June Commission Re-cap

Congratulations! We won! The NM Wildlife Commission hosted a meeting in Portales last Thursday and during the meeting the Commission voted unanimously to kill the proposal to align the hunts in the hybrid GMU's. Thank you to everyone who reached out to the Commission and made this win possible! The Commissioners reported that they received over a hundred emails in opposition to the proposal and almost no emails in support. Elk hunts on SMZ ranches in hybrid PMZ/SMZ units will continue to start on October 1st, with rifle, for at least the next 4 years.

During the meeting the Commission also heard subsequent presentations on the Deer and Elk Rule and they approved the final changes to the Exotics and Migratory Bird Rule.  The Commission did not hear an update on the Pronghorn Rule however they will be approving this rule (along with deer, elk, and bighorn) during their August meeting and as such an outline of the proposed changes to the rule is included below. 
 
SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION OF THE DEER RULE 
The Department provided their subsequent presentation regarding the deer rule. The presentation was very detailed and outlined deer conditions in all quadrants of the state. If you outfit deer hunters and you want to watch the presentation click HERE and fast forward to 9:43. You can also read the changes to licenses on a GMU basis HERE.  This rule is still technically open for public comment but realistically no changes will be made considering the proposal must remain on the public register for 30 days, unchanged, prior to approval. Updated proposed changes to the rule are as follows:

Northwest

1. Reduce deer licenses in GMU 2B by a total of 885 licenses
2. Move GMU 2B to a Quality Hunt
3. Create new rifle hunt code in GMU 51A to spread out pressure. The overall license numbers will remain the same.
4. Create a public muzzleloader deer hunt (10 licenses) on Wildlife Management Areas in GMU 4.

Southwest

1. Structure the January hunt on White Sands Missile Range (GMU 19 WSMR only) as a youth hunt.
2. Create a December rifle hunt for Coues white-tailed deer in GMUs 16 and 22 (20 licenses in each GMU)
3. GMU 23 and 24 archery hunters who do not harvest an FAD, will no longer be permitted to hunt the Silver City Management Area antlerless hunt.
4. A new hunt code will be created for the Silver City Management Area antlerless archery hunt (50 public licenses and 20 private licenses).
5. Change youth rifle hunts in GMUs 13 and 17 to youth muzzleloader hunts to match elk weapon type for the same time and increase licenses for muzzleloader hunts in these units.
6. No longer include Fort Bayard as a special management area. Hunters drawing a tag for GMU 24 can hunt any legally accessible land in GMU 24, including Fort Bayard management area.
7. Create a public rifle hunt for Mimbres River WMA in GMU 24 (5 licenses).

Southeast

1. Remove the antlerless hunt in GMU 32 Roswell and Fort Sumner Hunt Areas. Keep Youth Only antlerless hunt (15 public and 20 private licenses).
2. Remove the antlerless hunt on the Huey WMA; change the ES hunt to FAD bag limit.
3. Significantly reduce licenses in GMUs 29 (-120), 30 (-525), and 34 (-100).

Northeast

1. Adjust license numbers to meet management strategies and reflect changes in deer herd dynamics.

General Statewide Proposed Changes

1. Adjust license numbers to meet management strategies and reflect changes in deer herd dynamics
2. Adjust season dates
3. Shift start dates to maintain hunts beginning on Saturday or adjusting to maintain consistent hunt structure.
4. Designate the premium statewide deer hunt as a Quality Hunt.
5. 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.
6. Require a “ranch registration” process for OTC private-land deer licenses, similar to the current registration process used for private land elk hunting in Secondary Management Zones.
7. Implement a cap on private-land only OTC deer licenses for each GMU. If license distribution within a GMU is disproportionately skewed toward a particular hunt due to private land sales patterns, licenses will be redistributed to reduce that skew, though not necessarily distributed equally across all hunts.

 
SUBSEQUENT DISCUSSION OF THE ELK RULE 
The Department provided their subsequent presentation regarding the elk rule. The presentation was very detailed and outlined elk conditions in all quadrants of the state. Outfitters who want to watch the presentation click HERE and fast forward to 1:12:40. You can also read the changes to licenses on a GMU basis HERE.  This rule is still technically open for public comment but realistically no changes will be made considering the proposal must remain on the public register for 30 days, unchanged, prior to approval. Updated proposed changes to the rule are as follows:

General Statewide Proposed Changes

1. Designate the premium statewide elk hunt as a Quality hunt.
2. Require the purchase of a license at least one day prior to hunting. 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.

Northwest Region

1. Increase antlerless (‘A’) licenses within GMU 2 December Youth Only (YO) and December 2C only rifle hunts. Licenses shall increase from 75 to 100 for each hunt.
2. Change early October Mature Bull (‘MB’) licenses from any legal weapon to muzzleloader hunts in GMU 5A (10 licenses) to align with new muzzleloader hunts within other PMZ units.

