New Mexico is another US state that allows limit bear hunting. In order to legally hunt bears in this state you need to follow their hunting regulations. This article is designed to give you a basic overview of these regulations and help hunters comply with them. You can always call the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at (877)-950-5466 if you have any further questions.
New Mexico has divided into six separate bear management zones that. This is how the state manages its bear population. They all have unique bear bag limits, and there are 2 different limits per zone. The first limit is the amount of bears (total) to be harvest in that respect zone; the second is the amount of female bears. All zones are closed when the harvest reaches 10% of the total sustainable limit; this will vary with the amount of females harvested.
In order to go bear hunting in New Mexico you must purchase your license 2 days prior to your actual hunt. The fee for a resident is $47 and for non-resident is $260. You’ll also need a habitat stamp if you’ll be hunting on U.S. Forest Service land or BLM lands; this is at a separate cost to the original fee. You can legally use a center fire rifle or handgun, shotgun no small than 28 gauge, firing a single slug, bow and arrows. Only mobility “certified” impaired hunters may use a crossbow. You may not bait or trap bears in New Mexico.
A hunter is only allowed one bear per year and may not take a cub that is younger than a year old, or a sow (female bear) that currently is nursing cubs. There are zone limitations that have male only harvests during specific times of the year. You must be able to show proof of sex when tagging the carcass and pelt.
By: Noah Riddle
About the Author:
Check out the Bear-Hunting.Org website; the hunters number one source for bear hunting information via the internet! You can also view our extensive hunting resources archive for all your hunting needs.
Comments