New Mexico’s 2025-2026 Big Game Hunting Rules and Information booklet is out. You can download a copy online by going to www.wildlife.state.nm.us/home/publications/, or you can call 888-248-6866 to order a copy.

The 2025 big game applications for all species in New Mexico must be submitted online before 5:00 p.m. MDT on March 19, 2025. The draw results will be posted on the Department’s website by late April.

New Mexico has an online and phone application process. Hunters may apply online at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us. The Department provides a telephone call center for help in completing and submitting applications. For help in completing applications, call 888-248- 6866.

Residents and non-residents may apply together on the same application. Up to four people may apply for elk, deer, antelope, and Barbary sheep; up to two people may apply for oryx and ibex; and only one applicant may apply for bighorn sheep.

An applicant cannot edit their application once it has been paid for, they may only withdraw it. If an applicant withdraws an application, they may reapply. However, they will again be charged an application fee and the full tag fee. Withdrawn applications will be refunded immediately, except for the $13 application fee.

New Mexico guarantees a minimum of 84% of its special draw hunt tags for all species to its residents. They will attempt to issue 6% of draw tags to non-residents who are not applying with an outfitter and 10% of the tags to residents and/or non-residents who are contracted with an outfitter by using their outfitter’s ID number on the application. It is extremely unlikely for an outfitted applicant to draw a hunt code with 6 or fewer licenses or for a non-resident to draw a hunt code with 12 or fewer licenses. Applicants are given three regular, limited-entry application choices when applying for any big game species. When an applicant is drawn, all three choices are considered before the next applicant is drawn. An additional fourth or fifth choice may be offered, but these application choices do not pertain to regular hunt choices; rather, they apply to leftover tags or population management tags.

All applicants are required to purchase a game hunting license and a Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) prior to applying. Upon submission of your application, you will be charged the entire tag, license, and application fees. Make sure the appropriate funds are available on your credit card. If unsuccessful in the draw, you will receive a refund for the full amount of the tag fee on your credit card, minus the non- refundable application fee of $13 per species. The $65 game hunting license is non-refundable.

New Mexico’s deer and elk licenses vary in fee price, depending on each specific hunt code, and they will be listed in the regulations with the license type. These types are S-Standard, Q-Quality, and HD-High Demand. Keep in mind that the fees vary greatly based on the classification. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express credit and debit cards are acceptable forms of payment. If successful in the draw, it is required that the hunter purchase and possess a $10 Habitat Stamp in order to use U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands in New Mexico. This may be purchased online at www.wildlife.state.nm.us, at NMDGF offices, from license vendors, or toll-free at 888-248-6866.

New Mexico does not have a bonus or preference point system.

The odds we list for sheep, moose, and goat are based upon the number of non-resident applicants with 3 preference points. The odds are simple odds and are calculated without consideration of weighted points. If you want to see your exact draw odds based off the number of weighted points you have, you can use the research tool at research.huntinfool.com. Select the hunt you wish to apply for, enter the number of weighted points you have, and this will give your exact draw odds from the previous year. The elk, deer, and antelope odds are listed as the minimum number of preference points an applicant drew with in the 2024 draw.

New Mexico reserves some of the very best hunts and dates exclusively for youth hunters. See our tables for more information on the exclusive youth opportunities for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, elk, deer, oryx, and ibex. Youth hunting licenses are only $15, and all species fees are full price. To qualify for youth-only hunts, applicants must be 17 years of age or younger on the opening day of the hunt.

Muzzleloaders may no longer have scopes of any style or power. This applies to all muzzleloader hunts. Only open or peep sights will be allowed. Muzzleloaders may shoot sabots, belted bullets, and an in-line ignition. Hunters are restricted to .45 caliber and greater muzzleloaders. There are a few “restricted muzzleloader” seasons in which this gear is not legal. Archery sights on bows may not project light, but lighted pins are acceptable. Arrows must have broadheads with cutting edges.

All leftover licenses will be sold online only. The date that leftover licenses will be available for purchase will be posted on the NMDGF website after the draw. New Mexico issues transferable landowner tags for sheep and elk. Sheep tags are extremely difficult to acquire as most are bought years in advance and, in most cases, are rotated from a public draw tag to a landowner tag on a bi-yearly basis. Elk landowner tags may be good “unit wide” or “ranch only,” depending on how the landowner registered their property. For antelope, hunters must obtain a private land-only antelope license and tag. You must hunt on private land in the unit for which the tag was issued, have written permission from the landowner, and have a habitat management and access validation stamp. The deer tags are for private land only. A hunter must have a private land only deer license and tag as well as written permission from the landowner and a habitat management and access validation stamp. No one may have more than one valid license per species in a license year for deer, elk, or antelope. New Mexico offers a limited number of raffle tags for elk, deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, and Desert bighorn sheep through various wildlife conservation organizations. Refer to our January magazine for more information.

New Mexico acknowledges the sacrifices our armed forces have made for the country. They offer active duty military members the ability to apply for several special “Military Only” hunts. There is also a 50% discount for all licenses and stamps for resident active duty military or honorably discharged veterans.

New Mexico has a Habitat Management and Access Validation program where hunters, trappers, and fishermen on any lands must purchase a $4 stamp once during the year. Funds from the sale of these stamps will be used to lease private land for public use, provide public access to landlocked areas of public land, and provide for the improvement, maintenance, development, and operation of property for Fish and Wildlife habitat management. This validation stamp does not replace the habitat stamp.