New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Media contact: Rachel Shockley, (505) 476-8071
Public contact: (888) 248-6966
rachel.shockley@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, FEB. 28, 2014:

TIME IS SHORT TO APPLY FOR 2014-15 BIG-GAME HUNTING LICENSES

SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is reminding hunters that March 19 is the deadline to apply for deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, oryx, ibex, bighorn sheep, javelina and Barbary sheep licenses. The department expects about 160,000 applications for about 65,000 licenses. Hunters must complete their applications before 5 p.m. MDT March 19. All applicants must have an online account at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/.

Here’s how to apply:

  • Online: Applicants can access or create accounts via the department website, https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/. From their account, applicants can access license and application choices and payment options.
  • By phone: Hunters without computer access or who need help applying can call toll-free, (888) 248-6866 and a department representative will submit an application for them. The information center will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Saturdays beginning March 3. The center will close at 4:30 p.m. on deadline day, March 19, to allow customers to complete applications before the 5 p.m. deadline.

Hunters are strongly advised to review their online account passwords and complete their applications well in advance of the deadline. A flood of last-minute applications could affect online access and phone banks. Waiting until the last minute can result application failures if problems arise and time runs out.

This is the third year since the department eliminated paper application forms in favor of a paperless online system designed to streamline the application and licensing process and make drawing results and refunds available much sooner. The system allows successful applicants to print all types of licenses themselves. Carcass tags have been eliminated and licenses no longer will be mailed unless requested.

For the second year, the department’s Mentored Youth Hunter Program will offer hunters younger than age 18 opportunities to apply for and purchase licenses before they complete a full hunter safety course. Hunters in the program must complete an online quiz and be accompanied in the field by a licensed adult. Please check the Rules and Information booklet or the Hunter Education Page of the website for more information.

To be eligible for the draw, applicants who held deer, elk, pronghorn antelope and turkey licenses for the 2013-14 seasons must have submitted a harvest report either online or by phone at (888) 248-6866. The deadline to submit harvest reports without a late fee was Feb. 15, but applicants still can be eligible for the draw by reporting before the March 19 draw deadline and paying an $8 late fee. Applicants who held 2013-14 licenses for oryx, ibex, Barbary sheep, javelina and trapping must submit harvest reports by April 7 to be eligible for the draw.

Before applying, hunters are highly encouraged to read the Hunting Rules and Information booklet, available online, from license vendors or at Department offices in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, Raton, Roswell and Las Cruces. The Hunting Page of the department website also includes valuable information about how the draw works, application procedures, game-management unit maps, drawing odds and links to a “How to Apply” video.

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