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NMDGF News

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Leftover draw licenses on sale June 26

SANTA FE – A total of 630 deer licenses left over from the 2024-2025 big-game draw will go on sale at 10 a.m. MDT June 26, through the Department’s Online License System. This first-come, first-served sale will only be open to New Mexico residents during the first 24 hours. If any licenses remain after the first 24 hours, the sale will be opened to nonresidents at 10 a.m. June 27. Important note for youth hunters: Because these are draw licenses, purchasing a license will render youth hunters ineligible to purchase a youth encouragement elk license for the first 14 days of the upcoming sale in July. To buy a leftover license, hunters must possess a 2024-2025 Game Hunting or Game Hunting and Fishing license. Hunters may buy the Game Hunting license, the Habitat Stamp and the Habitat Management Access Validation by logging into their account and clicking the Over-The-Counter (OTC) Licenses, Permits and [...]

State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico topic of public meetings

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is holding two public meetings to discuss the 10-year review and revision of the State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico (SWAP). The SWAP revision process was initiated in May 2023 and presented at the State Game Commission meeting on Aug. 25, 2023. The final revision is due to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by Oct. 1, 2025.  The SWAP identifies Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), their habitats, threats, and conservation actions that can be taken to mitigate these threats and benefit SGCN. Part of the revision process is to review and update the SGCN list to reflect the latest scientific information. The draft SGCN list and slides to be presented during the public meetings will be posted on the Department’s website and available for review by June 28, 2024.  The two hybrid public meetings will open with a 30-minute [...]

Special military and veteran oryx and pronghorn hunts opening June 12

SANTA FE – Three special military and veteran drawing opportunities for oryx and pronghorn will open Wednesday, June 12. Oryx hunts for injured military service members on White Sands Missile Range: Injured military service members can apply online starting June 12 for one of up to 10 special oryx authorizations for hunts on White Sands Missile Range. Applicants must be veterans of the U.S. military with a disability rating of 50 percent or greater in accordance with U.S. Veteran’s Administration guidelines for receiving disabled veteran benefits. Significantly injured, active-duty military members who do not have a VA disability rating also may apply. Pronghorn hunts for resident Purple Heart recipients on Melrose Air Force Base: Resident Purple Heart recipients are eligible to apply for one of up to five special pronghorn authorizations on Melrose Air Force Base. Pronghorn hunts for New Mexico active-duty military on Melrose Air Force Base: Active-duty [...]

*CLOSED* Bonito Lake set to reopen May 25

The City of Alamogordo has issued a statement. You can view that here. RUIDOSO – Bonito Lake will reopen to anglers Saturday, May 25, after more than a decade of being closed. The lake, which is owned by the City of Alamogordo, filled with sediment after the 2012 Little Bear Fire. The City has undertaken extensive efforts to remove the sediment and restore the lake.  Last week, the City and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish signed an agreement through the Department’s Open Gate Access Program to allow angling to resume. This program uses funds from Department license sales to secure access for hunting and fishing. The agreement for Bonito Lake allows fishing only from the lakeshore in open areas, which exclude the shore near the dam and the Bonito Creek inlet. Access is allowed 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset. Camping, boating, building fires [...]

Governor’s Special Hunt Auction Online for 2024

Proceeds to benefit Game Protection Fund and NMDGF mission-related projects and programs. New Mexico – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, pursuant to 2007 legislation, has authorized the auctioning of eight big-game hunts to benefit wildlife conservation in New Mexico. The Department has partnered with New Mexico Ducks Unlimited (DU) to offer the New Mexico Governor’s Special Hunt Auction 2024 Online. Funds from the public auction support the Game Protection Fund and are used solely for Department mission-related projects and programs. The eight opportunities offered this year are up for auction now and will close on June 23 at 6 p.m. The hunts this year include: Exotics Hunt Package including an either-sex oryx license and either-sex barbary sheep license. Coues deer license in Game Management Units (GMUs) 23, 24, 26 or 27. Elk license in GMUs 34 or 36. Elk license in GMUs 16 A-E. Elk license in GMU 55A Valle Vidal. [...]

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Game Commission to meet Feb. 26 in Albuquerque

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 22, 2016: Game Commission to meet Feb. 26 in Albuquerque SANTA FE - The New Mexico Game Commission will have a special meeting Friday, Feb. 26, in Albuquerque to hear a request by the Turner Endangered Species Fund to import five Mexican Wolves and temporarily hold them at its Ladder Ranch facility in southern New Mexico. The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to noon at the Albuquerque Marriott, Acoma Room, 2101 Louisiana Blvd. The Turner Endangered Species Fund, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Mexican Government wish to hold the wolves at the Ladder Ranch before they are exported to a facility in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, for eventual release into the wild in Mexico. The temporary stay at the Ladder Ranch would allow the wolves [...]

Outdoor Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show in Albuquerque this weekend

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact: Information Center (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Feb 17, 2016: Outdoor Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show in Albuquerque this weekend ALBUQUERQUE – The annual New Mexico Outdoors Adventures Hunting and Fishing Show is back at the state fairgrounds in Albuquerque this weekend. There’ll be plenty to see and do at this year’s event hosted by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, including a return engagement of the exciting fishing simulator. Admission is free to all licensed anglers, hunters and trappers. Youths under the age of 18 get in free and it’s just $3 for everyone else. Come see the latest equipment for hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation. New models of off-highway vehicles, recreational vehicles, boats and kayaks will be on display. And as always, outfitters, guides and conservation organizations will be on [...]

Deadline Wednesday to apply for bear, turkey permits

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 9, 2016: Deadline Wednesday to apply for bear, turkey permits SANTA FE –The deadline to apply for 2016-2017 bear and turkey permits is 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 10. Draw results will be available Feb. 24. Successful applicants must purchase a bear or turkey license and applicable stamps after April 1. Hunters can apply online, by telephone or in person at Game and Fish Department area offices. Turkey hunters are reminded to submit harvest reports from last season’s hunt by Feb. 15 to avoid paying an $8 late fee. Rules and information about applying for 2016-2017 hunting licenses is available online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Printed editions are available at department area offices. For more information or help in applying for the draw, please call the information center at (888) 248-6866. [...]

Comments sought on public-private land-swap hunting access agreements

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: Information Center (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us State Land Office Contact: Emily Strickler, (505) 827-3650 estrickler@slo.state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Feb. 5, 2016: Comments sought on public-private land-swap hunting access agreements SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comments about agreements that would open some private lands to public hunting in exchange for closing some areas of State Trust land. The "unitization" agreements among the State Land Office, the department and several landowners are designed to benefit sportsmen and landowners. Under the agreements, some areas of State Trust land would be treated as private property and would be closed to hunting. The private lands covered under the agreements then would be open to public hunters. Unitization agreements give hunters access to private land while providing landowners greater flexibility in maintaining ranching operations on [...]

New rules approved to combat aquatic invasive species

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact: Customer service (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Jan. 27, 2016: New rules approved to combat aquatic invasive species SANTA FE – All boats soon will be subject to inspection and possible decontamination before launching in New Mexico waters under new rules adopted to combat the spread of harmful aquatic invasive species. The new rules, approved by the State Game Commission at its Jan. 14 meeting, will take effect Feb. 12. Changes to the AIS rules include: Mandatory watercraft inspection required any time an inspection station is set up and in operation. Mandatory inspection and, if necessary, decontamination of all out-of-state registered watercraft or watercraft re-entering the state of New Mexico. Fourteen-day advance notification of intent to transport watercraft 26 feet long or longer into New Mexico. All boaters are required to “pull the plug” [...]

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