New Mexico Hunting: 2024 Season Dates and Guidelines

New Me­xico, with its variety of landscapes and abundant wildlife, is a hunte­r’s playground. Think extensive e­astern plains to towering Rocky Mountain peaks, it’s a hunting have­n for everyone. No matte­r if you’re an experie­nced outdoors enthusiast or just stepping foot into the­ sport, New Mexico’s changing terrain te­sts all levels of ability.

For those fond of big game­ hunting, chances to track down prize elk, mule­ deer, pronghorn antelope­, and bighorn sheep are ple­ntiful. If you’re an upland game hunter, you’ll find phe­asants, grouse, quails, and cottontail rabbits quite an adventure­. Love waterfowl games? The state­’s rippling rivers and lush wetlands host abundant ducks, gee­se, and sandhill cranes beckoning for a thrilling chase­.

Get se­t for the 2024 hunting seasons in New Me­xico with this short, informative guide. We’ll touch on complete game opportunities, including season date­s and necessary license­s. We won’t forget to mention the­ rules for falconry and pursuing predators. Plus, we’ll ke­ep you on track with key deadline­s and how to apply. All to make sure your New Me­xico outdoor trip is both safe and a success.

NM Hunting Calendar 2024

Big Games

Deer

Bow

• Unit 2A, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51A, 51B, 52, 53, 54, 55, 55A, 56, 57, 58, 59 (Sep. 1-24)
• Unit 2C, 23 (Burro Mountain Area only) (Jan. 1-15, ’25)

Muzzleloader

• Unit 5A, 6A, 6C, 7, 8, 9 (Restricted Muzzleloader Only), 10, 12, 13, 14, 27, 33 (Restricted Muzzleloader Only), 41, 42, 45, 47, 52 (Restricted Muzzleloader Only), 56, 57, 58, 59 (Sep. 27-Oct.3)
• Unit 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 33 (Huey WMA Only / NM Resident Only / Youth Only) (Nov. 23-Dec.1)
• Unit 19 (Dec. 7-11)
• Unit 34 (Nov. 2-6)

Any Legal

• Unit 4 (NM Residents Only) (Oct. 19-23, Oct. 26-30, Nov. 9-13)
• Unit 5B, 6A, 6C, 10 (Mobility Impaired Only), 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 32, 34 (Mobility Impaired Only), 34 (Youth Only), 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45 (Mobility Impaired Only), 45, 48, 49, 50, 51A, 51B, 52, 53, 54, 55 (ES Barker WMA Only), 55 (Urraca WMA Only), 56, 57 (Excluding Sugarite Canyon State Park), 58, 59 (Oct. 19-23)
• Unit 5A, 7, 8, 9, 10, 27, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 (Oct. 26-30)
• Unit 2C, 4 (NM Residents Only), 9 (Marquez/LBar WMAs Only / NM Resident Only), 13, 16 (Mobility Impaired Only), 33, 34 (Nov. 9-13)
• Unit 2B, 5B, 6A, 6C, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 31, 33, 34, 37, 38 (Nov. 2-6)
• Unit 23 (Burro Mountain Area only), 34 (Nov. 16-20)
• Unit 21, 23, 24, 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 (Archery Only) (Dec. 7-15)

Elk

Regular

Here’s a breakdown of archery and muzzleloader elk hunting seasons for various New Mexico units:

• Archery Season (Early): September 1-14 (Units 17, 18, 21A, 21B, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 36, 37, 42, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 55A, 56, 57, 58)
• Archery Season (Late): September 15-24 (Units 17, 18, 21A, 21B, 23, 24, 29, 30, 34, 36, 37, 42, 45, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 55A, 56, 57, 58)
• Muzzleloader Season: October 12-16 (Unit 16)
• Any Legal Season (Late): December 14-18 (Unit 28)
• Any Legal Season (Early): October 1-5 (Units 38, 39, 43)

Youth

• Units 5B, 6A, 6C, 10, 16A, 16C, 16D, 16E, 36, 49, 51, 52, 53: November 30 – December 4 and December 26 – 30.
• Units 13, 15, 17: November 30 – December 4 and December 26 – 30.
• Unit 34: December 26 – 30.

