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.
Hunting Rules & Information booklet available on department’s new website
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, DEC. 29, 2014: HUNTING RULES & INFORMATION BOOKLET AVAILABLE ON DEPARTMENT'S NEW WEBSITE SANTA FE – Rules and information about applying for licenses and hunting big-game, small game and turkeys in New Mexico are available now on the Department of Game and Fish’s redesigned website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us. The 2015-16 Hunting Rules and Information booklet includes all the information hunters need to apply for and purchase big-game and small-game hunting 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 for 2015-16 big-game and turkey licenses Jan. 7. Application deadlines are 5 p.m. Feb. 4 for special-permit bear and turkey hunts, and 5 p.m. March 18 for deer, elk, [...]
Study: N.M. hunters, anglers spend more than $613 million
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Media contact: Lance Cherry, (505) 476-8003 Public contact: (888) 248-6866 lance.cherry@dgf.nm.gov FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, NOV. 13, 2014 STUDY: N.M. HUNTERS, ANGLERS SPEND MORE THAN $613 MILLION HUNTING, FISHING CREATE NEARLY 8,000 JOBS SANTA FE – New Mexico’s hunters and anglers spend more than $613 million on their recreational activities and contribute another $51.4 million to the state’s economy in labor, income and taxes, according to a study conducted for the Department of Game and Fish. The study by Southwick Associates, specialists in fish and wildlife economics and statistics, was commissioned to determine the amount of participation and subsequent economic impacts hunters and anglers have on New Mexico overall and by county. “Hunting and fishing are among New Mexico’s most cherished traditions,” Governor Susana Martinez said. “This study clearly shows the tremendous value our wildlife resources bring to our state, creating nearly 8,000 jobs [...]
Late-season archery elk licenses available online October 29
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Contact: (888) 248-6866 ispa@state.nm.us FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, OCT. 21, 2014 LATE-SEASON ARCHERY ELK LICENSES AVAILABLE ONLINE OCT. 29 SANTA FE – Two hundred seventy-five trophy bull elk archery hunting licenses will go on sale Wednesday, Oct. 29, 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. 29 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. 30. Only hunters who did not hold a 2014-2015 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 existing account, user name and password [...]
Expect roadblocks statewide during hunting seasons
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, OCT. 14, 2014 EXPECT ROADBLOCKS STATEWIDE DURING HUNTING SEASONS SANTA FE – The Department of Game and Fish will conduct roadblocks throughout the state during hunting seasons to collect harvest data and to detect wildlife law violations. Hunting seasons are ongoing for deer, elk, pronghorns, bears and some other species as listed in the department’s Hunting Rules & Information booklets. At roadblocks, conservation officers also will check for compliance with the Off Highway Motor Vehicle Act and the Aquatic Invasive Species Control Act. Drivers of vehicles hauling wood products will be asked to produce documentation as required by the Forest Conservation Act. Department officers may be assisted by other law enforcement agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico State Police or county sheriff's [...]
Bighorn hunters will have more options, opportunities in 2015
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, SEPT. 9, 2014 BIGHORN HUNTERS WILL HAVE MORE OPTIONS, OPPORTUNITIES IN 2015 SANTA FE – The New Mexico Game Commission adopted new rules Aug. 28 that will provide hunters planning to enter the public drawings for 2015-season bighorn sheep licenses in New Mexico with more opportunities and more choices than ever. Beginning next year, the department estimates it will make 36 bighorn ram licenses available in the annual public drawing, an all-time high. Sixteen of those licenses will be for Rocky Mountain bighorn rams. Twenty will be for desert bighorn rams, a remarkable increase from only one desert bighorn license issued in 2011. The increased licenses are thanks to successful reintroduction and management efforts by the Department of Game and Fish in partnership with the Wild Sheep Foundation, the [...]