n NM approximately 200,000 residents participate in hunting and fishing activities annually. That’s just 10% of New Mexico’s total population. Yet this small percentage of sportsmen, combined with 60,000 non-resident hunters and anglers, generate over $20 million in license revenue annually. This same demographic additionally generates over $700 million per year for NM’s tourism economy. Much of that being produced in the most rural areas of the state where hunting and fishing is at its finest and where unemployment is at it’s highest.
License revenue can be broken down into two broad categories; resident license sales and non-resident license sales. Like many other western states, New Mexico provides preference to their resident sportsmen meaning simply that resident licenses cost significantly less than non-resident licenses. In general, non-residents pay twice as much for a fishing license and on average 6 times more for a hunting license than a NM resident. For example, a resident fishing license costs $25 while a non-resident license costs $56, the average cost of a resident elk hunting license is $77 while the average cost of a non-resident elk license is $447, and a bighorn sheep license for a resident hunter is $160 while the cost for a non-resident hunter is $3,173. And because license revenue is the primary source of funding for wildlife conservation in NM; this dynamic creates a situation where the New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is heavily reliant on non-resident participation in hunting and fishing activities.
In New Mexico all big game hunts that take place on public land are subject to a resident/non-resident quota. By statute 84% of all public land licenses go directly to resident big game hunters. Residents also statutorily receive all the public land cow elk permits and all the Wildlife Management Area permits. On a total tag basis non-residents receive just 9% of the public land permits issued through the NM Big Game Draw. Yet even though non-resident sportsman received just 6,373 of the 58,540 public land permits issued in 2018 they generated nearly 50% of the total license revenue produced by the NM Big Game Draw ($3,551,679 generated by non-residents vs $3,933,862 generated by residents).
Over the past several years there has been a growing push from a handful of so-called NM sportsmen advocacy groups who are attempting to further restrict non-resident hunter opportunity as a means of increasing resident hunter opportunity. What most residents fail to recognize is that these efforts, if successful, will actually have a disastrous impact on NM resident hunters who would therefore be forced to pay substantially more for their hunting licenses in order to make up for the non-resident license revenue loss to the NM Department of Game and Fish.
It has also been rumored that the NM state legislature may seek to place a resident/non-resident quota on hunting permits sold through private landowners in order to provide more resident hunter opportunity. This too would have severely negative ramifications to the budget of the NMDGF as well as unintended consequences for the NM resident hunter and the state’s tourism economy.
Under the current laws, a landowner can apply for several programs that result in the issuance of hunting permits which provide opportunity for individuals to hunt on private property. Permits are sold on the open market and there are no restrictions on who can purchase these landowner permits. Cost is determined by supply and demand and there is equal opportunity for residents or non-residents to purchase landowner permits. And although some groups claim that the cost of these landowner permits prevent resident buyers, that is factually incorrect.
On average 30% of all landowner permits are sold to New Mexico resident hunters every year. Proceeds from the sale of landowner permits are the NMDGF’s method of recognizing landowners for providing essential components, like water and habitat, necessary for the survival of the state’s wildlife species. Revenue generated by these permits is considered tourism dollars and landowners must pay NM gross receipts taxes on all permits sold. In addition, individuals who purchase a private landowner permit must also purchase a hunting license from the NMDGF. And because non-resident licenses cost significantly more than resident licenses this results in an astounding portion of the NMDGF’s annual revenue. In 2018 non-resident hunters generated over $5.4 million in private land license revenue compared to the approximate $550,000 generated by New Mexico residents.
If a resident/non-resident quota, like the existing public land quota, were to be placed on hunting permits sold through the private land system several negative things would occur. First and foremost, the NMDGF would lose a substantial portion of their annual revenue and would be required to request an enormous increase to resident license fees that would likely be far higher than the average resident is willing to pay. This, in turn, would result in an overall reduction in the number of residents who can afford to participate in hunting activities which would further strain the financial ability of the NMDGF. You would also see an unwillingness by landowners to participate in private land programs that restrict the salability of hunting permits. Forcing landowners to sell their permits to resident hunters only would devalue the permits themselves and thus make landowners more likely pull out of agreements with the NMDGF and to restrict access to private lands. There would be substantial increase in the cost of trespass fees and more landowners would be willing to engage in activities that are economically profitable for the ranch but might be less beneficial to wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Non-resident hunter/angler opportunity is also essential to tourism in New Mexico. Tourism is one of the largest, fastest growing, and most profitable industry segments in the state. And hunting and fishing account for a substantial portion of that tourism economy. In-fact hunting is the 2nd highest grossing outdoor recreational activity in New Mexico just slightly behind skiing.
New Mexico’s hunting and fishing opportunities are a treasure to this state’s economy and to the many NM business owners who earn a livelihood through programs that support hunting and fishing on both public and private property. Non-residents are a vital part of this thriving industry. Non-residents sustain the funding for the state’s wildlife conservation, are the backbone of the clientele base for outfitters/guides, and every dollar spent by a non-resident sportsman are considered tourism dollars (whether or not the money is spent as a direct result of the hunting or fishing experience).
The partnerships between the NMDGF, private landowners, the outfitting industry, and resident hunters/angler are in balance and are working to the mutual benefit of everyone. Hunting and fishing in NM has been referred to as “the best in the west” by many non-resident sportsmen and by many NM resident sportsman who know what it’s like to hunt or fish in another state. This is not a broken system and it is essential that we consider the unintended consequences of changing the structure of the laws and regulations that govern this important and thriving industry.
