to pet Marty Moose... A pack of ATVs flies by across a pristine meadow... Another duck hunter shows up late and sets up right next to you... A pile of litter is dumped in the desert and Walter White has to clean it up!   You have probably seen some interesting – and disappointing  – things if you’ve spent time outdoors in New Mexico. Whether you’re hunting, fishing, biking, using OHVs, hiking or camping , it’s critical each of us work toward protecting outdoor spaces by minimizing our impact. It’s not that hard to do! Just follow the seven “Leave No Trace” principles that encourage us to promote a culture of respect and responsibility among all outdoor enthusiasts. These guidelines help protect the wild and wonderful experiences we love and enjoy.     This series is in collaboration with [...]

Dec 12, 2024|

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