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NMDGF News

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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. [...]

Game Commission to meet May 16

HOBBS – The New Mexico State Game Commission will hold a meeting at 9 a.m., Thursday, May 16, 2024, at the Lea County Event Center, 5101 N. Lovington Hwy., Hobbs, New Mexico 88240. The full agenda, location details, attendee information and general 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 also 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 [...]

Public Meeting: Habitat Stamp Program Citizen Advisory Committee to Meet May 9

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has scheduled a public meeting with the Citizen Advisory Committee. During this meeting, project status will be provided and updates will be presented. Members of the public are invited to attend this hybrid public meeting in order to provide comments. An agenda will be posted on the Habitat Stamp Program website prior to the meeting. May 9, 2024, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, 1 p.m. Attend in person at 40 Refuge Road, San Acacia, NM 87831 Register in advance to attend virtually A meeting agenda along with information about how to attend and participate in the virtual component of this meeting will be available on the NMDGF webpage, http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/conservation/habitat-stamp. Comments can be provided by mail: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Attn: Habitat Stamp Program Manager, 1 Wildlife Way, Santa Fe, NM 87507; or by email, PublicLandUserStamp@dgf.nm.gov, or in person at the [...]

Draw Results Released April 17, 2024

THE WAIT IS OVER! 2024-2025 Big Game Draw results are available now - seven days early! Get your results online now! At 6 a.m. today, the Department released draw results to customers' accounts on the Department website — seven days earlier than expected. Department personnel have worked tirelessly to be able to release the draw results early. Hunters can check their draw results by logging onto their customer account on the Department website. Unsuccessful applicants should receive refunds on credit cards over the next week. Check refunds for all other unsuccessful applicants will be processed by the end of April. 287,449 applications were submitted for deer, elk, antelope, oryx, ibex, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep and javelina licenses. The Department issued 61,341 draw licenses. Habitat Stamp, Paper Tags and E-Tags Draw licenses and tags will be mailed to the address provided, unless you chose the e-tag option. Do not hunt without a valid license [...]