North Central Region

1. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within the Sargent WMA to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB/A’, 10 licenses.
2. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within the Humphries/Rio Chama WMAs to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB/A’, 10 licenses.
3. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMU 5B to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB’, 56 licenses. Redistribute 37 December ‘MB’ rifle licenses to the muzzleloader hunt in GMU 5B. Muzzleloader hunts typically have lower success rates; thus, these licenses are redistributed at a higher ratio to increase hunt opportunity.
4. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMU 50 to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB’, 65 licenses. Redistribute 45 late October and early November ‘MB’ rifle licenses to new muzzleloader hunt in GMU 50 at a higher ratio to increase hunt opportunity.
5. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMU 51 to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be Either-Sex (‘ES’), 145 licenses. All licenses for this hunt were redistributed from the existing December muzzleloader hunt in GMU 51.
6. Increase ‘A’ licenses within GMU 51 for both mid and late November hunts from 251 to 265 licenses.

Southwest Region

1. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMU 12 to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB’, 35 licenses.
2. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMUs 16A, 16B/22, 16C, and 16D to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB’, 35 licenses for each GMU. Within GMU 16A, a total of 15 licenses shall be redistributed at a higher ratio to the new muzzleloader hunt to increase hunt opportunity. Although overall ‘MB’ licenses will increase slightly within the Greater Gila elk herd, anticipated harvest should be stable or slightly decrease as muzzleloader hunters, on average, have lower success rates. Additionally, shifting rifle ‘MB’ hunts later in the season will decrease bull susceptibility to harvest during rut and increase potential for older age class bulls.
3. Reduce ‘A’ rifle licenses within GMU 16A, 16C, 16D, and 16E by 27-30% and shift cow hunts earlier in the season to reduce adult female mortality in the Greater Gila elk herd unit. Elevated adult female mortality and low calf recruitment within the Greater Gila elk herd, combined with persistent drought conditions, have contributed to declining population performance in this region.
4. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMU 21A to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB’, 15 licenses.

Southeast Region

1. Increase ‘A’ licenses within both late season (Jan/Feb) cow hunts within GMU 34 from 200 to 230 licenses to increase harvest on adult females.

Northeast Region

1. Create a new muzzleloader hunt within GMU 49 to begin after archery and before rifle hunt seasons. Bag limit shall be ‘MB’, 20 licenses. A total of 13 October ‘MB’ rifle licenses shall be redistributed to new muzzleloader hunt in GMU 49 at a higher ratio to increase hunt opportunity.

Secondary Management Zones

1. Create new ‘A’ late-season rifle hunt in GMUs 29/30 to address increased population within these units (20 licenses).
2. Create two new ‘ES’ rifle hunts within GMU 32 as elk have moved into this region and become more resident than seasonal (30 licenses total).
3. Create 2 new ‘ES’ bow hunts with 20 licenses each in GMU 38 as this elk population is becoming more established.

Special Management Zones

1. Reduce ‘A’ licenses by 17% within the Valle Vidal (GMU 55A) to reduce adult female mortality.

Youth Encouragement

1. Eliminate all Youth Encouragement hunts within the Greater Gila elk herd unit (GMUs 15, 16A, 16C, 16D, 16E) to reduce harvest pressure on adult females. Population indices suggest these elk herds are declining as a result of low calf recruitment and high adult female mortality, further intensified by drought conditions. A portion of these licenses will be redistributed to other Youth Encouragement hunts throughout the state.
2. Create two new Youth Encouragement hunts of 75 licenses each within GMU 2 to increase harvest pressure on adult females and increase youth opportunity.
3. Increase Youth Encouragement hunt licenses within GMUs 34 and 36 to increase harvest pressure on adult females.
4. Increase Youth Encouragement hunt licenses within GMU 51.

APPROVAL OF THE MIGRATORY RULE
The Migratory Bird Rule is updated annually, and season selections and bag limits are determined in conjunction with the US Fish and Wildlife Service working through the Central and Pacific Flyway Councils. Approved changes are as follows:

1. Changes to regular waterfowl season dates based on calendar dates
2. Increase sandhill crane permits in SW draw hunts by 18 total, to be distributed among existing hunts
3. Change Estancia Valley sandhill crane hunt from November to mid-December

APPROVAL OF THE EXOTICS RULE
The Department regulatory framework for Barbary Sheep, Oryx, and Ibex is called the Exotics Rule. Because these game species are non-native to New Mexico they are managed under different strategies. 
 
IBEX
Ibex populations are restricted to the Florida Mountains through an agreement with the BLM. In 2013 the Dept. was under pressure from BLM to significantly reduce the Ibex population. Admittedly the Dept culled too deeply, and population numbers have continued to decline since then for reasons unclear to the Dept. Current Ibex number are extremely low and trophy quality of Billies is terrible. Although the Dept. does not believe that hunter harvest is a factor in the current decline, they feel a large reduction in licenses is warranted. NMCOG wholeheartedly agrees and has encouraged the Dept. to reduce license numbers to as few as humanly possible until the population stabilizes.
 
The Dept. conducted a thermal imaging study on the population in March which resulted in a count of 101 Ibex present on the mountain. They followed up with another aerial count in early June and observed a total of 106 ibex with approximately 40 juveniles. 