License revenue can be broken down into two broad categories; resident license sales and non-resident license sales. Like many other western states, New Mexico provides preference to their resident sportsmen meaning simply that resident licenses cost significantly less than non-resident licenses. In general, non-residents pay twice as much for a fishing license and on average 6 times more for a hunting license than a NM resident. For example, a resident fishing license costs $25 while a non-resident license costs $56, the average cost of a resident elk hunting license is $77 while the average cost of a non-resident elk license is $447, and a bighorn sheep license for a resident hunter is $160 while the cost for a non-resident hunter is $3,173. And because license revenue is the primary source of funding for wildlife conservation in NM; this dynamic creates a situation where the New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish (NMDGF) is heavily reliant on non-resident participation in hunting and fishing activities.
In New Mexico all big game hunts that take place on public land are subject to a resident/non-resident quota. By statute 84% of all public land licenses go directly to resident big game hunters. Residents also statutorily receive all the public land cow elk permits and all the Wildlife Management Area permits. On a total tag basis non-residents receive just 9% of the public land permits issued through the NM Big Game Draw. Yet even though non-resident sportsman received just 6,373 of the 58,540 public land permits issued in 2018 they generated nearly 50% of the total license revenue produced by the NM Big Game Draw ($3,551,679 generated by non-residents vs $3,933,862 generated by residents).
Over the past several years there has been a growing push from a handful of so-called NM sportsmen advocacy groups who are attempting to further restrict non-resident hunter opportunity as a means of increasing resident hunter opportunity. What most residents fail to recognize is that these efforts, if successful, will actually have a disastrous impact on NM resident hunters who would therefore be forced to pay substantially more for their hunting licenses in order to make up for the non-resident license revenue loss to the NM Department of Game and Fish.
It has also been rumored that the NM state legislature may seek to place a resident/non-resident quota on hunting permits sold through private landowners in order to provide more resident hunter opportunity. This too would have severely negative ramifications to the budget of the NMDGF as well as unintended consequences for the NM resident hunter and the state’s tourism economy.
Under the current laws, a landowner can apply for several programs that result in the issuance of hunting permits which provide opportunity for individuals to hunt on private property. Permits are sold on the open market and there are no restrictions on who can purchase these landowner permits. Cost is determined by supply and demand and there is equal opportunity for residents or non-residents to purchase landowner permits. And although some groups claim that the cost of these landowner permits prevent resident buyers, that is factually incorrect.
On average 30% of all landowner permits are sold to New Mexico resident hunters every year. Proceeds from the sale of landowner permits are the NMDGF’s method of recognizing landowners for providing essential components, like water and habitat, necessary for the survival of the state’s wildlife species. Revenue generated by these permits is considered tourism dollars and landowners must pay NM gross receipts taxes on all permits sold. In addition, individuals who purchase a private landowner permit must also purchase a hunting license from the NMDGF. And because non-resident licenses cost significantly more than resident licenses this results in an astounding portion of the NMDGF’s annual revenue. In 2018 non-resident hunters generated over $5.4 million in private land license revenue compared to the approximate $550,000 generated by New Mexico residents.
If a resident/non-resident quota, like the existing public land quota, were to be placed on hunting permits sold through the private land system several negative things would occur. First and foremost, the NMDGF would lose a substantial portion of their annual revenue and would be required to request an enormous increase to resident license fees that would likely be far higher than the average resident is willing to pay. This, in turn, would result in an overall reduction in the number of residents who can afford to participate in hunting activities which would further strain the financial ability of the NMDGF. You would also see an unwillingness by landowners to participate in private land programs that restrict the salability of hunting permits. Forcing landowners to sell their permits to resident hunters only would devalue the permits themselves and thus make landowners more likely pull out of agreements with the NMDGF and to restrict access to private lands. There would be substantial increase in the cost of trespass fees and more landowners would be willing to engage in activities that are economically profitable for the ranch but might be less beneficial to wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Non-resident hunter/angler opportunity is also essential to tourism in New Mexico. Tourism is one of the largest, fastest growing, and most profitable industry segments in the state. And hunting and fishing account for a substantial portion of that tourism economy. In-fact hunting is the 2nd highest grossing outdoor recreational activity in New Mexico just slightly behind skiing.
New Mexico’s hunting and fishing opportunities are a treasure to this state’s economy and to the many NM business owners who earn a livelihood through programs that support hunting and fishing on both public and private property. Non-residents are a vital part of this thriving industry. Non-residents sustain the funding for the state’s wildlife conservation, are the backbone of the clientele base for outfitters/guides, and every dollar spent by a non-resident sportsman are considered tourism dollars (whether or not the money is spent as a direct result of the hunting or fishing experience).
The partnerships between the NMDGF, private landowners, the outfitting industry, and resident hunters/angler are in balance and are working to the mutual benefit of everyone. Hunting and fishing in NM has been referred to as “the best in the west” by many non-resident sportsmen and by many NM resident sportsman who know what it’s like to hunt or fish in another state. This is not a broken system and it is essential that we consider the unintended consequences of changing the structure of the laws and regulations that govern this important and thriving industry.