People in New Mexico hunt for sport, for food and/or for the safety of their livestock or families. For example, farmers may want to eliminate the javelinas that have damaged their fences and stolen food from their livestock. Others may want to go on a trophy hunt and bring home an elk.
New Mexico has some incredible wildlife, some of which can become a nuisance for farmers and state residents. There are hunting permits available for an assortment of different scenarios and animals. All of those permits generally impose certain restrictions on someone’s hunting activities. Hunters may also be under an obligation to report a successful hunt.
What does New Mexico require?
Licenses limit how many animals someone can harvest in New Mexico. Hunters have to report each harvest or successful hunt to the state so that records show how many animals hunters and trappers have brought in each year. Some people might let a harvest go unreported in the hopes of hunting again without exceeding their limit for the year, but they risk violations that carry licensing penalties.
Licensed hunters and trappers have to file a harvest report when they have a successful hunt or risk consequences. The animals that trigger the reporting requirement include:
- Barbary sheep
- deer
- elk
- ibex
- javelina
- oryx
- pronghorn
- turkey
There are similar harvest reporting requirements for anyone with a trapper license. If the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish doesn’t receive the required harvest report and discovers the omission, the licensed hunter or trapper will face the state rejecting their draw applications for the next year.
Small mistakes can lead to snowballing challenge
An inability to get a permit because of a previous minor infraction might lead to bigger infractions the next year, especially if hunting is necessary for the preservation of someone’s ranch land or to feed their family.
Simply failing to send in paperwork could lead to expensive citations and additional complications that may make hunting more of a nightmare than a pleasant pastime. Learning about and complying with fish and game laws can be key for those who want to avoid criminal charges and large fines for hunting in New Mexico.
