New Mexico Administrative Code
Title 19 - NATURAL RESOURCES AND WILDLIFE
Chapter 31 - HUNTING AND FISHING
Part 13 - DEER
Section 19.31.13.12 - SPECIAL DEER HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES

(1) Program description: The director shall collect all proceeds generated through the auction and lottery of special deer authorizations, and such monies shall be deposited in the game protection fund. These monies shall be made available for expenditure by the department solely for programs and projects to benefit deer and for direct costs incurred in carrying out these programs. These monies shall be used to augment, and not replace, monies appropriated from existing funds available to the department for the conservation, restoration, utilization and management of deer.

(2) Requirements for issuance of special deer authorizations:

(3) Enhancement hunts: Deer enhancement licenses shall be valid from September 1 through January 31 for any big-game sporting arms. These licenses shall be valid statewide where hunting is allowed. The bag limit shall be one fork-antlered deer. The authorization to obtain a deer enhancement license may be used either by the applicant or any individual.

(1) CWD reporting incentive: The director may annually allow up to two deer authorizations to be issued through a random drawing for deer and elk hunters submitting their legally harvested animal for CWD testing. Authorizations awarded pursuant to this rule may be transferred through sale, barter or gift. Deer incentive hunts shall be valid only for the dates, big-game sporting arms, bag limit and area specified by the director.

(2) Private-land deer incentive program: Private landowners who are conducting and maintaining substantial habitat improvements or land management practices on their deeded lands that directly and significantly benefit deer may be considered for special recognition. Only those projects as determined by the department to be relevant and beneficial to deer will be considered. Landowners must develop a deer conservation and management plan and submit an application including a map delineating the legal property boundary to the department. Upon completion of approved habitat improvement projects the landowner may be granted authorizations for alternative season dates as approved by the department. Licenses obtained using the authorizations will be valid only on deeded property for the ranch to which they were awarded. Landowners receiving incentive authorizations are required to continue habitat improvement projects and submit an update as directed by the department to be considered for continued participation.