For nonresident hunters, New Mexico primarily presents as an elk and deer state. While antelope and bighorn sheep tags are available for application to nonresidents, the draw odds are generally poor for these two species. Uniquely, the Land of Enchantment also offers public hunts for three exotic species: oryx, ibex, and Barbary sheep. 

For those interested in going on a guided hunt, New Mexico has a separate pool in the drawing for applicants contracted with a state-approved outfitter. Generally the draw odds are better in the outfitter draw pool. Anyone looking to apply in New Mexico must purchase an annual hunting license (resident $15/nonresident $65) in order to apply, in addition to an application fee per species ($7 resident/nonresident $13). 

New Mexico does offer active duty military members the ability to apply for several “Military Only” hunts, and there is also a 50% discount for all licenses and stamps for resident, active duty military or honorably discharged veterans.

According to Huntin’ Fool, New Mexico guarantees a minimum of 84% of its special draw hunt tags for all species to its residents. They will attempt to issue 6% of draw tags to non-residents who are not applying with an outfitter and 10% of the tags to residents and/or non-residents who are contracted with an outfitter by using their outfitter’s ID number on the application. It is extremely unlikely for an outfitted applicant to draw a hunt code with six or fewer available tags or for a non-resident to draw a hunt code with 12 or fewer available tags.

Applicants are given three regular, limited-entry application choices when applying for any big game species. When an applicant is drawn, all three choices are considered before the next applicant is drawn. An additional fourth or fifth choice may be offered, but these application choices do not pertain to regular hunt choices; rather, they apply to leftover tags or population management tags.

Hunters may apply for tags with New Mexico Game & Fish.

Huntin’ Fool’s New Mexico page is an excellent, updated resource for ongoing New Mexico draw changes.

New Mexico Draw Process FAQs

Application Dates and Deadlines: Huntin’ Fool lines out New Mexico dates and deadlines.

Free for onX Elite members, Hunt Reminder’s New Mexico page is also an excellent resource for timely application season reminders.

Hunting license and species costs for tags usually include:

• Application Fee
• Hunting License Fee to apply (usually need a qualifying license before you can apply)
• Species Fee (This is what you pay for the animal you want to hunt. Some you pay upfront at application, some you pay for once you get the tag.)
• Points-Only fee (fees for people just buying points and not actually applying for a hunt)

Point System

• New Mexico does not have any type of point system; all tags are issued via a random draw.
• All applicants have the same chance to draw in their respective application type (Resident, Nonresident, Outfitter).

Tag Allocation

• A minimum of 84% of the total number of tags available for a given hunt are allocated to residents.
• A maximum of 10% of the total number of tags available are allocated to applicants that have contracted with a licensed New Mexico guide or outfitter.
• A maximum of 6% of the total number of tags available for a given hunt are allocated to nonresidents.

Draw Odds

• For each application, New Mexico considers your first three hunt choices before moving to the next application, which makes calculating your true draw odds rather complex.
• The odds Hunt Research Tools lists are for a single applicant, Choice #1.

New This Year

Useful Links

• Access the onX Complete Package for Western Application Research.

• Log Into Hunt Research Tools Today to Start Your 2024 Application Season.

• View New Mexico Hunting Regulations.

• Apply for Your New Mexico Hunting Tags.

• Read New Mexico Hunting News and Updates.

onX Hunt’s Top Four State Application Tips

1. In New Mexico, your first three hunt choices are evaluated on your application before moving on to the next application. How you order your three choices can help optimize your draw chances. Order them from hardest-to-draw to easiest-to-draw to maximize your opportunity to draw choice one or two.
2. Although New Mexico is not known for trophy mule deer, there are decent draw odds for hunts scattered throughout the state. If you are new to Western hunting, these hunts offer a chance for a limited entry tag in areas that aren’t typically overrun with other hunters.
3. New Mexico does have an extensive private landowner tag system for elk and antelope, where tags can be purchased from landowners (generally expensive, but avoids the public draw). See A-PLUS, E-PLUS.
4. As of 2023: scopes are no longer allowed on muzzleloader hunts—open sights only. This diminishes the effectiveness of a muzzleloader as a long-range weapon, and may shift the demand for popular muzzleloader hunts.

Your One-Stop Application Season Stop

To maximize your time spent researching and applying—and to help you build your strategy to successfully draw in 2024 and beyond—we’re providing onX Hunt Elite Members with FREE services in one comprehensive package:

• Hunt Research Tools: In-Depth Draw Odds and Application Tools
• Huntin’ Fool: Boots-on-the-Ground Research and Insight
• HuntReminder: Worry-Free Text and Email Reminder Service
• onX Hunt: Map Your Hunt With Research Layers