Tree squirrels
General uplandStatewide; open properties only
Abert’s, red, gray and fox squirrel; see the agency’s 2026–27 upland table.
THE SEASON ATLAS / NMNew Mexico
New Mexico
hunting seasons.
Explore 2026 & 2027 season sources, publication status, and game species for your next hunt.
NM / UNITED STATES
PLAN WITH THE SEASONS
Your 2026 field calendar.
2026 · partial coverage
The 2026–27 hunting guide is published. Selected upland seasons are indexed here; military lands and WMAs have additional restrictions.
Official 2026 information ↗3 verified date entries
Selected agency dates are indexed below. This is not a complete legal calendar. Unit rules, tags, sex and age restrictions, closures, and special hunts can change which dates apply. Use the source beside each entry.
Quail
General uplandStatewide; specific WMAs may restrict species and hours
Scaled, Gambel’s, bobwhite and Montezuma quail share an aggregate limit, with a separate Montezuma sublimit. See page 142.
Ring-necked pheasant
General uplandStatewide general season; special permit hunts differ
Male pheasants only. WMA permit hunts have separate provisions.
New Mexico game species & hunting information.
These species and groups appear in agency hunting resources. Their presence in the state does not mean every public area offers a hunt. “Native” describes origin, “reintroduced” describes restoration, and “migratory” describes movement; these are not population counts. Origin is left unverified when the reviewed source does not establish it.
Agency-listed species and groups are a planning catalog, not an exhaustive taxonomic inventory. Exact dates cover selected hunts; always confirm the particular property, hunt unit and permit.
Big game
Deer
Origin not verifiedElk
Origin not verifiedBlack bear
Origin not verifiedCougar
Origin not verifiedPronghorn
Origin not verifiedBarbary sheep
IntroducedManaged as an exotic game population in New Mexico.
Agency species information ↗Population history source ↗Bighorn sheep
Origin not verifiedJavelina
Origin not verifiedOryx
IntroducedManaged as an exotic game population in New Mexico.
Agency species information ↗Population history source ↗Persian ibex
IntroducedManaged as an exotic game population in New Mexico.
Agency species information ↗Population history source ↗Upland birds
Wild turkey
Origin not verifiedScaled quail
Origin not verifiedGambel’s quail
Origin not verifiedNorthern bobwhite
Origin not verifiedMontezuma quail
Origin not verifiedDusky grouse
Origin not verifiedRing-necked pheasant
Origin not verifiedEurasian collared-dove
IntroducedThe agency documents its Eurasian origin and invasive range expansion.
Agency species information ↗Small game
Abert’s squirrel
Origin not verifiedRed squirrel
Origin not verifiedGray squirrel
Origin not verifiedFox squirrel
Origin not verifiedRabbits
Origin not verifiedAgency nongame category; WMA hunting is closed unless a specific rule permits it.
Agency species information ↗Migratory birds
Mourning dove
MigratoryWhite-winged dove
MigratoryBand-tailed pigeon
MigratorySandhill crane
MigratoryDucks
MigratoryGeese
MigratoryCoot
MigratoryCommon moorhen
MigratorySnipe
MigratorySora rail
MigratoryVirginia rail
MigratoryOther game
Coyote
Origin not verifiedUnprotected classification does not override property access or method restrictions.
Agency species information ↗Feral hog
IntroducedNMDOW identifies feral hogs as nonnative invasive wildlife; general hunting and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Prairie dogs
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed nongame target; WMA hunting requires specific authorization. Local occurrence not established.
Agency species information ↗Ground squirrels
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed nongame target; WMA hunting requires specific authorization. Local occurrence not established.
Agency species information ↗Porcupine
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed nongame target; WMA hunting requires specific authorization. Local occurrence not established.
Agency species information ↗Himalayan tahr
Origin not verifiedAgency-listed nongame target; WMA hunting requires specific authorization. Local occurrence not established.
Agency species information ↗Furbearers
Raccoon
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Badger
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Weasel
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Foxes
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Ringtail
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Bobcat
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Muskrat
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Beaver
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Nutria
Origin not verifiedHunting permitted; furbearer licensing, education and property rules apply.
Agency species information ↗Skunks
Origin not verifiedAgency unprotected-furbearer category; general hunting and property rules still apply.
Agency species information ↗Check the details.
Then head for the horizon.
Confirm the unit, season, license, method, bag limit, and current closures with New Mexico Department of Wildlife. Public-land rules may be more restrictive than statewide seasons.