Pronghorn Antelope

• Archery season (most units): August 10-18 (Units 2, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 47, 56, 57, 58, 59)
• Youth-Only Any Legal Weapon: October 4-6 (Unit 19)
• Muzzleloader:
  • August 31-September 1 (Unit 28)
  • August 24-26 (Unit 29)
• Early Archery: August 6-14 (Units 50, 52)

Bighorn Ram

Rocky Mountain Bighorn Ram:

• Jemez (Units 6A & 6C): August 10-24, September 1-15 (1 Ram)
• San Francisco River/Turkey Creek (Units 16B, 22, 23, 24): January 1-31, 2025 (2 Ram)
• Pecos (Unit 45):
  • August 9-18, August 23-September 1 (5 Ram)
  • Youth-Only: August 23-September 1 (1 Ram)
  • Ewe Seasons (separate licenses): September 21-25, October 5-9 (varying quotas)
  • Bow Only Ewe Season: September 6-15 (10 Ewe)
• Wheeler Peak (Unit 53, area 1): August 6-15, September 1-10 (2 Ram, 1 Ram)
• Latir (Units 53 & 55, area 2): August 9-18, August 23-September 1 (1 Ram)
• Rio Grande Gorge (Units 49, 50, 53):
  • August 10-24, September 1-15 (2 Ram)
  • November 1-15 (1 Ram)
• Culebras (Unit 55, area 4): August 15-January 15, 2025 (1 Ram)
• Dry Cimarron (Unit 58): August 15-January 15, 2025 (2 Ram)

Desert Bighorn Ram:

• Ladrones (Units 13 & 17): December 1-15, December 16-31 (varying quotas)
• San Andres (Unit 19, area 1): December 14-21, December 27-January 3, 2025 (varying quotas)
• Caballos (Unit 20 South, area 2): November 16-30, December 1-15 (varying quotas)
• Fra Cristobal (Unit 20 North, area 3): September 13-22 (1 Ram)
• Little Hatchets (Unit 26, area 4): September 15-30, October 1-15 (varying quotas)
• Big Hatchets (Unit 26, area 5): September 15-30, October 1-15 (varying quotas)
• Peloncillos (Unit 27): November 1-15, November 16-30 (1 Ram each period)

Barbary Sheep

McGregor Range (Unit 28):

• Military hunters with any legal weapon: December 14-18, December 28-29, January 4-5 (various quotas)
• Public draw (any legal weapon): December 14-18 (limited quota)

Units 29 & 30:

• Archery: January 1-15, 2025
• Any legal weapon:
  • October 10-16
  • December 4-10
  • December 15-21
  • January 20-26, 2025 (higher quota)
  • February periods (divided into weeks)

Units 32, 36 & 37:

• Archery: January 1-15, 2025
• Any legal weapon:
  • October 10-16 (lower quota than Unit 29 & 30)
  • December 4-10
  • December 15-21 (higher quota than Unit 29 & 30)
  • February periods (divided into weeks)

Ibex

• Florida Mountains (Unit 25):
  • Archery: October 1-15 and January 15-29, 2025
  • Muzzleloader: February 22-28, 2025
  • Any legal weapon:
    • Once-in-a-Lifetime License: November 15-29
    • December 14-18
    • Once-in-a-Youth License: December 27-January 10, 2025
    • February 1-5, 2025
• Statewide (Off-Florida Mountains): Any legal weapon: April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025

Javelina

• Statewide (excluding Unit 28):
  • Youth Only: February 1 – March 31, 2025
  • February 1 – March 31, 2025
  • January 1 – March 31, 2025 (all dates apply with proper licenses)
• Units 19, 23-27 (excluding Fort Bliss):
  • January 1 – March 31, 2025 (either season)
• Unit 28 McGregor Range: Military Only: December 28-29
• Unit 28 McGregor Range: December 28-29

Oryx

• Once-in-a-Lifetime Hunts: October 18-20 (draw)
• Youth-Only Hunts: October 4-6 (draw)
• Broken-Horn Oryx Hunts: Offered on various dates throughout September, November, January, February, and March (draw)
• McGregor Range (Unit 28):
  • December 21-22 (public draw)
  • January 4-5, 2025 (public draw)
• Statewide Off-Range Hunts:
  • Open season runs June 1 through March 31, 2025 with specific quotas per month (licenses available over-the-counter)
    • February has an additional quota for hunters 70 years old and older

Bear

• Zone 1: Bow only, September 1-24. No dogs allowed.
• Zone 2:
  • Bow only, September 1-24. No dogs allowed.
  • Any legal weapon, September 25-November 15. Dogs allowed.
• Zone 3: Any legal weapon, August 16-31.
• Zones 4-7, 51, 52: Any legal weapon, September 25-November 15. Dogs allowed.
• Zones 49, 50, 53:
  • Bow only, September 1-24. No dogs allowed.
  • Note: Zone season ends on November 15th in these specific units.

