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.
Hunters: Don’t forget to file your mandatory harvest reports
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Dan Williams: (505) 476-8004 dan.williams@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 9, 2017: Hunters: Don't forget to file your mandatory harvest reports SANTA FE – Mandatory harvest deadlines are fast approaching for hunters and trappers who held licenses for New Mexico’s 2016-17 seasons. The deadline to file a free report for hunters who held 2016-17 deer, elk, antelope or turkey licenses is Feb. 15, 2017. After that date, an $8 late fee will apply. Hunters must report on or before the March 22 application deadline or their applications will be rejected from the big-game draws. The deadline to report for those who held 2016-17 Barbary sheep, javelina, oryx, ibex, or trapping licenses is April 7, 2017. The later harvest-reporting deadline allows license holders for those species to submit results after the seasons have closed. Hunters and trappers [...]
New 2017-2018 hunting rules and information booklet available
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, Jan. 11, 2017: New 2017-2018 hunting rules and information booklet available SANTA FE – Rules and information about applying for 2017-2018 hunting licenses are now available online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Printed versions of the 2017-2018 hunting rules and information booklet will be available at license vendors and Game and Fish Department area offices soon. The booklet includes information hunters need to apply for and purchase big-game, trapper and upland game licenses and permits. Hunters are encouraged to review season dates, application deadlines and other information before applying for licenses or going afield. The department will begin accepting online applications at 10 a.m. Jan. 11. The application deadline for bear and turkey permits is 5 p.m. Feb. 8. The application deadline for big-game licenses is 5 p.m. March [...]
Southeast New Mexico is your best bet for quail
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Zen Mocarski, (505) 476-8013 zenon.mocarski@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Nov. 23, 2016: Southeast New Mexico is your best bet for quail SANTA FE – Those ready for a challenging hunt may want to dust off a shotgun and head to southeastern New Mexico in search of quail. Quail season runs from Nov. 15, 2016 to Feb. 15, 2017. There is a total bag limit of 15 per day and 30 in possession, except for Montezuma quail, which is five per day and 10 in possession. “I continue to receive information suggesting above-average numbers of quail in southeast New Mexico,” said Casey Cardinal, turkey and upland game biologist for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. “Both bobwhite and scaled quail numbers are up after a high reproduction year in 2015.” Additionally, she said spring reports [...]
Late-season archery elk licenses available Oct. 26
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, OCT. 12, 2016: Late-season archery elk licenses available Oct. 26 SANTA FE – There will be 275 first-come, first-served late-season bull elk archery hunting licenses on sale beginning Oct. 26 on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. and will be open only to New Mexico residents for the first 24 hours, after which any remaining licenses will be available to everyone. Only hunters who did not hold a 2016-2017 elk license are eligible. The bag limit for the late-season hunts is one bull elk with antlers having at least six points on one side. Hunters are advised to obtain an online customer account or review their existing account, including user name and password, before the sale begins. [...]
Leftover sandhill crane and pheasant hunt permits available Sept. 21
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, SEPT. 19, 2016: Leftover sandhill crane and pheasant hunt permits available Sept. 21 SANTA FE – Leftover sandhill crane and pheasant hunting permits will be available for sale at 10 a.m. MDT Sept. 21 on the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish website. Available permits are: One, youth-only, pheasant hunting permit for the Bernardo Wildlife Area on Oct. 22. Nine, youth-only, pheasant hunting permits for the W.S. Huey Wildlife Management Area on Dec. 3. Forty-three sandhill crane hunting permits for the southwest hunt area from Oct. 29 to Nov. 6. Fifteen sandhill crane hunting permits for the southwest hunt Jan. 7 and 8, 2017. Customers purchasing leftover permits must have a game-hunting license and stamp(s) prior to hunting. Crane hunters also must have a Harvest Information [...]