Approved changes for the next 4-year rule cycle are as follows:

1. Like bighorn sheep, shift ibex license numbers to be “up to,” allowing the Department to adjust draw licenses up or down annually depending on population surveys. It would also be possible for the Dept. to issue zero draw licenses for certain hunts.
   • For once-in-a-lifetime hunts, up to 15 licenses
   • For archery, up to 40 licenses (over 2 hunt periods)
   • For F-IM, up to 40 (with 2 hunt periods)
   • For muzzleloader, up to 15
   • For youth-only, up to 5
2. Adjust season dates where necessary to maintain hunts beginning on Saturday 

ORYX
Oryx management is focused on populations located on White Sands Missile Range (where they were first introduced) rather than off-range populations that have established as the on-range population has grown. On-range oryx hunts are offered as a once-in-a-lifetime (OIL) opportunity. Off-range hunts are not OIL.

1. Increase the number of off-range licenses by 5%, as harvest success rates for off-range oryx are high, suggesting there is more opportunity.
   1. For youth hunts - 24 to 25 licenses
   2. For regular licenses - 96 to 101 licenses
2. Require a ranch registration process for OTC private land oryx licenses, similar to the current registration process used for private land elk hunting in Secondary Management Zones.
3. Adjust season dates where necessary. This includes adjustments of hunt dates on military ranges consistent with access and military missions (Fort Bliss and White Sands Missile Range).
4. Shift the 70 years and older hunt to allow hunters of any age to apply.
5. Clarify the definition of a broken-horned oryx to ensure hunters know they can take an oryx with no horns. 
   1. Proposed clarifying definition: “Broken-horned oryx” or “BHO” shall mean an oryx of either sex that has at least one horn missing at least 25% of its normal growth, or any oryx which has no horn(s) shall be considered a broken horned oryx. 

BARBARY SHEEP (outside of NM more commonly called Aoudad)
The Dept. is trying to discourage the expansion of populations outside of the southeastern region. Barbary Sheep are proven to carry and transmit diseases to bighorn sheep. The Dept. does not want Barbary populations to establish in any Bighorn areas. Proposed changes to the rule are as follows:

1. In collaboration with McGregor Range (Fort Bliss) several changes are recommended:
   1. Increase the 2 ES hunts (1 military and 1 civilian hunt) from 10 to 20 licenses.
   2. Increase F-IM hunts by 20 (from 130 to 150) and spreading the licenses out over 1-month hunt windows. Hunters will be able to access the range over all weekends in that month when there is not a military mission occurring.
2. Require a ranch registration process for purchase of private land Barbary sheep license.
3. Adjust season dates where necessary. Including adjustments of hunt dates on military ranges consistent with access and military missions (Bliss, WSMR). And shift start dates to maintain hunts beginning on Saturday or adjusting to calendar day starts for consistency.
4. Split draw hunts in GMUs 29 & 30, maintaining the same number of total licenses but distributing hunters across the GMUs to address overcrowding issues.
   1. For hunts of 200 licenses, the split would be 75 licenses in GMU 29 and 125 in GMU 30
   2. For hunts with 75 licenses, the split would be 25 licenses in GMU 29 and 50 in GMU 30

 
PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PRONGHORN RULE
 The Dept. is proposing the following changes to the Pronghorn. This rule is still technically open for public comment but realistically no changes will be made considering the proposal must remain on the public register for 30 days, unchanged, prior to approval. 

1. Require the purchase of a license at least one day prior to hunting. 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.
2. Implement a ranch registration process for purchase of private land OTC pronghorn licenses, similar to the current registration process used for private land elk licenses in Secondary management zones.
3. Implement a cap on private land OTC licenses and consider a more even distribution in hunts, similar to the public draw. If license distribution within a GMU is disproportionately skewed toward a particular hunt due to private land sales patterns, licenses will be redistributed to reduce that skew, though not necessarily distributed equally across all hunts.
4. Shift GMU 4/50/52 rifle hunt to muzzleloader hunt
5. Adjust season dates where necessary. For example, shifting start dates to maintain hunts beginning on Saturday or adjusting calendar day starts for consistency.
6. Based on discussions with McGregor and White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) staff, we recommended the following: • McGregor: Decrease from 2 hunts of 7 licenses down to 2 hunts of 2 licenses • WSMR: Decrease from 1 hunt of 5 down to 1 hunt of 3, and adjusting the bag limit from ES to MB
7. Include GMU 48 alongside GMU 47 to allow hunters to access both GMUs during their draw hunt. Licenses will remain the same.
8. Similar to bighorn sheep and ibex, shift all F-IM license numbers to be “up to,” allowing the Department to adjust draw licenses up or down depending on population surveys.
9. Decrease license numbers in GMUs 41, 47, 56, 57, 58, and 59 to match current hunting levels. Specifically, the 20% license reduction implemented in 2025 will be retained as the baseline for the 2027-2030 seasons, rather than reverting to pre-2025 license numbers.
10. Public draw hunt license numbers will remain unchanged from the 2023-2026 rule cycle, except those outlined in point 9 above.
11. Shift season dates in SW later to address a later breeding and fawning period, with hunts beginning mid September.

Next Commission Meeting
August 21, 2026 - Las Vegas, NM