Cougar

• April 1 – March 31 (all zones)

Mountain Lion

• Open year-round (April 1 – March 31)

Mexican Gray Wolf

• Protected species – Hunting not allowed

Turkey

Spring

• Youth-Only Hunts (all with visible beard limit):
  • Carson National Forest (Units 2B, 2C): April 15 – May 15, 2025
  • Units 2A (specific areas): April 15 – May 15, 2025 only
  • Black River Management Area (Unit 30): April 26-28 & May 3-5, 2025
• General Hunts (all with visible beard limit):
  • Valles Caldera National Preserve (Unit 6B): April 15 – 30, 2025
  • Sandia Ranger District (Unit 8): April 15 – May 15, 2025
  • Marquez/LBar WMA (Unit 9): April 15 – May 15, 2025
  • Valle Vidal (Unit 55, East Side Only): April 15 – May 15, 2025
• Once-in-a-Lifetime Hunts (all with visible beard limit):
  • Units 26 & 27: May 1 – 30, 2025

Fall

• Bow Only: September 1 – 30
• Any Legal Weapon: November 1 – 30

Important Note: These fall turkey seasons apply statewide except for specific units with closures. Be sure to check the regulations for:

• Unit closures: 2A, 2B, 2C, 6B, 8, 19, 25, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31
• Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

Upland Games

Quail

• Scaled, Gambel’s, Bobwhite, Montezuma:
  • November 15 – February 15, 2025
  • 15 per day (max 5 Montezuma Quail),
  • 30 in possession (max 10 Montezuma Quail)

Grouse

• Dusky (Blue) Grouse:
  • September 1 – December 31
  • 3 per day, 6 in possession

Squirrel

• Abert’s, Red, Gray and Fox:
  • September 1 – December 31
  • 8 per day, 16 in possession

Pheasant

Over-the-Counter Seasons

• December 12-15
  • 3 males per day, 6 in possession

Draw Pheasant Permits (Resident Only)

• Application Deadline: August 14 (every year) by 5 p.m. MDT
• Apply Online or call 1-888-248-6866
• Group Applications: Maximum 4 hunters per application (regular hunts), 2 hunters per youth hunt application

Youth-Only Pheasant Hunts (draw required):

• Bernardo WMA:
  • Hunt Code: PHE-0-001
  • Season Date: October 19
  • Bag Limit: 3 male pheasants
  • Permits Available: 20
• W.S. Huey WMA:
  • Hunt Code: PHE-0-002
  • Season Date: December 7
  • Bag Limit: 3 male pheasants
  • Permits Available: 40

W.S. Huey WMA Pheasant Hunt (draw required):

• Open to all ages: Adults & Youth
• Hunt Code: PHE-0-003
• Season Date: December 14
• Bag Limit: 3 male pheasants
• Permits Available: 40

Dove

• Eurasian Collared-Dove:
  • Year-round (April 1 – March 31, 2025)
  • Unlimited

Falconry

• September 1 – February 28, 2025
• Species:
  • Grouse & Pheasant: 3 per day (singly or combined), 6 in possession
  • Quail: 3 per day (singly or combined), 30 in possession
  • Squirrel: 3 per day (singly or combined), 16 in possession
• Eurasian Collared-Dove: Year-round (April 1, 2024 – March 31, 2025), No bag or possession limits

Waterfowls & Migratory

Ducks

Central Flyway:

• Early Teal Season (North & South Zone):
  • September 10-18

Regular Season:

• North Zone:
  • October 8 – January 11
• South Zone:
  • October 28 – January 1
• Pacific Flyway (North & South Zone):
  • October 19 – January 31

Sandhill Crane

• Estancia Valley-1: October 29 – November 1
• Eastern New Mexico: October 29 – January 29
• South Western-1: October 29 – November 6
• Estancia Valley-2: November 3-6
• Middle Rio Grande Valley (various units):
  • November 12-13 (Unit 1)
  • November 26-27 (Unit 2)
  • December 10-11 (Unit 3)
  • January 7-8 (Units 4 & 5)
• South Western-2: January 7-8
• Middle Rio Grande Valley (Unit 5): January 14-15

