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News2026-07-08T12:45:50-06:00

NMDOW News

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Wildlife for Everyone: Experiencing the elk rut in the Valles Caldera

Participants in the Wildlife for Everyone event enjoyed the opportunity to view elk in the Valles Caldera in October. By Dela Joyner When the leaves of the aspens start to turn into gold, a familiar sound can be heard through the Valles Caldera. This sound is the bugling of a bull elk. The landscape was once home to a volcano and it is one of New Mexico’s most iconic locations. This seasonal display has drawn wildlife enthusiasts, outdoorsmen and women to the National Preserve from across the nation for years. The elk were out roaming in the Valles Caldera during the Wildlife for Everyone event. This year, the park had a group of special guests, marking the first “Wildlife for Everyone.” This event is a partnership between the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, the National Park Service and Be the Blessing:The Richard Montoya Organization. The Department hosted [...]

Nov 20, 2025|

Hunters Helping the Hungry program set to relaunch in New Mexico

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 [...]

Nov 19, 2025|

Memories in the making: 10 tips for photo success this season

By Colleen Payne Every hunt is a trophy-sized memory, no matter if you notch a tag or not. When you look back on past hunting or fishing trips, a picture can tell a thousand words, no matter how much further that big fish that got away keeps getting. Here are a few tips to document the memories you make in the field for years to come. 1. Take lots of photos: There is no such thing as taking too many photos. With so many digital devices readily available, it's easy to pull a camera or cell phone out of your pocket for a quick shot or video. You’ll regret not taking enough photos, not too many. 2. Set up the shot: Once you have recovered your animal, notched your tag and unloaded your firearm (safety first), you can pose the animal for photos. Setting the animal in [...]

Nov 18, 2025|

Department, BCI partner to improve bat habitat at Double E

The lesser long-nosed bat is one of several bat species that feeds on the flowers of Palmer’s agave as they migrate from south-central Mexico through the southwestern United States. By Jennifer D'Annibale The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Department) Share with Wildlife program has partnered with Bat Conservation International (BCI) to monitor and improve habitat for nectar-feeding bats on the Double E Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Double E WMA is on the southwest edge of the Gila National Forest outside of Gila, New Mexico. The Double E WMA consists of large cottonwood and sycamore trees lining Bear Creek, but also has many acres of higher-elevation pinyon juniper hills. In 2020, Department habitat biologist Jennifer D’Annibale officially documented a large, dense patch of Palmer’s agave (Agave palmeri), an important nectar source for nectar-feeding bats, on the Double E WMA. This photo sparked interest from multiple nectar-feeding bat [...]

Nov 18, 2025|

Department announces New Mexico Fish Art Contest

Youth in grades K-12 can submit artwork through Jan. 31 Submission by Steven Ju (Grade 7-9 Division, Georgia) SANTA FE — New Mexico students in grades K-12 are invited to take part in the Art of Conservation New Mexico Fish Art Contest, sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish in conjunction with Wildlife Forever. Fish are an integral part of New Mexico’s diverse ecosystems, providing vital support to local biodiversity and contributing to the health of rivers, lakes and streams. From the prized native trout of the Rio Grande to the colorful bass that inhabit the state’s reservoir, fish play an essential role in maintaining the balance of aquatic environments. For many New Mexicans, fishing is not only a cherished pastime, but also a way to connect with nature, support local economies and preserve cultural traditions. Through the Art of Conservation New Mexico Fish Art Contest, participants can [...]

Nov 7, 2025|

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