New Mexico Hunting Guide
Complete New Mexico hunting guide. New Mexico hunting seasons, license costs, bag limits, and regulations for all major game species. Updated for the current season.
Wildlife Agency
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Hunter safety course required for first-time buyers
Draw Application Deadlines
| Species | Type | Opens | Deadline | Results |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elk | Primary Draw | Jan 15 | Mar 20 | Late Apr |
| Deer | Primary Draw | Jan 15 | Mar 20 | Late Apr |
| Pronghorn | Primary Draw | Jan 15 | Mar 20 | Late Apr |
| Oryx | Primary Draw | Jan 15 | Mar 20 | Late Apr |
| Bighorn Sheep | Primary Draw | Jan 15 | Mar 20 | Late Apr |
New Mexico Hunting Seasons
Elk
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Sep 1 | Sep 24 |
| Muzzleloader | Sep 25 | Oct 1 |
| Rifle | Oct 7 | Nov 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only. New Mexico has excellent trophy elk. Valles Caldera and Gila National Forest are premier areas.
Mule Deer
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
| Archery | Sep 1 | Sep 24 |
| Muzzleloader | Oct 7 | Oct 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Draw-only for most hunts. Some over-the-counter archery tags available. Good mule deer in the Sacramento and Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Turkey
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Apr 15 | May 5 |
| Archery | Apr 15 | May 5 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 (spring)
Merriam's turkeys in ponderosa pine forests. Draw required. Good populations in the Gila, Sacramento, and Sangre de Cristo mountains.
Bear
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Aug 16 | Nov 30 |
| Archery | Aug 16 | Sep 24 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1
Black bear only. Over-the-counter tags. Season closes when harvest quota met. Baiting not allowed.
Quail
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Shotgun | Nov 15 | Feb 15 |
Bag limits: daily: 15, season: No limit
Scaled quail, Gambel's quail, and Montezuma quail. Populations fluctuate with rainfall. Southern New Mexico grasslands.
Pronghorn
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Archery | Aug 15 | Sep 20 |
| Rifle | Sep 25 | Oct 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Draw-only, pure lottery.
Oryx
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Year-round | Lottery draw |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per draw
White Sands and public land. Draw only.
Bighorn Sheep
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Rifle | Sep 1 | Nov 30 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per lifetime (most states)
Extremely limited tags. Once-in-a-lifetime draw.
Mountain Lion
| Season Type | Opens | Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Fall/Winter | Nov 1 | Mar 31 |
Bag limits: daily: 1, season: 1 per year
Hound hunting legal in most western states. Quotas apply.
Planning Tools
- New Mexico Draw Odds by Unit — success rates for every limited-entry hunt
- Hunt Cost Calculator — budget your full hunt cost
- Season Tag Planner — never miss an opening day
- Preference Point Tracker — when should you burn your points?
New Mexico Hunting Guides
draw odds
New Mexico Mule Deer Draw Odds: Units, Points, and Trophy Potential
draw odds
New Mexico Draw Odds: Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, and Oryx
draw odds
New Mexico Elk Draw Odds: Points, Trophy Units, and Strategy
methods
New Mexico Elk Hunting Tactics: Unit Selection and Field Strategy
destinations
New Mexico Turkey Hunting: Merriam's, Gould's & Rio Grande
destinations