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.
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 [...]
Chronic wasting disease found in McGregor Range deer
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: (888) 248-6866 Media contact: Lance Cherry: (505) 476-8003 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 19, 2016: Chronic wasting disease found in McGregor Range deer SANTA FE – Five deer harvested in the McGregor Range area of southern New Mexico during the 2015-16 hunting season have tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the Department of Game and Fish announced. Hunters who harvested those deer have been notified of the test results. Forty hunters who drew licenses for 2016-17 hunts on the range will be notified and advised of procedures to present their harvested deer for testing. First discovered in New Mexico in 2002, chronic wasting disease has only been found in the state’s southern hunting units. To date, 42 deer and 8 elk have tested positive for the disease. Tissue samples were obtained from hunters who presented their harvest for testing, [...]
Hunters Helping the Hungry program kicks off this season
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. 1, 2016: Hunters Helping the Hungry program kicks off this season SANTA FE – Hunters can donate deer and elk meat this year to help feed the hungry under a new program run by Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico. Hunters can drop off fresh, clean, properly stored elk or deer meat at any of 11 approved meat processors statewide. The program pays processing costs and distributes the ground meat to soup kitchens and others for use in prepared meals. “This is a great way for hunters to share their bounty with those in need,” said Bob Osborn, assistant chief of private land programs for the department. “We hope hunters will support this program by giving generously.” The Department of Game and Fish provided seed money and [...]
Free family fun at Outdoor Expo Aug. 20-21
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, AUG. 16, 2016: Free family fun at Outdoor Expo Aug. 20-21 ALBUQUERQUE – If you’ve wanted to learn to shoot a firearm, catch a fish, try archery or paddle a kayak, visit the Department of Game and Fish’s annual New Mexico Outdoor Expo, a free family event at the City of Albuquerque Shooting Range Park, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 20 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 21. “This is a fantastic opportunity for families to learn and enjoy outdoor activities together,” says Alexa Sandoval, director of the Department of Game and Fish. “We’ll teach folks some basic skills that can lead to a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment.” All equipment for use during the event is provided free. Shooting ranges staffed by certified instructors await [...]