Everything you need to plan your hunting trips in New Mexico, from maps and regulations to season dates, game animals, quotas, and game management units. Plus much more! Start your research right here.
Overview
Known For
New Mexico is a big game hunter’s paradise, with elk, mule deer, desert bighorn sheep, mountain lion, black bear, javelina, and pronghorn to pursue. Plus hunting for wild turkeys, small game, upland birds, and waterfowl makes New Mexico a standout state.
Terrain
From the Rocky Mountains in the north-central part of New Mexico to the plains on its eastern border, New Mexico’s terrain is quite diverse. Generally, the state is broken up into multiple regions: the Great Plains, the Colorado Plateau, the Rocky Mountains, and the Basin and Range region.
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Units 8, 46, 54, 55 and 55B private lands only. Unlimited tags available in most areas.
Sep 27, 2023
Oct 3, 2023
Sep 30, 2023 – Oct 4, 2023
Deer – 2nd Muzzleloader Limited
Unit 6
Sep 30, 2023
Oct 4, 2023
Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 26, 2023
Deer – Any Legal Weapon (Private Land)
Unit 8, 46, 54, 55, 55B. Sesaon dates vary by unit. Check regulations for unit specific dates. Private lands only. Unlimited tags available in most areas.
Oct 14, 2023
Nov 26, 2023
Oct 21, 2023 – Oct 25, 2023
Deer – Late Restricted Muzzleloader
Unit 33. Special restrictions on muzzleloader type. See regulations
Unit 9, 13, 15, 16E, 17, 23, 24, 34 (Also includes Crossbow and Archery) (License limited to any five consecutive days within a season listed).
Oct 21, 2023
Dec 13, 2023
Oct 31, 2023 – Dec 13, 2023
Elk – Any Weapon 4 (Private Land)
Unit 16E, 23, 24, 34.
Oct 31, 2023
Dec 13, 2023
Sep 24, 2022 – Oct 9, 2022
Goose – Pacific Flyway North 1
Canada goose daily bag limit 4, white-fronted daily bag limit 10, light goose daily bag limit 20.
Sep 24, 2022
Oct 9, 2022
Sep 1, 2023 – Dec 31, 2023
Grouse – Dusky (Blue)
Daily bag limit of 3. 6 in possession
Sep 1, 2023
Dec 31, 2023
Dec 8, 2023 – Dec 11, 2023
Pheasant – Statewide OTC
Excludes Valencia County. Daily bag limit of 3 males. 6 in possession
Dec 8, 2023
Dec 11, 2023
Oct 29, 2022 – Nov 6, 2022
Sandhill Crane – Southwestern 1
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Oct 29, 2022
Nov 6, 2022
Oct 29, 2022 – Nov 1, 2022
Sandhill Crane – Estancia Valley 1
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Oct 29, 2022
Nov 1, 2022
Nov 3, 2022 – Nov 6, 2022
Sandhill Crane – Estancia Valley 2
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Nov 3, 2022
Nov 6, 2022
Nov 12, 2022 – Nov 13, 2022
Sandhill Crane – Middle Rio Grande Valley 1
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Nov 12, 2022
Nov 13, 2022
Nov 26, 2022 – Nov 27, 2022
Sandhill Crane – Middle Rio Grande Valley 2
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Nov 26, 2022
Nov 27, 2022
Dec 10, 2022 – Dec 11, 2022
Sandhill Crane – Middle Rio Grande Valley 3
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Dec 10, 2022
Dec 11, 2022
Jan 7, 2023 – Jan 8, 2023
Sandhill Crane – Middle Rio Grande Valley 4
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Jan 7, 2023
Jan 8, 2023
Jan 7, 2023 – Jan 8, 2023
Sandhill Crane – Southwestern 2
Sandhill crane daily bag limit of 3.
Jan 7, 2023
Jan 8, 2023
Jan 14, 2023 – Jan 15, 2023
Sandhill Crane – Middle Rio Grande Valley 5
Jan 14, 2023
Jan 15, 2023
Aug 18, 2023 – Jan 3, 2024
Bighorn Sheep – Desert Ram
Unit 13, 17, 19, 20, 26, 27. Seasons vary by unit. Please see regulations.
Aug 18, 2023
Jan 3, 2024
Sep 1, 2023 – Sep 10, 2023
Bighorn Sheep – Rocky Mountain Ewe
Unit 45, 49, 50, 53. Bow Only. Seasons vary by unit. See regulations.
Sep 1, 2023
Sep 10, 2023
Sep 16, 2023 – Oct 4, 2023
Bighorn Sheep – Rocky Mountain Ewe
Unit 45, 49, 50, and 53. Seasons vary by unit. See regulations.
Sep 16, 2023
Oct 4, 2023
Apr 15, 2023 – May 15, 2023
Turkey – Spring OTC
Areas Open for Spring OTC License Hunts: April 15–May 15 STATEWIDE: Except the following CLOSED AREAS: Unit 2A (areas east of U.S. Hwy. 550 and north of NM Hwy. 173); Unit 2B (areas in the Carson National Forest), Unit 2C (areas in the Carson National Forest); Units 6B, 8, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31; Bernardo WMA, Jackson Lake WMA, La Joya WMA, Marquez/LBar WMA, Prairie Chicken WMAs, Red Rock WMA, Valle Vidal, W.S. Huey WMA.
Apr 15, 2023
May 15, 2023
Apr 15, 2023 – May 15, 2023
Turkey – Spring Limited
Unit 2A (Areas east of U.S. 550 and north of NM Hwy. 173) – ) – Any Legal – Youth Only
Unit 2B and 2C (Carson National Forest) – Any Legal
Unit 6B (Valles Caldera National Preserve) – Any Legal – Apr. 15–30 *Hunter orientation required.
