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HUNTING SEASONS IN NEW MEXICO 2025–26: Deer Hunting, Big Game and Small Game, Licenses, and Regulations Guide
Plan your 2025–26 NM hunt with our state‑by‑state guide—season dates, bag limits, licenses, bow & rifle rules, and key game species from mule deer to elk to pronghorn and ducks. Whether you’re glassing a rutting buck at sunrise in high‑desert basins, slipping into pinyon‑juniper for a bull elk, or running decoys for teal over flooded bosque, New Mexico’s mountains, mesas, and wetlands deliver world‑class big game and small game hunts under clear regulations.
What Is There to Hunt in New Mexico?
New Mexico supports a diverse array of game:
Big Game: Mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, black bear, mountain lion
Upland & Small Game: Cottontail rabbit, jackrabbit, Gambel’s quail, scaled quail, Merriam’s turkey
Waterfowl & Migratory Birds: Ducks (mallard, teal, pintail), Canada geese, coots, rails, mourning dove
Predators & Furbearers: Coyote, fox, bobcat, beaver, muskrat
From Sangre de Cristo slopes to Rio Grande wetlands, New Mexico’s wildlife zones offer year‑round seasons.
What Animals Can You Hunt Year‑Round in New Mexico?
On private lands with landowner permission—and proper license—you may harvest unprotected or nuisance species such as coyote, bobcat, and beaver year‑round with no bag limits, aiding predator control and fur‑harvest management. Public‑land Wildlife Management Areas enforce posted season dates and method restrictions.
New Mexico Big Game Hunting Seasons 2025–26
Mule Deer
Archery: Sept 5 – Oct 4, 2025 (unit dependent)
General Rifle: Oct 10 – Nov 15, 2025
Muzzleloader: Nov 20 – Nov 30, 2025
Limited‑Entry Hunts: Vary by Control Area (draw only)
Bag limit: one buck per tag. Apply early for draw tags in high‑demand units.
Elk
Archery: Aug 15 – Sept 15, 2025 (select units)
General Rifle: Sept 30 – Nov 10, 2025
Muzzleloader: Nov 15 – Nov 30, 2025
Limited‑Entry: Most high‑country units (draw only)
Elk hunts require draw or over‑the‑counter tags per region; one bull or cow per tag.
Pronghorn Antelope
General Rifle & Bow: Sept 15 – Nov 1, 2025 (East Unit OTC)
Limited‑Entry: Sept 20 – Oct 5, 2025 (draw areas)
Pronghorn tags manage herd numbers; quota tags ensure sustainable harvest.
Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Lion
Sheep (draw only): Aug 1 – Dec 31, 2025
Mountain Lion: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026 (quota permits)
Sheep require lengthy point accumulation; lion hunts support predator control.
New Mexico Small Game & Waterfowl Seasons 2025–26
Upland Game & Small Mammals
Cottontail & Jackrabbit: Oct 1 – Feb 28, 2026
Quail (scaled & Gambel’s): Nov 1 – Feb 28, 2026
Merriam’s Turkey (Fall Archery): Oct 1 – Oct 15, 2025 (limited draw)
Shotguns loaded with non‑toxic shot required for upland birds; dogs allowed in designated areas.
Waterfowl & Migratory Birds
Early Teal: Sept 1 – Sept 30, 2025
Duck & Goose: Nov 15 – Jan 31, 2026 (zones split)
Rails & Coots: Sept 1 – Nov 9, 2025
Mourning Dove: Sept 1 – Nov 20, 2025
Youth Waterfowl Day: Oct 10–11, 2025
Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; Federal Duck Stamp, HIP, and state waterfowl stamp required
Bosque del Apache and private wetlands host migrating flocks; bag limit 6 ducks/day with species sub‑limits.
Bag Limits by Species
Mule Deer & Pronghorn: 1 buck/antelope per tag
Elk: 1 bull or cow per tag
Sheep: 1 per permit
Bear: 1 per permit
Ducks: 6/day; 2 teal, 2 mallard sub‑limits
Geese: 3/day
Rails & Coots: 15 & 25/day
Quail: 8/day
Rabbit & Jackrabbit: 15 & 5/day
Coyote & Furbearers: No limits on private lands
Bag limits protect sustainable populations while offering ample hunter opportunity.
License & Tags Information for New Mexico Hunters (2025–26)
All hunters must carry a valid NM Department of Game & Fish (GD&F) license and appropriate tags:
Resident Hunting License: $25; Nonresident: $225
Big Game Tags: $8–$348; OTC or draw application
Waterfowl Stamp & HIP: $7; Federal Duck Stamp required
Furbearer License: $40; includes predator & fur‑bearer species
Hunter Education: Certification mandatory for hunters under 18 and new licensees
Licenses fund habitat improvements, wildlife research, and regulation enforcement; apply for draws in spring.
Hunting Methods: Bow, Rifle, Muzzleloader
NM GD&F authorizes:
Archery: Compound and recurve bows, crossbows (archery seasons)
Firearms: Center‑fire rifles, shotguns (slugs & buckshot) in rifle seasons
Muzzleloaders: Single‑shot black‑powder firearms during designated windows
Dogs & Bait: Permitted for predator control on private lands; upland dogs in select WMAs
Ensure compliance with caliber, draw weight, and non‑toxic shot requirements.
Regulations & Resources
New Mexico GD&F regulations cover:
Shooting Hours: Sunrise – sunset; some archery seasons extend to legal sunset
Hunt Unit Maps: Online GIS maps for GMU boundaries and special hunts
Harvest Reporting: Mandatory for deer, elk, pronghorn within 48 hrs
Special Areas: Wildlife management areas, public land access codes, CWD zones
Before you head out, always verify season dates, bag limits, and license requirements on the official New Mexico Department of Game & Fish website to stay compliant and ensure a legal, ethical hunt.
This guide was created based on information from New Mexico Department of Game & Fish (GD&F): https://wildlife.dgf.nm.gov/download/2025-2026-new-mexico-hunting-rules-and-info/?wpdmdl=50250
With defined seasons, clear bag limits, and accessible license structures, New Mexico delivers exceptional hunts for mule deer, elk, pronghorn, ducks, and predators. Prepare your bow or rifle, secure proper tags, and explore the Land of Enchantment’s wild beauty on your 2025–26 hunt.