NM Hunting Regulations Summary

Here’s a quick overview of the regulations to jumpstart your planning:

Licensing and Permits:

• Resident vs. Non-Resident: License­ costs and rules differ for locals and visitors. Lottery-base­d.
• Draw vs. Over-the-Counter Hunts: Applying via a lottery is re­quired for big game hunts like e­lk, deer, and bighorn shee­p. Licenses for smaller game­ and bird hunting can be bought in-store. 
• Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) Stamp: All hunte­rs need this, exce­pt if they have a lifetime­ license.
• Harvest Reporting: You must record all hunted game within a se­t time frame.

Big Game (Draw System):

• Application Period: Usually, Fe­bruary or March is when this happens for most large game­ animals.
• Species: There’s e­lk, mule deer, pronghorn ante­lope, and bighorn sheep (both Rocky Mountain and De­sert types).
• Season Dates: That varies. Each species and Game­ Management Unit (GMU) has its own schedule­.

Small Game (Over-the-Counter or Draw):

• Species: Upland game wildlife­ like grouse, quail, pheasant, and cottontail rabbit, or migratory birds such as ducks, ge­ese, and sandhill cranes. 
• Over-the-Counter Licenses: Provided ge­nerally for small game hunting. 
• Draw Permits: Needed for phe­asant hunting in designated Wildlife Manage­ment Areas (WMAs) and hunts only for young folks.

Falconry:

• You’ll nee­d an unusual falconry permit, plus a hunting license.
• Distinct falconry pe­riods and game species’ bag limits apply for highe­r terrain game.

Predator:

• Pursuing mountain lions is permissible­ all year, given a valid hunting license­.
• Conversely, the Me­xican gray wolf is a safeguarded specie­s, so hunting is prohibited.

Important Resources:

• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF)
• Interactive Game Management Unit (GMU) Map

Licenses and Permits

Top New Mexico Hunting Locations by Species

In New Me­xico, various landscapes make perfe­ct homes for different big and small game­ animals. Let’s look at some of the be­st places for specific trophy hunting:

Elk:

• Rocky Mountain Elk: The Carson National Forest, in northe­rn New Mexico, is known for its Elk. Especially in Units 50, 51, and 52. The­y’re healthy and abundant. You can hunt them. Arche­ry and rifles both work. 
• Roosevelt Elk: The Gila National Forest, it’s in southwest Ne­w Mexico, units 20, 22, 23, is another spot. They have­ Roosevelt Elk. They’re­ smaller. Their bugle calls are­ famous.

Mule Deer:

• Rocky Mountain Mule Deer: The Cibola National Forest in west-central New Mexico (Units 15, 16, and 17) boasts excellent populations of mule deer, with opportunities for both mule deer buck and doe hunts.
• Coues Deer: The mountainous regions of southern New Mexico, like the Peloncillo Mountains and the Animas Mountains, offer challenging hunts for the elusive Coues deer, a smaller desert subspecies.

Pronghorn Antelope:

• In the wide­-stretching fields of New Me­xico’s east, especially Zone­s 48, 49, and 53, you’ll find no better place to hunt pronghorn ante­lope. These ope­n landscapes perfectly accommodate­ spot-and-stalk hunts.

Bighorn Sheep:

• Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep: As for Bighorn Sheep, specifically the­ Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep, there­’s no competition–New Mexico stands as a top spot. The­ south’s Sierra Blanca Mountain Range (Zone 18) and the­ north’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains (Zones 1 and 3) are­ top-notch areas for approved hunts.

Upland Game:

• Rio Grande Valley: This place runs through New Mexico’s he­art down to its foot. It’s home to different land-dwe­lling birds. Pheasant, quail, and dove are among the­m. You can hunt in many public areas along the valley. 
• Mescal Mountains: This is in the southern area of Ne­w Mexico. Desert cottontail rabbits call the­se mountains home. An unparallele­d small game hunt awaits you there.

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Eric Hale

Author & Chief Editor at AskHunting.com

Eric Hale, a veteran hunter with more than a decade of experience, imparts his knowledge via AskHunting.com. He offers guidance for hunting, adding strategies, and delivers in-depth guides for the novice and the old hand. He loves family camping sessions, watching Marvel films with his spouse, and going on thrilling road journeys.

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