Unit 8 – Any Legal *Shotgun, bow or crossbow, except in Sandia Ranger District which is bow and crossbow only.
Unit 9 – Marquez/L Bar WMA – Any Legal – NM Resident Only
Unit 26 and 27 (Gould’s Turkey) – Any Legal – Once-in-a-Lifetime – May 1–May 30
Unit 30 Washington Ranch and BLM Black River Management Area 3 (Youth Only) – Any Legal Apr. 28–30 (TUR–1–107) & May 5–May 7 (TUR–1–108)
This is a special hunting opportunity for youth hunters to harvest a Rio Grande turkey on the Black River. Hunter orientation is required and will be held on the Friday afternoon before the designated hunt begins. Youth hunters will be paired with a conservation officer for the hunt. For additional information about this opportunity, contact the Southeast Area office: 575-624-6135.
Unit 55A – Valle Vidal – Any Legal (east side only from 5/1–5/15)
Apr 15, 2023
May 15, 2023
Sep 1, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023
Turkey – Fall Bow OTC
STATEWIDE: Except the closed areas listed below.
CLOSED: Unit 2A (areas east of U.S. Hwy. 550 and north of NM Hwy. 173); Unit 2B (areas in the Carson National Forest); Unit 2C (areas in the Carson National Forest); Units 6B, 8, 14, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 38, 49, 50, 53; Bernardo WMA, Bill Evans WMA, Edward Sargent WMA, Jackson Lake WMA, La Joya WMA, Lake Roberts WMA, Marquez/LBar WMA, Prairie Chicken WMAs, Red Rock WMA, Rio Chama WMA, Sugarite Canyon State Park, Valle Vidal and W.S. Huey WMA.
Sep 1, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
Nov 1, 2023 – Nov 30, 2023
Turkey – Fall Any Weapon OTC
STATEWIDE: Except the closed areas listed below.
CLOSED: Unit 2A (areas east of U.S. Hwy. 550 and north of NM Hwy. 173); Unit 2B (areas in the Carson National Forest); Unit 2C (areas in the Carson National Forest); Units 6B, 8, 14, 18, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, 33, 38, 49, 50, 53; Bernardo WMA, Bill Evans WMA, Edward Sargent WMA, Jackson Lake WMA, La Joya WMA, Lake Roberts WMA, Marquez/LBar WMA, Prairie Chicken WMAs, Red Rock WMA, Rio Chama WMA, Sugarite Canyon State Park, Valle Vidal and W.S. Huey WMA.
Nov 1, 2023
Nov 30, 2023
Research. Draw. Hunt.
Hunt Research Tools is designed to help hunters research, plan, and apply for hunts and tags every year.
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Covers all 12 Western states and all major big game species
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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)
Tag 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 that have contracted with a licensed New Mexico guide or outfitter
A maximum of 6% of the total number of tags available for a given hunt are allocated to nonresidents
Understanding the Draw Odds
In New Mexico, we include 1 draw odds column in our List View, Odds
For each application, New Mexico considers your first 3 hunt choices before moving to the next application
This makes calculating your true draw odds rather complex
The odds we list are for a single applicant, Choice #1
For information about how to maximize your chances in New Mexico, read this
Other Tips
Review and consider using our special Draw Odds Calculator if you are curious about your draw odds by individual hunt choice
New Mexico Licenses, Permits, and Regulations
New Mexico hunting licenses, permits, and regulations for resident and non-resident hunters can be purchased on the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish website. Click below to view the website.
Every New Mexico hunter should have hunting GPS maps on hand. New Mexico hunting maps are available from onX Hunt. With a paid membership you can access Satellite, Topo, or Hybrid Basemaps, over which you can view maps of game management units, along with State, Forest Service, and other public and private property boundaries. You can view trails and roads, and even download maps to the Hunt App for use offline. Click below to get onX Hunt for New Mexico.
New Mexico is broken into many game management units (GMUs). Units 17 and 16-B are world-renowned for having some of the biggest bull elk. Every year these GMUs produce a few bulls pushing at or above the 400″ mark. It’s not uncommon to see many in those units between 330” – 350”.
Click below to view New Mexico’s game management units in more detail through an interactive map.
Over 1,100,000 parcels mapped by the onX team, this layer helps you know who the property owners are in New Mexico. Tap any parcel to learn more info about the owner and acreage.
NM Gov Lands
onX has the most accurate maps of Gov Lands, covering over 45,000,000 acres in New Mexico. Not all Gov Lands offer access opportunities, check regulations before recreating.
SUBLAYERS (3)
NM GMUs
New Mexico Bear, Big Game and Cougar Game Management Units. Please hunt responsibly, obey all signage and have a safe legal hunt.
Includes 3 Sublayers
Bear Mgmt Zones
Game Mgmt Units
Cougar Mgmt Zones
NM Possible Access
onX has mapped 21,000 acres of possible access lands in New Mexico including timber companies and land conservation groups. Research rules on these private lands before recreating.
NM Open Gates
The New Mexico Game and Fish Open Gates. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.
NM Unitized Ranches
The New Mexico Game and Fish Unitized Ranches. All hunters are expected to know the rules of the program. Please hunt responsibly and have a safe legal hunt.
Elk Private Lands Use System(EPLUS)
New Mexico Elk Private Lands Use System(EPLUS)
NM State Land Hunting Points
The New Mexico State Trust land hunting access points, locations to access State Trust Lands that are open to the public for Hunting.
