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.
New 2016-2017 hunting rules and information booklet available
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: Customer service (888)-248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, Jan. 6, 2015: New 2016-2017 hunting rules and information booklet available SANTA FE – Rules and information about applying for 2016-2017 hunting licenses is now available online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Printed versions of the 2016-2017 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, furbearer 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 8 a.m. Jan. 13. The application deadline for bear and turkey permits is Feb.10. The application deadline for big-game licenses is 5 p.m. March 23. Hunters need to [...]
Late-season archery elk licenses available online Oct. 28
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCT. 16, 2015: LATE-SEASON ARCHERY ELK LICENSES AVAILABLE ONLINE OCT. 28 SANTA FE –Two hundred seventy-five trophy bull elk archery hunting licenses will go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 28, first-come, first-served, on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. The sale will begin at 10 a.m. Oct. 28 and will be open only to New Mexico residents for the first 24 hours. Any remaining licenses will be available to nonresidents beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 29. Only hunters who did not hold a 2015-2016 elk license are eligible to purchase the late-season licenses. The bag limit for the late-season hunts is one bull elk with antlers that have at least six points on one side. Hunters are strongly advised to obtain an online customer account or review their [...]
Department surveys hunters, anglers about State Trust Land access
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 dan.williams@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCT. 8, 2015: DEPARTMENT SURVEYS HUNTERS, ANGLERS ABOUT STATE TRUST LAND ACCESS SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish is conducting an email survey this week asking hunters and anglers their views about the value of access to State Trust Lands for hunting, fishing and trapping. The survey asks license holders about how they use and how much they value access to State Trust Lands. It also reminds license holders of the State Land Office proposal to increase the current $200,000 annual lease fee to $1 million next year – a five-fold increase. Hunters and anglers pay for the lease with their license fees. Approximately 78,000 hunting and fishing license holders began receiving the survey by email Wednesday. Surveys were sent several thousand at a time, and [...]
Duck hunters asked to stop at harvest check stations
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Karl Moffatt, (505) 476-8007 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 karl.moffatt@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 12, 2015: DUCK HUNTERS ASKED TO STOP AT HARVEST CHECK STATIONS SANTA FE – Duck hunters are asked to bring their harvested birds to check stations this season so Department of Game and Fish biologists can obtain samples for testing. The effort is part of a broader, national plan to monitor wild bird populations for strains of avian influenza. New Mexico is host to hundreds of thousands of migratory birds each year, said department Bird Program Manager Kristin Madden. “We’re encouraging hunters to come in after harvest so we can check their ducks,” Madden said. The quick, voluntary inspection consists of swabbing the bird for a sample, she said. There are several strains of avian influenza that afflict wild and domestic birds, but none are known to be [...]
Hunter attacked by bear near Wagon Mound
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Clint Henson (505) 445-2311 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 clint.henson@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, SEPT. 11, 2015: HUNTER ATTACKED BY BEAR NEAR WAGON MOUND BEAR AND CUB RATON – Department of Game and Fish conservation officers are searching for a bear that attacked a 60-year-old man from Missouri who was elk hunting Thursday afternoon west of Wagon Mound. The hunter climbed a tree to try to escape the attacking bear, but received bites to his foot through his boot when the bear climbed up after him. He was taken to the Alta Vista Hospital in Las Vegas, N.M., where he was treated and released. Officers used dogs to search for the offending bear soon after the attack, but rain caused the scent to deteriorate and the bear was not found. A trap was set in the area. Officers will continue to search for [...]