WHAT’S NEW FOR 2012-2013

SIGNIFICANT CHANGES To This Year’s Hunting Rules:

 New draw hunt quotas,

 Applications for draw hunts will be accepted only online or by phone,

 New Annual Game-hunting License required,

 Nonresident hunting restrictions,

 Full fee required at time of application

NEW Application Deadlines:

March 28 is the deadline to apply for oryx, deer,

elk, pronghorn antelope, ibex, Barbary sheep,

javelina, bighorn sheep draw licenses and all

population management hunts. Applications must

be made BEFORE 5 PM. Mountain Daylight Time.

Customer ID Number

Anyone applying for a draw hunt, any student registering for a hunter/bowhunter education class, or hunters and trappers

reporting their harvest, first must obtain their unique Customer Identification Number (CIN). It’s available free online on the

Department’s website at: www.wildlife.state.nm.us. Applicants must make certain the information in their CIN Account is current and correct BEFORE

applying, registering or reporting.

IIn 2011, the State Legislature made changes that impact all residents and nonresidents who hunt in New Mexico.

The changes include:

1. All Hunters Must Purchase A New License All hunters wishing to purchase or apply for any big game or turkey license, MUST FIRST PURCHASE an annual Game-hunting License or combination Game-hunting and Fishing License.

By itself, a Game-hunting License is valid for hunting all small game, both upland and migratory game birds. The purchase of a Game-hunting and Fishing License is valid for fishing in addition to hunting small game.

2. ALL Youth Hunters Must Have a Hunter Education Certification Number All youth hunters, younger than 18, must have a Hunter Education certification number from New Mexico or

another state, prior to purchasing their Game-hunting License or Game-hunting and Fishing License. This certification number is required even if they only will be applying for an Archery Draw Hunt.

3. New Draw Quotas Established State Law now requires:  84% of public draw hunt licenses go to New Mexico residents, 10% of public draw hunt licenses go to residents and nonresidents contracting with a New Mexico Registered Outfitter,

 6% of public draw hunts go to nonresidents who choose not to use a New Mexico Registered Outfitter.

4. New Mexico Residents Only:  Only New Mexico residents are eligible to apply for Antlerless (A) Elk Draw Licenses. Nonresidents are allowed to apply for Either Sex (ES) and Mature Bull (MB) Elk Draw Licenses and they are allowed to hunt any legal elk on private lands.

5. WMA Hunt Restrictions Only New Mexico residents will be allowed to apply for hunts held exclusively on State Game Commission owned Wildlife Management Areas (WMA). Nonresidents may still apply for hunts that occur concurrently on both WMAs and public lands.

6. Ten Percent Applicant Pool To be eligible to apply for the 10% outfitted applicant pool, all applicants must have a signed contract with a New Mexico Outfitter PRIOR to applying.

7. New Outfitter Requirements Outfitters have new requirements regarding business registration and practices in New Mexico. See page 17.

Other Changes The Department Initiated

1. Going Paperless The Department is going paperless for ALL draw applications. The paper application no longer exists. Hunters wishing to apply for a draw hunt (except for a Bear or Turkey Draw Permit) must: Purchase an annual Game hunting License or combination Game-hunting and Fishing License. Apply for a draw hunt license online or via the telephone. The Department will provide a telephone call center (888) 248-6866 for help in completing and accepting applications.

The call center will be available Feb. 2 - March 20 from 12 noon to 8 PM, Mountain Standard Time. From February through March, the Department will host “application training sessions” at computer centers throughout the state to help applicants apply online.

2. Full Fees Up Front

The application fee and full license fee will be charged at the time the application is submitted. Credit cards, debit cards and “electronic checks” are acceptable forms of payment. Applicants will NOT be able to edit their applications once their application has been paid for; they will only be able to delete. If an applicant deletes an application, they may reapply. However, they again will be charged an application fee AND the full license fee. Deleted applications will be refunded in May. Therefore, it is very important that the application is complete and correct (it includes all hunters in the party, hunt codes are correct, etc.) before submitting it.

3. Oryx Draw Deadline Moved

The deadline to apply for oryx draw licenses or oryx population management hunts has been moved to the second spring draw, March 28, 2012. The results of the drawing will be posted at the same time as all other big game draw results.

4. Hunters Must Show Proof of Game License

If hunters wish to purchase a bear, cougar, private-land deer or turkey license from one of our statewide license vendors, the hunter will have to show proof of possessing a Game-hunting or Game-hunting and Fishing License prior to purchasing a bear, cougar, private-land deer or turkey license and carcass tag. If the hunter cannot show proof, they will be required to purchase a Game-hunting or Game-hunting and Fishing License in order to purchase their desired big-game license.

5. An Authorization Number To Go Fishing

An authorization number will be provided to residents who select the combination Game-hunting and Fishing License by April 1st. This authorization number will serve as their legal fishing license beginning April 1st. Be aware that applicants selecting any combination Game-hunting and Fishing License will not be able to fish legally UNTIL they have received their authorization number. Customers can obtain their authorization number by accessing their customer account online.

6. Game-hunting License Refund

Residents and nonresidents who choose a Game hunting License with the refund option and are successful in drawing a Big-game License, will receive an authorization number and printable license when the draw results are announced. No refunds will be issued for licenses with an authorization number.

7. Hunters Are Encouraged to USE IT!

Hunters who are unsuccessful in the drawing are encouraged to keep their Game-hunting License and use it for hunting small game during open seasons. If requested at time of application, refunds will be offered for the Game-hunting License, but NOT the combination

Game-hunting and Fishing License. Refunds will be issued in May.