New Mexico Non-Refundable License

[Marshall18]

Was looking into New Mexico as a good long shot option for someone with no points in any state, with the hope that i get assigned to a decent ranch. When i got into the application process i noticed the first step is to purchase a general big game hunting license. They call out that this is non-refundable. Looks like I would be out about $65 for the license, $4 for the habitat stamp, and $13 for the draw fee. $82 seems like a lot of money for a long shot and no preference point.

Am i looking at this correct? With the license running from April 1 to March 31st allow me to apply for the draw once this year and once next year under the same license (and then purchase a new one if successful)

 

[Jaker_cc]

You don’t get assigned a ranch anymore. If you draw a tag it’s good for public land in that unit only.

 

[swampokie]

I wish more applicants had read as deeply into the non refundable part as u did. Last year was an increase and record setting # of
Applicants even tho the licenses went to non refundable and
The odds got
Even worse
I Keep waiting on the huge decrease in applicants and the spike in draw odds that the dying sport of hunting will surely provide but oddly enuff this hasn’t been the case? Confusing...

 

[robie]

I don't believe you can use the same license for two years in a row. I'm pretty sure you have to have a new license for the calendar year you are applying.

Sent from my SM-G892U using Tapatalk

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Yes its money you loose. So unless you are planning to otherwise hunt something in NM to capitalize on that required licences (required for any hunting or tags) its sunk cost.

 

[WesWainscott]

No it’s not possible to get 2 years of draws with one license in New Mexico. It’s definitely worth trying though.

 

[Fitzwho]

You have to buy a new license every year in NM, no double dipping like Utah.

The Private land use system (ranch assignment) was killed after the 2018 season.

 

[Marshall18]

I wish more applicants had read as deeply into the non refundable part as u did. Last year was an increase and record setting # of
Applicants even tho the licenses went to non refundable and
The odds got
Even worse
I Keep waiting on the huge decrease in applicants and the spike in draw odds that the dying sport of hunting will surely provide but oddly enuff this hasn’t been the case? Confusing...

i thought I did my research but missed that they killed the private ranch assignment program. Thanks everyone for pointing that out.

 

[brad407210]

New Mexico would be really hard to justify applying in if all you were doing was antelope, the draw odds for units with decent public land are ~1% or less. I already eat the $65 license for deer and elk applications so I still add on antelope, but I look at it like a $13 raffle tag. Anytime a major change to a drawing structure happens like they did in 2019 it takes a couple years for the draw odds to stabilize to the new norm, but it looks like New Mexico antelope will be a long shot draw going forward unless you pay an access fee and go the private land tag route.

 

[rbljack]

Yeah....I think they listened to Randy Newberg and realized they could bring in some additional income..and they changed their rules. NM used to give the option of refunding the license cost if you weren't drawn, now they just take the 65 bucks as a fee. It didn't matter to me because we head over there and hunt OTC turkey in the spring each year...but if you don't plan a visit unless drawn, its just another fee.

I applied in Arizona this year, and its even more expensive...have to buy the license just to apply. I think it was 160 for the license, and then an application fee of 15 bucks for elk and antelope (which are the two draws I put in for). Yeah its a points state, I get it, but for me, the NM draw system is a better fit. That being said Ive been putting in for Elk in NM for 6 yrs now I think, and still haven't drawn...and no points building either. Best advice I can give is to start watching the youtube videos on the different state draw systems, and get educated. Or check out the podcasts. It has helped me to understand SOME of the states, and how they do it. The days of OTC tags are slowly going away....and now we have all these complicated draw systems in place.I got a "go hunt" membership this year to assist me with Arizona Units and draws, but that adds up to another expense. It also helped with figuring out the "timelines" for the application deadlines and draw dates for each state. Speaking of that....WY certainly thru a huge SNAFU into the application process for me too. Used to be I would know the results of WY elk early (before the NM draw application came due) so I could decide whether or not to apply in NM. Now Im stuck applying for both and seeing what fleshes out. And WY is holding the "up front money" a lot longer now. SO..WY holds my 800-1000 bucks until JUNE now, and they want the money by 31 Jan!! Not real happy about THAT ONE, AND their 2.5 percent transaction fee that I think is new also.
Ok...rant complete.

 

[Trial153]

85 to conservation, it is what it is .... i spent more on worse things