FEB. 2026 RECAP

The NM Wildlife Commission hosted their second meeting of 2026 in Roswell on February 20th. The focus of the meeting was to open Bighorn Sheep, Deer, and Elk Rules. We would encourage everyone to watch the bighorn, deer, and elk presentations. You can watch the meeting at State Game Commission Meeting — Feb. 20, 2026. The bighorn sheep presentation begins at minute 7.54, deer begins at minute 35.17, and elk begins at 1:41.42.
 
As a reminder, 2026 is the year that the Commission will be revising all their big game rules for the next 4yr rule cycle. In January the Commission opened the Javelina, Turkey, Migratory Bird, and Exotics Rule. These rules are currently open for public comment. You can find information on the proposed changes to the rules that have already opened at Proposals Under Consideration - NMDGF.

Quick FYI - The New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish has now officially changed their name to the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. Moving forward NMCOG will be referring to the Deptartment as the NMDW or the Dept. of Wildlife (as opposed to NMDGF or Game & Fish). Likewise, the NM Game Commission is now called the NM Wildlife Commission. Therefore, NMCOG will refer to the “Wildlife Commission” as opposed to the Game Commission.
 
INITIATION OF THE BIGHORN SHEEP RULE 
The Department provided their initial presentation regarding the bighorn sheep rule. Proposed changes to the rule are as follows:

• GMU’s 14 & 18
  • Population has never been hunting. Define as an open GMU. Working with private landowners to establish hunt periods, season dates, and bag limits for private and public for specific populations with the goal to start hunting sheep in that area in 2027.
• GMU 34
  • Population has never been hunting. Define as an open GMU. Establish hunt periods, season dates, and bag limits with the goal of hunting sheep in that area in 2027.
• Adjust all GMU season dates appropriately

 
This rule is now open for public comment. Please send your comments to [email protected]
 
INITIATION OF THE DEER RULE 
The Department provided their initial presentation regarding the deer rule. Proposed changes to the rule are as follows:

• General Changes
  • Adjust season dates where necessary.
    • Shifting start dates to maintain hunts beginning on Saturday
  • Evaluate season dates for hunt structure consistency across the state.
  • Evaluate season dates to ensure harvest is biologically sustainable.
  • Adjust license numbers to meet management strategies and reflect changes in deer herd dynamics.
  • Designate the premium statewide deer hunt as a Quality hunt.
  • Consider eliminating the restricted muzzleloader deer hunts.
  • Evaluate current antlerless hunts across the state.
• NW Area
  • Reduce deer licenses in GMU 2B and potential moving GMU to Quality based on input received during current rule cycle.
  • Create a public muzzleloader deer hunt on Wildlife Management Areas in GMU 4 to coincide with the private
• SW Area
  • Create a December rifle hunt for Coues white-tailed deer in GMUs 16 and 22
  • Structure the January hunt on White Sands Missile Range as a youth hunt.
  • Evaluate current antlerless archery hunt in Silver City
• SE Area
  • Potential reduction in draw license numbers
  • Consider changing restricted muzzleloader deer hunts in GMU 33 to general muzzleloader
  • Evaluate current antlerless hunts in GMUs 32 and 33
• NE Area
  • Consider changing restricted muzzleloader deer hunts in GMU 52 to general muzzleloader

 
This rule is now open to public comment. Please send your comments to [email protected]
 
INITIATION OF THE ELK RULE 
The Department provided their initial presentation regarding the elk rule. Proposed changes to the rule are as follows:

• Greater Gila Herd (GMUs 15, 16A-E)
  • Sizable decrease in licenses
  • Aligning PMZ public hunts to all begin with muzzleloader hunts, followed by rifle hunts.
  • Hybrid unit (GMU 16E) – Shift hunt dates across management zones to have same start date
  • Shift October hunt dates later to reduce harvest pressure during rut
• Lesser Gila Herd (GMU 21A/B, 23, 24)
  • Maintain current licenses and monitor harvest.
  • Consider increasing survey efforts for herd
• Sacramento Herd (GMU 34)
  • Consider increasing licenses for existing hunts
• Ruidoso Herd (GMU 36)
  • Consider slight increases in licenses
• Pecos Herd (GMU 45), Whites Peak Herd (GMU 48), Penasco Herd (GMU 49), Ute-Midnight-San Cristobal Herd (GMU 53)
  • No changes recommended
• Valle Vidal Herd (GMU 55A)
  • Slight reduction in tags

 
This rule is now open for public comment. Please send your comments to [email protected]
 
GENERAL PROPOSED CHANGES TO APPLY TO ALL BIG GAME RULE 
The Dept. is requesting the following changes for all big game rules

• Require the purchase of a license at least a day prior to the start of the hunt. For hunts where published season dates are less than 6 days, hunters will no longer be able to buy a license once the hunt starts.
• Evaluate a potential “ranch registration” process for OTC private-land deer, oryx, and pronghorn licenses similar to the current registration process used for private land elk hunting in Secondary Management Zones.

 
GENERAL PUBLIC COMMENT 
As happens every 2 years in the legislature and every 4 years at the Commission level, the Wildlife Federation, and everyone’s best frenemy (Brandon Wynn) came out of the woodwork to spew anger and misinformation regarding the EPLUS program. Their tiresome arguments are hollow and have not changed in years. None the less, NMCOG will spend the next several months educating the Commission as to the mutual benefits of the program to landowners, nonresident & resident hunters, outfitters, and (most importantly) wildlife! NMCOG will be enacting a call-to-action request from our members to make your voice heard on this issue. We are still determining the strategic timing of the call-to-action. Stay tuned…

Next Commission Meeting
March 20th in ABQ, NM

COMMISSIONER CONTACT INFORMATION
(You're encouraged to contact the Commissioners any time to voice your opinion)

Richard Stump - Chairman
Appointed at-large 
[email protected]

Fernando Clemente Jr. - Vice Chairman
Appointed at-large
[email protected]

Gregg Fulfer
District 1: Curry, De Baca, Roosevelt, Chaves, Lincoln, Otero, Eddy and Lea counties
[email protected]

OPEN
District 2: Catron, Socorro, Grant, Hidalgo, Luna, Sierra and Dona Ana counties

Tirzio Lopez
District 3: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Valencia, Sandoval, Los Alamos
and Rio Arriba counties
[email protected]

Kyle Harwood
District 4: Santa Fe, Taos, Colfax, Union, Mora, Harding, Quay, San Miguel, Guadalupe and Torrance counties
[email protected]

Dr. Christopher Witt
District 5: Bernalillo County
​[email protected]