New Mexico hunting and fishing laws
The New Mexico rules that catch people out, in plain English: hunter education, minimum age, blaze orange, Sunday hunting, shooting hours, baiting, night hunting, tagging and private land. Each one links to the state's own text.
Season dates for 2026-27. Page updated October 12, 2026.
These pages sum up the rules to help you find them. They are not legal advice. The state's own regulations govern, so check them before you go.
Hunter education in New Mexico
No one under 18 years of age may hunt with a firearm without first possessing a certificate proving that he or she has passed this, or another state's, hunter education course, or is currently enrolled in the New Mexico Mentored-Youth Hunting Program. Bowhunter education is recommended but not mandatory and does not satisfy the firearm requirement.
Minimum hunting age in New Mexico
The Mentored-Youth Hunting Program is open to first-time hunters 8 to 17 years of age. Ages 8 and 9 may take small game only; ages 10 through 17 may take deer, javelina, pronghorn, turkey and small game. Mentors must be at least 18 and hold a valid hunting license plus a Mentor Number or hunter-education number, and mentor and youth must stay within unaided sight and voice distance.
Blaze orange in New Mexico
Blaze orange is not required statewide. Hunters on military reservations must wear a minimum of 144 square inches of blaze orange, and on Valles Caldera a minimum of 244 square inches. Elsewhere the Department strongly encourages hunters to wear blaze orange. There is no pink provision. This varies by land type.
Sunday hunting in New Mexico
Not verified. New Mexico's 2026-27 hunting rules booklet lists no Sunday closure, but no agency statement that Sunday hunting is allowed was found. Confirm with the official regulations before you hunt.
Shooting hours in New Mexico
Applies to: Big game
19.31.10 NMAC: a person may only take or attempt to take any big game species or turkey during the period from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset. The same window applies to upland game.
Baiting in New Mexico
It is unlawful to take or attempt to take game species by baiting, and an area is considered to be baited for 10 days after the removal of the bait. It is also unlawful to take big game or turkey from an area which has not been completely free of bait, including in feeders, for at least 10 days. Bear is a big game species and no separate bear allowance was found.
Night hunting in New Mexico
It is unlawful to shine spotlights or other artificial lights into areas where big-game species or livestock may be present, while in possession of any sporting arm.
Applies to: Furbearers
Licensed trappers may take raccoons at night using a headlamp or hand-held flashlight only.
Tagging and reporting a harvest in New Mexico
Hunters must keep proof of sex with all game species, except javelina, until the game has been transported where it will be consumed or stored. For big game and turkey, a properly notched carcass tag or handwritten E-Tag must remain with the meat.
Hunting on private land in New Mexico
It is unlawful to hunt or trap on private land without written permission. This applies regardless of whether the land is posted.
Can you show your New Mexico license on your phone?
E-Tag option: license on phone, tag in app.
Big game and turkey hunters can choose the E-Tag option, and then “Hunters MUST be able to show their license on their phone.” After a kill you “immediately click the Tag My Animal link in the app,” and the E-Tag number, customer ID and kill date “must be handwritten on a durable material (e.g. duct tape or flagging ribbon) in permanent ink and attached” to the animal. Hunters who did not choose E-Tag carry the paper license/carcass tag, and E-Tag hunters must still submit a harvest report.
Phone with E-Tag app, or paper license/carcass tag
New Mexico hunting season dates, 2026-27
The main seasons, from the state's published dates. Zones and units can differ; each season links to the state's own page for it.
| Season | Dates | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black bear | Aug 16 – Nov 15, 2026 | Zone 6 (Units 39-43, 47, 56, 58, 59) | Sept 1-24 bow only. OTC bear license; dates vary by zone |
| Turkey — spring (OTC) | Not published yet | Statewide OTC units | 2027 dates not yet published. 2026 youth-only OTC Apr 10-12 |
| Turkey — fall (OTC) | Nov 1 – Nov 30, 2026 | Statewide OTC units | Shotgun, bow or crossbow. Bow-only Sept 1-30 |
| Quail | Nov 15, 2026 – Feb 15, 2027 | Statewide | Scaled, Gambel's, bobwhite and Montezuma |
| Dusky grouse | Sep 1 – Dec 31, 2026 | North and South zones | |
| Mourning dove | Sep 1 – Oct 28, 2026 | South Zone (south of I-40 / US 54) | Second segment Dec 1-Jan 1. North Zone Sept 1-Nov 29 |
| Pheasant (OTC) | Dec 10 – Dec 13, 2026 | OTC pheasant areas | |
| Ducks — Pacific Flyway | Oct 19, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Pacific Flyway (west of the Continental Divide) | 7-duck daily bag |
| Ducks — Central Flyway North Zone | Oct 10, 2026 – Jan 13, 2027 | Central Flyway North Zone (east of the Divide, north of I-40/US 54) | 6-duck daily bag |
| Ducks — Central Flyway South Zone | Oct 28, 2026 – Jan 31, 2027 | Central Flyway South Zone (east of the Divide, south of I-40/US 54) | Bag same as North Zone |
What you can hunt in New Mexico
Big game
- Mule deer Draw or limited entry
- Coues white-tailed deer Draw or limited entry
- Elk Draw or limited entry
- Pronghorn Draw or limited entry Heavily private land
- Desert bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep Draw or limited entry Once in a lifetime
- Barbary sheep Draw or limited entry
- Persian ibex Draw or limited entry Florida Mountains
- Oryx Draw or limited entry White Sands area, mostly once in a lifetime
- Javelina Draw or limited entry
- Black bear General season Zone harvest limits
- Cougar General season Zone harvest limits and closures
- Feral hog General season Unprotected, no license needed
Upland and small game
- Wild turkey General season Gould's is draw only
- Dusky grouse General season
- Quail General season Scaled, Gambel's, bobwhite, Mearns'
- Pheasant General season Some managed areas are permit only
- Squirrel General season
- Rabbit General season
Waterfowl and migratory
- Ducks and geese General season
- Dove General season
- Band-tailed pigeon General season
- Sandhill crane Draw or limited entry Permit required
Furbearer and predator
- Coyote and skunk General season Unprotected, no license needed
- Bobcat, raccoon, fox General season Furbearer license
What you can fish for in New Mexico
Fishing license plus a Habitat Management and Access validation
Fishing licenses sold: 1-day, 5-day, Annual
Trout and char
- Rainbow trout General season
- Brown trout General season
- Brook trout General season
- Lake trout General season
- Rio Grande cutthroat General season
- Gila trout Tag or permit Free Gila Trout Permit; eight named waters, several catch and release
Salmon and anadromous
- Kokanee General season Includes a snagging season
Warmwater
- Largemouth and smallmouth bass General season
- Striped bass and wiper General season
- White bass General season
- Walleye General season
- Northern pike General season
- Tiger muskie General season
- Channel, blue and flathead catfish General season
- Crappie General season
- Bluegill and sunfish General season
- Yellow perch General season
Official New Mexico links
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Carry your New Mexico license on your phone
Sportsmen Ledger holds your hunting and fishing licenses and tags, these rules and your harvest log, and it works with no signal. Free to start.
Compare with other states
- Hunter education requirements by state
- Minimum hunting age by state
- Blaze orange requirements by state
- Sunday hunting laws by state
- Legal shooting hours by state
- Baiting laws by state
- Night hunting laws by state
- Tagging and harvest reporting by state
- Hunting on private land, state by state
- Can you show your hunting or fishing license on your phone? Every state