News

News2025-04-17T11:13:33-06:00

NMDGF News

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

Governor’s Special Hunt Auction Online for 2023

New Mexico – Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, pursuant to 2007 legislation, has authorized the auctioning of eight big-game hunts to benefit the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF). NMDGF has partnered with New Mexico Ducks Unlimited (DU) to offer the New Mexico Governor’s Special Hunt Auction 2023 Online. Funds from the public auction support the Game Protection Fund and are used solely for NMDGF mission-related projects and programs. The eight packages offered this year are up for auction now and will close on June 30 at 8 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. Mule deer license in GMU 2. Mule deer license in [...]

Free Fishing Day is Saturday, June 3

SANTA FE – Anglers can fish for free in New Mexico on Saturday, June 3, as the state celebrates National Boating and Fishing Week. Anyone can fish for free in public fishing waters throughout the state Saturday, June 3, but everyone must observe bag limits and all other rules and regulations. For more information, please visit the Department’s website. “This is a great time to take your family fishing and teach them a skill that will provide a lifetime of enjoyment,” said Mike Sloane, director for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. For information on additional places to fish and what to use, consult the Department’s weekly fishing and stocking report and the Fishing Conditions and Trip Planner. Maps of public fishing waters, lists of where to find family-friendly fishing and tips on how to fish also can be found on the Department's website. The Department reminds anglers and outdoor recreationists to “know before you go” [...]

May 19 Commission Meeting Postponed

Thew New Mexico State Game Commission meeting originally scheduled for Friday, May 19, in Santa Fe has been postponed. The Department will issue a revised meeting notice once the meeting is rescheduled. At that time, the revised agenda, location address, attendee information additional information will be available on the department of Game and Fish website.

Rio Rancho Archer Takes Top Honors at the National Archery in the Schools Program 2023 Western Nationals Championship

ALBUQUERQUE – In March, 85 New Mexico youth archers competing at the 2023 New Mexico National Archery in the School Program (NASP) State Championship qualified to participate in the Western Nationals Championship. Almost two thousand youth archers from 25 states competed for individual and team awards at the NASP Western Nationals Championship held at the Mountain America Center in Sandy, Utah, April 28-29, 2023. Bell Savary, a fifth grader from Maggie Cordova Elementary School in Rio Rancho, won the elementary bullseye division by earning a score of 275 out of 300. Savary outcompeted 182 elementary females for the first-ever NASP national title won by a youth representing New Mexico. Other New Mexico archers earning top-10 status were: Aiden McConnell from Southwest Aeronautics, Mathematics and Science (SAMS) Academy won fifth place in the high school male division with 290 points; Ashlynn McGinnis from Red Mountain Middle School won third place [...]

News Releases for 2021

News Releases for 2020

News Releases for 2019
News Releases for 2018
News Releases for 2017
News Releases for 2016

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” [...]

News Releases for 2015
News Releases for 2014

Go to Top