2025 New Mexico Application Details

If you’re planning to hunt New Mexico this year, get the need-to-know details from Huntin’ Fool.

Cost Overview

For those interested in a guided hunt, New Mexico has a separate pool in the drawing for applicants contracted with a state-approved outfitter. Generally, the draw odds are better in the outfitter draw pool. Anyone looking to apply in New Mexico must purchase an annual hunting license (resident $15/nonresident $65) in addition to an application fee per species (resident $7/nonresident $13). 

Hunting license and species costs for tags usually include:

• Application fee.
• Hunting license fee to apply (usually need a qualifying license before you can apply).
• Species fee (This is what you pay for the animal you want to hunt. Some you pay upfront at application, some you pay for once you get the tag.).

New Mexico does offer active duty military members the ability to apply for several “Military Only” hunts, and there is also a 50% discount for all licenses and stamps for resident, active duty military, or honorably discharged veterans.

Hunters may apply for tags on New Mexico Game & Fish’s website.

Application Dates

How New Mexico’s Draw Process Works

For nonresident hunters, New Mexico primarily presents as an elk and deer state. While non-residents can apply for antelope and bighorn sheep tags, the draw odds are generally poor for these two species. Uniquely, the Land of Enchantment also offers public hunts for three exotic species: oryx, ibex, and Barbary sheep. 

Point System

• New Mexico does not have any type of point system; all tags are issued via a random draw.
• All applicants have the same chance to draw in their respective application type (Resident, Nonresident, Outfitter).

License Allocation

• A minimum of 84% of the total number of tags available for a given hunt are allocated to residents.
• A maximum of 10% of the total number of tags available are allocated to applicants who have contracted with a licensed New Mexico guide or outfitter (and use their outfitter’s ID number on the application). It is extremely unlikely for an outfitted applicant to draw a hunt code with six or fewer available tags or for a non-resident to draw a hunt code with 12 or fewer available tags.
• A maximum of 6% of the total number of tags available for a given hunt are allocated to nonresidents.

Draw Odds

• For each application, New Mexico considers your first three hunt choices before moving to the next application, which makes calculating your true draw odds rather complex. An additional fourth or fifth choice may be offered, but these application choices do not pertain to regular hunt choices; rather, they apply to leftover tags or population management tags.
• The odds Hunt Research Tools lists are for a single applicant, Choice #1.

Key Changes for 2025

• Out-of-state hunter education certificates are only accepted for youth hunters age nine or older. Applicants must be nine years old by the date of the application.
• Hunter education is required for all hunters who draw licenses for the White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) or Fort Bliss hunts, regardless of age.
• New Mexico outfitter numbers have been updated to annual attach codes and will change each year. Past guide numbers or contracts are ineligible for 2025 applications.

Other New Mexico-Specific Considerations

1. Because your first three hunt choices are evaluated on your application before moving on to the next application, the way you order your three choices can help optimize your draw chances. Order them from hardest-to-draw to easiest-to-draw to maximize your opportunity to draw choice one or two.
2. Although New Mexico is not known for trophy mule deer, there are decent draw odds for hunts scattered throughout the state. If you are new to western hunting, these hunts offer a chance for a limited entry tag in areas that aren’t typically overrun with other hunters.
3. New Mexico has an extensive private landowner tag system for elk (through the EPLUS program) and antelope (over-the-counter license accompanied by written landowner permission), where tags can be purchased from landowners (generally expensive, but avoids the public draw).
4. Scopes are not allowed on muzzleloader hunts—open sights only. This diminishes the effectiveness of a muzzleloader as a long-range weapon, and may shift the demand for popular muzzleloader hunts.

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