Hunting News
The latest hunting news and press releases, including important reminders for the current hunting season, from the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. See additional wildlife news in Conservation News. Department-wide news can be found under Home → NMDOW News.
Wildlife law violation checkpoints begin for hunting, fishing seasons
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Wildlife is conducting checkpoints throughout the state this hunting and fishing season to collect biological data and detect wildlife law violations. As a result, the public may encounter minor delays. Department officers may be assisted by other law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Police or county sheriff’s offices. Please report any wildlife crime or suspected crime that you may observe while enjoying New Mexico’s great outdoors. To report a wildlife crime, please call Operation Game Thief toll-free at 1-800-432-GAME (4263). Callers can remain anonymous and earn cash rewards for information leading to charges being files. Violations can also be reported online at Operation Game Thief.
Youth encouragement Elk license sale begins July 22
Department offers 1,960 antlerless licenses for youth who didn’t draw a hunt this year SANTA FE – Youth hunters will be eligible to purchase one of 1,960 antlerless Youth Encouragement Elk licenses through the New Mexico Department of Wildlife's Online License System starting at 10 a.m. MDT on July 22, 2026. The Youth Encouragement Elk hunts provide additional hunting opportunities for youth and include 1,570 licenses for any legal sporting arm and 390 licenses for muzzleloader hunts. Licenses will be sold online only on a first-come, first-served basis. To purchase a license, customers will need to log into their Online License System account. Eligibility and requirements: For the first 14 days, the sale is open only to resident youth who have applied in the current license year for one or more draw hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, oryx or ibex and were not successful for any hunt. Please [...]
Leftover draw licenses go on sale July 8
SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Wildlife will have 537 leftover deer licenses from the 2026-2027 big-game draw available for sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 8, through the Department's Online License System. The leftover license sale will be open exclusively to New Mexico residents for the first 24 hours. If licenses remain, the sale will open to nonresidents at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 9. Hunters must possess a 2026-2027 Game Hunting or Game Hunting and Fishing License before purchasing a leftover deer license, and should buy any required stamps before the sale opens. Hunters planning to purchase a leftover license should also complete all mandatory 2025-2026 harvest reporting requirements before July 8. Purchases that fail the post-sale audit because of incomplete harvest reporting will be rejected, and only the license fee will be refunded. For more information, hunters and outfitters may contact the Department's Information Center at 888-248-6866 or email [...]
EPLUS PMZ Landowner List
EPLUS PMZ Landowner List July 6 @ 8-11 AM Visit the EPLUS webpage to learn more about the program. Click on the “How do I obtain a Primary or Special Zone authorization or Secondary Zone Ranch Code?” menu item to obtain a copy of the lists.
Department reduces number of Persian ibex licenses
SANTA FE — For the upcoming 2026–2027 license year, the Department is reducing the number of Persian ibex licenses based on the most recent population data. These adjustments are necessary to support long‑term population stability and maintain future hunting opportunities. The Department will discontinue female/immature (F/IM) ibex licenses, reduce the number of either‑sex (ES) licenses, and eliminate the over‑the‑counter ibex hunt. For updated information please refer to the IBEX Hunt Table. For customers that have questions please contact the Department’s Information Center at 888-248-6866 or ispa@dgf.nm.gov.