News & Information

June, 2019

January, 2019

  • 7 January

    Red/Green Chile Waters

    Red/Green Chile Waters Signs Posted at Trout Waters Around the State In an effort to enhance the unique, quality angling opportunities available in the state, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has established three designations for Special Trout Waters. For more information about the program, visit: www.wildlife.state.nm.us/fishing/fishing-news/

April, 2017

  • 13 April

    More than illegal

    Sgt. Kyle Jackson and Capt. Ty Jackson, conservation officers for the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, kneel behind evidence collected at the home of convicted poacher Esequiel Mascarenas. NMDGF photo, New Mexico Wildlife magazine Spring 2017 Vol60, Num1, New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

    Poaching case – a reminder that it is more than illegal The photo tells a story: two conservation officers kneeling in front of two recently killed deer, a number of skull-capped antler mounts and the tools used for an illegal enterprise. The case involved brazen acts of poaching by individuals …

October, 2016

  • 28 October

    Helping feed the hungry

    Hunters take aim at helping feed the hungry. New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    Fall is a time of year when many people begin to think about charity . . . and hunting. Now, the two can be combined to benefit those in need. The New Mexico Hunters Helping the Hungry program started by the Roadrunner Food Bank of New Mexico, with support from …

  • 28 October

    Iconic mammal takes center stage

    Primarily a grassland animal, bison will graze for a period of time before resting and chewing cud. While the bison population has grown to approximately 500,000, the majority have interbred with domestic cattle. Several locations, including Yellowstone National Park, still have populations of pure lineage. Photo by Dan Williams, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    It took 240 years, but the United States finally has a national mammal: the bison. Fans of the bald eagle have no need to fear; the national animal since 1782 has not been replaced. Instead, the bison joins other national symbols such as the oak as the national tree and …

  • 28 October

    Open Gate: stamp funds provide opportunities for hunters & anglers

    The Open Gate program improves access and enhances hunting, angling and trapping opportunities around New Mexico. The program is funded using a portion of the Habitat Management and Access Validation stamp revenue. Photo by Martin Perea, New Mexico Wildlife magazine, NMDGF.

    As the autumn wind begins to blow, it becomes clear hunting season is near. Those gearing up to hunt begin preparing their equipment and open a map to formulate a plan. For even the most dedicated sportsmen and women, this is where it can get a little complicated. “Exactly where …

August, 2016

  • 15 August

    OHV changes and challenges

    New legislation brings changes and challenges to OHV recreation and enforcement. Amendments to state off-highway vehicle laws allow local authorities to designate paved roads where OHV operation is legal under specific conditions. Off-highway vehicle riders and officers tasked with enforcing laws are facing new challenges this year with the enactment …

March, 2016

  • 1 March

    Commission adopts new rules to combat Aquatic Invasive Species

    Quagga mussels and other aquatic invasive species can create a host of problems, not just for boaters and anglers but for all the residents of New Mexico. Quagga mussels can damage critical infrastructures and can have adverse impacts on wildlife. Not yet detected in New Mexico, rules have been put …

  • 1 March

    Biologists are branding fish in a quest for answers

    Following the old adage, “there’s always a bigger fish,” New Mexico Department of Game and Fish biologists are collecting information to determine the size at which catfish have the best chance to survive. Simply stocking thousands of catfish might draw anglers to a water, but it doesn’t always translate into …