NM public land vs draw only land????

ck2128 · Dec 20, 2006

For the past two years I've put in for NM deer, with no sucess. Anyway, my question is this? I've heard you don't have to draw a license to hunt deer in NM you can just purchase one OTC and go. So lets say I get lucky and draw a license. I'm assuming me drawing that license for that particular unit lets me hunt that unit, assuming the unit is not majority private land. What makes the land I will be able to hunt on with have drawn the license different than the land the hunter who purchases the OTC license hunts on? I've talked with the G&F depts on this, but how do I know what land is public / private, etc?

wallhanger · Dec 20, 2006

I think you may be hearing about a technicality here. A couple years ago, New Mexico went to all draw for deer, with the exception of landowners tags, which allow you to only hunt the private ground those tags are alloted for.

New Mexico used to have about half draw units, and half OTC. That has changed to all draw (except the landowners tags).

The technicality I'm talking about is this: I think when you draw, you draw the permit that gives you the right to hunt a particular unit. I think you still have to have it validated for that unit before you can actually hunt. Not sure exactly what having it validated does or means, but I believe this is the case. Maybe somebody else can correct me if I'm wrong here.

You may also be able to buy leftover tags over the counter, or from the game and fish website, as I think they are on a first come, first serve basis.

hope this helps,

WH

ck2128 · Dec 20, 2006

That's the way I'd understood it as well, the only thing that was throwing me off is my friend telling me that him and his brother in law go every year, purchase a license, and go out deer hunting. I actually know 2 different people that have told me similiar stories. They said the main drawback was that usually on the first morning all you would see was orange vests walking around.

nmelk13 · Dec 20, 2006

Ok I guess I will do my best to answer this. NM doesnt offer OTC anymore. You either draw, firesale, or get permission from a landowner.First if you draw a tag for say unit 30, you can hunt all public land. Say you were lucky enough to get a tag off the fire sale in unit 30 you still get to hunt all public land. Say you didnt draw a tag for unit 30 and there were no firesale tags for unit 30 but you found a landowner that was willing to let you hunt. You can only hunt his land no public. How do you know what is public and private? Well buy a map isnt that what you would do if you drew a tag? No matter what the draw or firesale tags are for public land only.

lchcguide · Dec 20, 2006

I am a guide here in NM.
1. If you apply for a deer license in unit 38 and are successful, then the only area you can hunt is unit 38. This is a public land hunt, but with written permission from a landowner in unit 38, you may hunt private as well.

2. You can purchase a private land only license and tag over the counter in NM, but you can only hunt private land in the unit that you wish to hunt. Once you choose the unit you may not switch units after the hunt has started, and with this private land permit, you are not allowed to hunt on public land.

3. There are leftover tags that are first-come-first-serve basis but there are not many. There are still a few that are listed on the departments website for the January archery season. These tags were issued through the draw and there were not as many applicants as there were tags.

The important thing to remember is that there are no public land OTC licenses. The only license that can be purchased OTC is a private-land only permit. However you can purchase leftover tags through the G&F dept.

Just Curious as to what unit you are applying for and not getting drawn. The majority of the units have pretty good success rates on drawing with the exception of a two or three units.

Hope this is helpful, and I hope that everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

ck2128 · Dec 20, 2006

Thanks for all the replies. This help to make the mystery of the draw a little more clear.

I actually only applied once. Well twice, the year before I applied not knowing what I was doing, got drawn!, made some phone calls to local biologists, g&f departments, and game wardens and found out that the unit I drew had low deer count, low success, and low quality, so I did not go. I can't remember what unit that was, I wished I could. Last year, 2006 hunting season, I put in for 2b, late season, with no success.

GilaJeff · Dec 20, 2006

I am real curious about what unit you drew and chose not to hunt. If you can remember please post. I know that deer in NM are hurting, but I cannot think of one unit in the state that I would choose to not hunt if that is all I had in NM

I am now a non-resident of NM. I applied for a unit 21 tag; submitting only the $6.00 application fee. Now that I am drawn, I will go to any license vendor and purchase my non-resident license (kind of OTC).