Deborah Stevens

Bureau of Land Management

Planning to go hunting in southern New Mexico’s 5.4 million acres of public land? Before you go, the Bureau of Land Management has information to share to help with the overall experience. This information is equally important for New Mexico State Trust land, which for hunting is under the management of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.

It is important to remind hunters and the public that while the mission of NMDGF is to “conserve, regulate, propagate and protect the wildlife and fish”, the BLM’s mission is to manage and conserve the habitat for all wildlife and fish species. Thus, the BLM and NMDGF partnership is critical to ensure New Mexico residents have access to viable wildlife and fish populations that are sustained by healthy and productive habitat on public land.

Hunting activities on BLM-managed, state trust, and other federal (i.e., Forest Service and Fish & Wildlife Service) and private land require a hunting license issued by NMDGF. Without a license, hunters will be in violation of state and federal law, including trespassing on state trust land. Also, before a hunt, written permission to access and hunt on private property is required from a landowner.

In order to help hunters navigate the mix of private, state and federal land, the BLM developed the CarryMap to provide some valuable information. CarryMap is an application with a geospatial positioning system (GPS) that provides an electronic, interactive map with land ownership, statewide hunting units, most roads and trails, and many of the wildlife stock tanks.

In addition, CarryMap shows the boundaries for established wilderness areas, in which hunters are prohibited from driving motorized vehicles into, or using mechanized equipment in their boundaries.

Of course, the CarryMap App will only work where satellite service is available. If there is no service, paper maps from BLM, NMDGF, or other federal agencies can help hunters get to the right locations. Remember, if a hunt takes place on any land without a valid hunting license, there can be serious penalties, including a hunter losing the kill and forfeiting all hunting privileges for numerous years.

All BLM land is included in the New Mexico game units. This means the opportunity to hunt dove, quail, javelina, mule deer, pronghorn antelope, ibex, oryx and desert bighorn sheep may very well be on public land in the BLM Las Cruces District.

Of course the hunting seasons, units, draws and offered wildlife are established by the NMDGF. The BLM, through its vegetation management and wildlife program, will help ensure the habitat sustains healthy and viable wildlife and fish.

When out hunting on public land, it’s important to practice hunter safety at all times. In addition, it is important to practice resource conservation, including staying on designated roads; respecting livestock grazing operations/infrastructure; opening and closing gates; and practicing “tread lightly” rules and packing out what is packed in or used, including shotgun hulls.

For information, check out BLM and NMDGF websites at https://www.blm.gov/maps/frequently-requested/new-mexico/hunting-maps

Deborah Stevens is a public affairs specialist for the Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office.

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