Often overlooked as a place to hunt mule deer, New Mexico has many trophy-class and representative bucks. Antler growth can be poor in years of drought, when browse in this climate is low in nutrition, but mild weather help bucks survive winters in good condition. Nearly all New Mexican bucks listed in the Boone and Crockett Club’s record book of North American big game were harvested in Rio Arriba County on the northern border. A hunter can get a tag two ways, draw a license in an annual lottery or buy a private-land-only tag. No preference point system is in place. Private-land tags are valid only in units or on specific properties. Youth and mobility-impaired hunters can draw tags for special seasons that often take place during the rut or are good in places where regular rifle hunters are not permitted.
License Costs
|
Standard |
Quality/High Demand |
Resident Draw Licenses |
$41 |
$41 |
Nonresident Draw Licenses |
$283 |
$368 |
Resident Youth |
$29 |
$29 |
Nonresident Youth |
$283 |
$368 |
| Standard | Quality/High Demand |
Resident Draw Licenses | $41 | $41 |
Nonresident Draw Licenses | $283 | $368 |
Resident Youth | $29 | $29 |
Nonresident Youth | $283 | $368 |
News, notes and alerts
Online applications accepted
Telephone applications can be submitted by calling (888) 248-6866
Nonresident without outfitter contracts are limited to 6% of the tags drawn for each season
10% of tags are allocated to hunters who have contracted with a resident outfitter
The remaining 84% of tags in the drawing are reserved for residents
Highlights
Some seasons occur during the rut
No bonus or preference point system
Many youth-only seasons
Some units and seasons offer good trophy potential
Some seasons are held to allow many hunters the opportunity to hunt
Most units are managed for opportunity, but a few offer 165-185” bucks
Many seasons especially for mobility-impaired hunters
Boone and Crockett entries: Typical
** Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county.
Boone and Crockett entries: Nontypical
** Units listed below may not have a current hunt for this species. Units in this table are included if any part of the unit is found within the county.
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