SANTA FE – New Mexico resident youth hunters who applied and were unsuccessful in the 2023-2024 big-game draw are eligible to purchase one of nearly 1,900 antlerless elk licenses. The licenses will go on sale through the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Online License System starting at 10 a.m. MDT July 12.

The sale is designed to encourage unsuccessful youth draw applicants and includes 1,570 licenses for any legal sporting arm and 390 licenses for muzzleloader, crossbow or bow.

Licenses will be sold online only on a first-come, first-served basis. To purchase a license, customers will need to log into their Online License System account.

Eligibility and requirements:

  • For the first 14 days, the sale is open only to resident youth who have applied in the current license year for one or more draw hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, oryx or ibex and were not successful for any hunt. Please note that the purchase of a leftover draw hunt counts as a successful application.
    • Must have a valid Hunter Education certification.
    • Must be 17 years of age or younger on the opening day of hunt.
  • Beginning at 10 a.m. MDT, July 26, the sale will open to nonresident youth who applied in the current license year for one or more draw hunts for deer, elk, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, Barbary sheep, oryx or ibex and were not successful for any hunt.
  • Youth hunters must have a current annual Game Hunting or Game Hunting and Fishing License prior to purchasing an elk license. Customers without a Game Hunting License will be directed to purchase one before purchasing a Youth Encouragement Elk License.

All purchases will be audited to verify the customer’s eligibility.

Hunters planning to purchase a youth encouragement license must have completed all mandatory 2022-2023 harvest reporting requirements or their purchase will be rejected in the post-sale audit. The license fee, but not the application fee, will be refunded for rejected purchases.

Following the successful purchase of a youth encouragement license, the license/tag will be mailed to the hunter, unless the e-tag option is selected.

For more information about the youth encouragement elk sale, hunting in New Mexico or for help logging in, please call the Information Center at 888-248-6866 or email us at ispa@state.nm.us.

Youth encouragement licenses will not be sold over the phone. For the list of available hunts please see pages 81 and 82 of the 2023-2024 Hunting Rules and Information Booklet available online.