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.
Apply now for sandhill crane and pheasant draw permits
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Ryan Darr: (505) 476-8027 ryan.darr@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 12, 2022: Apply now for sandhill crane and pheasant draw permits SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish will begin accepting applications for special sandhill crane and pheasant permits on Wednesday, July 13. Applications can be made through your online account. The application deadline for special sandhill crane and pheasant permits is 5 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 17. Successful applicants must have a Game Hunting license and applicable stamp(s) in addition to their draw permit. Successful sandhill crane applicants also must have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Digital copies of the 2022-2023 Upland Game and Migratory Bird Rules and Information Booklets will be available on the Department’s website later this year. ###
Encouragement elk license sale begins July 13
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Ryan Darr: (505) 476-8027 ryan.darr@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 11, 2022: Encouragement elk license sale begins July 13 SANTA FE – New Mexico resident youth and senior hunters who applied and were unsuccessful in the 2022-2023 big-game draw are eligible to purchase one of nearly 1,900 antlerless elk licenses. The licenses will go on sale through the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Online License System at 10 a.m. MDT, July 13 for resident youth and expand to include resident seniors at 10 a.m. MDT, July 27. The sale is designed to encourage unsuccessful youth and senior draw applicants and includes almost 1,500 licenses for any legal sporting arm and 390 licenses for muzzleloader, crossbow or bow. Licenses will be sold online only on a first-come, first-served basis. To purchase a license, customers will [...]
Leftover draw licenses go on sale June 29
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JUNE 15, 2022: Leftover draw licenses go on sale June 29 SANTA FE – A total of 164 deer and 5 youth-only pronghorn licenses, that were not issued during the annual 2022-2023 big-game draw, will go on sale at 10 a.m. MDT June 29, through the Department’s Online License System. New Mexico residents will get first shot at the licenses for the first 24 hours of the first-come, first-served sale. If any licenses remain after the first 24 hours, the sale will be opened to nonresidents at 10 a.m. June 30. To buy a leftover license, hunters must possess an annual 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 [...]
Special oryx hunts available for injured service members
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JUNE 14, 2022: Special oryx hunts available for injured service members SANTA FE – Injured military service members can apply online starting June 15 for an upcoming special drawing to award up to 10 special oryx authorizations for hunts on White Sands Missile Range. “New Mexico is the only place in North America that allows non-ranch, free-range hunting for oryx,” said New Mexico Department of Veterans Services Cabinet Secretary Sonya Smith. “This is a unique opportunity for veterans for whom hunting is a passion, so I encourage them to submit their applications before time runs out.” 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, [...]
Deer, elk and exotics hunting rules topic of public meetings
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact, Tristanna Bickford: (505) 476-8027 tristanna.bickford@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, APRIL 26, 2022: Deer, elk and exotics hunting rules topic of public meetings SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to the deer, elk and exotics (Barbary sheep, oryx, Persian ibex) rules which opened at the State Game Commission meeting on April 11, 2022. For deer, the Department is seeking input on adjustments to license numbers and hunt dates and adding some new hunt opportunities. Additionally, the Department is proposing creating an October youth hunt in GMUs 2A and 2B and moving the majority of licenses out of the current November hunt period. For elk, the Department is seeking input on creating several new hunt opportunities, “Primary Management Zone” expansion in some southwestern GMUs, designating GMUs 34 and [...]