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.
Department-landowner agreement opens new bighorn sheep hunting area
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MARCH 5, 2015: DEPARTMENT-LANDOWNER AGREEMENT OPENS NEW BIGHORN SHEEP HUNTING AREA SANTA FE – A new Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep area will open to hunting this year in northeastern New Mexico after successful negotiations between the Department of Game and Fish and two private landowners. The single public ram license will be the first offered in the Dry Cimarron area near New Mexico’s borders with Colorado and Oklahoma. “The growth of this bighorn sheep herd and this unique hunting opportunity would not be possible without the cooperation and land stewardship that these landowners have displayed,” Department Director Alexandra Sandoval said. “We are very thankful for their conservation efforts.” The agreement between the department and the Pacheco and Black Mesa ranch owners will allow a hunter who is successful in [...]
Comments sought on public-private land-swap hunting access agreements
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MARCH 2, 2015: COMMENTS SOUGHT ON PUBLIC-PRIVATE LAND-SWAP HUNTING ACCESS AGREEMENTS The Department of Game and Fish is seeking public comments about agreements that would open some private lands to public hunting in exchange for closing some areas of State Trust land. A public meeting has been scheduled for 6 p.m. March 25 at the Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Mountainair, where representatives from the department and the State Land Office will hear comments and answer questions. All comments received will be forwarded to the Department of Game and Fish Director and the State Land Commissioner. The "unitization" agreements among the State Land Office, the department and several landowners are designed to benefit sportsmen and landowners. Under the agreements, some areas of State Trust land would be treated [...]
Special-season bear and turkey draw results available Friday
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 26, 2015: SPECIAL-SEASON BEAR AND TURKEY DRAW RESULTS AVAILABLE FRIDAY SANTA FE – Hunters who applied for New Mexico special-season bear and turkey licenses can check their draw results beginning at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, on the Department of Game and Fish website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us, or by calling toll-free, (888) 248-6866. The Department of Game and Fish will send emails to successful applicants Thursday evening and post all draw results to customer accounts on the department website Friday. Hunters can check their draw results by logging onto their customer account on the department website. For more information about the drawing, please visit the website or call toll-free, (888) 248-6866.
Eight Clovis men convicted of unlawful hunting
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, FEB. 10, 2015: EIGHT CLOVIS MEN CONVICTED OF UNLAWFUL HUNTING RATON – Eight Clovis men will pay penalties and fines totaling $7,189 after pleading guilty to numerous poaching and other charges, including killing a deer and turkey out of season and hunting without licenses. Department of Game and Fish officers caught the men hunting on the Elliott Barker Wildlife Area north of Cimarron on Nov. 10, 2014, when the area was closed to hunting. The men appeared before Raton Magistrate Warren Walton on Feb. 4 and pleaded guilty to 13 of an original 34 charges, which included unlawful hunting and unlawful killing and illegal possession of a deer and turkey. Penalties included fines, court costs, civil penalties and donations to Operation Game Thief. A hunter who had been scouting [...]
Outdoor Adventure show this weekend in Albuquerque
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 9, 2015: OUTDOOR ADVENTURE SHOW THIS WEEKEND IN ALBUQUERQUE ALBUQUERQUE – Hunters, anglers and other outdoor adventurers are invited to join the Department of Game and Fish this weekend in Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, where visitors will find information about upcoming hunting, fishing and trapping opportunities, all-terrain vehicle riding, the latest gear and more. The New Mexico Outdoor Adventure Show, formerly the Bob Gerding Show, will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Manuel Lujan Building at Expo New Mexico. Admission is free for licensed New Mexico hunters, anglers and trappers, and for anyone age 17 or younger. Nonlicensed adults will pay $3 at the door. Don’t forget to bring your license. The Department will be at [...]