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Dec. 10, 2013: Special youth waterfowl hunts at Bernardo Waterfowl Area Snowmobilers reminded to register their machines before heading out this year
Dec. 9, 2013: Information sought in Alamogordo deer poaching case
Dec. 4, 2013: Expect roadblocks statewide during hunting, fishing seasons
Nov. 26, 2013: Shikar-Safari Club honors Ben Byrd as Wildlife Officer of the Year
Nov. 1, 2013: Salmon snagging season opens Nov. 8 at Heron Lake
Oct. 30, 2013: Department of Game and Fish Assistant Director R.J. Kirkpatrick steps in as director
Oct. 24, 2013: Five-state plan to protect lesser prairie chicken endorsed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service Fishing bag limits, tackle restrictions lifted on Santa Fe River Oct. 22, 2013: Toxic algae likely cause of northeastern NM elk deaths
Oct. 17, 2013: First New Mexican harvests desert bighorn sheep since delisting
Oct. 15, 2013: Late-season archery elk licenses available Oct. 30 in online sale
Sept. 27, 2013: Department to engage U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in wolf recovery program
Sept. 23, 2013: >Fish for free Saturday, Sept. 28; celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day at Fenton Lake State Park >Expect roadblocks statewide during fall hunting, fishing seasons >Game and Fish seeks citizen participation in Habitat Stamp Program
Sept. 17, 2013: Trophy bull elk found dead, poaching suspected
Sept. 10, 2013: Game and Fish sports new look this year at the State Fair
Sept. 6, 2013: Public comments sought on BLM unitization agreement
Aug. 30, 2013: Hunting seasons open Sunday, Sept. 1, across New Mexico
Aug. 28, 2013: Department investigating deaths of 100 elk in northeastern N.M.
Aug. 27, 2013: Applications open Wednesday, Aug. 28, for special bird-hunting permits
Aug. 21, 2013: State Game Commission to meet Thursday in Grants
Aug. 13, 2013: Free outdoor fun: Learn to shoot, fish and more at Outdoor Expo
Aug. 12, 2013: Bear-trap saboteur endangering neighbors in Sandia Heights
Aug. 7, 2013: Two Game Commission properties in Pecos Canyon to reopen
Aug. 7, 2013: >Partnership nourishes Rio Grande cutthroat trout habitat >Taos Young Guns recognized for outstanding sportsmanship
July 30, 2013: Lake Roberts dam improvements to begin soon
July 29, 2013: Department information and education efforts win national awards
July 26, 2013: Sportsmen’s organizations join Department fight against Terk injunction
July 24, 2013: Raton dumpster bear escapes narrow encounter with power pole
July 22, 2013: Biologists find oldest endangered Jemez Mountains salamander
July 17, 2013: Wild babies usually don’t need to be rescued, even during a drought
July 12, 2013: Department, Cibola National Forest do not support supplementally feeding bears
July 11, 2013: Freshly stocked with trout, Monastery Lake will reopen for fishing Friday
July 8, 2013: >Young boys help rescue rare Mexican spotted owl >Department officers recognized for dedicated service
July 1, 2013: >Bear attracted by birdfeeders ruins camping trip, dies >Trophy deer poacher ordered to donate $1,000 to Operation Game Thief >Three-time poacher sentenced to 364 days in jail
June 28, 2013: Meetings will address proposed changes to fishing rules
June 27, 2013: More than 2,000 youth elk licenses for sale beginning July 10
June 18, 2013: State agencies, nonprofit join forces to provide water to N.M. wildlife during drought
June 17, 2013: Department biologists receive prestigious ‘Recovery Champions’ awards
June 14, 2013: Director, senator aides discuss Department opposition to Valles Caldera legislation
June 13, 2013: Leftover deer, javelina licenses go on sale at 10 a.m. June 26
June 11, 2013: Habitat Stamp funds assist recovery of hornshell mussel, gray redhorse
June 5, 2013: >Bear enters house, attacks elderly woman >Native Rio Grande cutthroat trout rescued from Tres Lagunas Fire area
May 31, 2013: Game Commission Pecos properties closed due to fire
May 29, 2013: State hunter education teams ready to face the ‘Challenge’
May 21, 2013: State Game Commission to meet Thursday, May 23, in Roswell
May 14, 2013: Game and Fish asks court to vacate Terk decision
May 8, 2013: Planning to visit a Game Commission property? Don’t forget your license or GAIN permit
May 3, 2013: >Fire restrictions coming to state lands; >Game and Fish patrolling Commission properties
May 1, 2013: Department biologists recognized for Gila trout rescue efforts
April 19, 2013: Quick draw! Big-game hunting application results available Friday
April 17, 2013: Bear trapped in trash compaction truck
April 4, 2013: Governor signs bill extending license revocations for poaching
April 3, 2013: Expect roadblocks statewide during hunting and fishing seasons
April 1, 2013: >Be aware of wildlife, hazards when enjoying outdoors in spring >Citizens committees will meet to recommend Habitat Stamp projects
March 28, 2013: >Fishing season opens April 1; Don’t forget your new license >Draw applicants will receive receipts by e-mail Friday
March 27, 2013: Department biologist receives national conservation award
March 26, 2013: Game and Fish enrolls properties in conservation agreement
March 25, 2013: State Game Commission elects chairman
March 20, 2013: Director initiates investigation into the potential delisting of peregrine falcon from the state list of threatened & endangered species
March 15, 2013: License waiver for fishing events gains Legislature’s approval
March 14, 2013: Governor receives bill to increase poaching penalties
March 7, 2013: Eagle Nest Lake closed to ice fishing
March 6, 2013: Game Commissioner Bidegain confirmed by unanimous vote
March 4, 2013: Big-game hunters: Apply for licenses before March 20 deadline
March 1, 2013: N.M. Senate confirms three State Game Commissioners
Feb. 25, 2013: >Game Commission McClintic remembered for service to sportsmen >NASP Tournament qualifies teams for national event in Kentucky
Feb. 5, 2013: >Get the latest hunting information at Hunting and Fishing Show this weekend >Las Cruces man convicted of illegal hunting >Expect roadblocks during Barbary sheep hunting seasons
Jan. 30, 2013: Aztec officer named Wild Turkey Federation Officer of the Year
Jan. 29, 2013: Large Gila trout to be stocked in Lake Roberts
Jan. 23, 2013: Lesser prairie chicken meetings scheduled
Jan. 18, 2013: Entries sought for 2013 Prairie Chicken Festival poster contest
Jan. 14, 2013: Legislation would make trophy poaching that results in wanton waste a felony
Jan. 11, 2013: Partnership will reopen road to 20,000 acres of public hunting land
Jan. 7, 2013: Ibex hunting licenses offered for Florida Mountains
Jan. 2, 2013: Eagle Nest Lake open to ice fishing

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