New Mexico tag strategy for nonresidents

[Chris in TN]

I have hunted several times in CO and have enough points in WY and SD to have options for next year. However, the wife kinda wants to visit the 4 corners area next fall. I will likely spend the winter months scheming on how to make that trip happen with some hunting days worked into it for me and one or both of my girls, depending on what tags we might be able to draw.

My oldest isn't super excited about hunting mule deer. She thinks they look too much like whitetail so she doesn't see the big deal. I expect she'll grow out of that eventually. My middle child is adamant that she won't shoot does. Whatever she goes hunting for must be a buck. So that leaves out elk for us for next year, in Colorado anyway (not enough points for any of us to draw a good bull tag), and makes mule deer a second choice to pronghorn. So, New Mexico makes the most sense for next year, for us, as it's on the way to where the wife wants to go.

I realize that *ANY* NR tag is hard to draw in NM, and harder still for unguided hunters. I would very likely consider putting in for an 'outfitted' hunt for pronghorn using an outfitter (knowing I don't really need one, to shoot pronghorn) just to increase my chances. I'd rather go on a guided hunt I had a tag for, than not have the tag.

I've never applied for anything in NM. I've read the process and think that I grasp the high points. You buy a license just to be able to apply, then you pay for the entire application, then they refund most of that if you do not draw.

Doing that for three hunters (two youth) will get expensive. Doubly so if we try to maximize our odds by applying for both deer and goat tags.

So here's the question: As I understand it, NM has no mechanism for returning tags. You hunt what you drew, with few exceptions.

-If we apply for both deer and pronghorn tags, there's a chance of drawing both, though the chance of drawing neither is much higher.
-If we apply as a party we either all draw or none of us draw.

It wouldn't bother me in the least to have only one or two of us draw a tag. Especially if it was both girls who got tags; I want to hunt but I’m fine just taking them. I want to more or less maximize the chances of us drawing *something*, but I don't think we need a tag each to have a good time hunting.

Am I correct that I should only put us in for a party application if I want either three tags or none? Seems like maybe I'd be better off applying with all of us as individuals, or perhaps submit the girls' applications first then mine later with the most likely antelope tag for them, as my first draw choice. Because I’d be quite happy to take them with 1-2 tags instead of waiting for 3.


Has anyone ever drawn too many tags?

Does NM's process have any sort of internal protection whereby if I applied for, say, a deer tag in one part of the state and a goat tag in another, on the same week, I could check a box and tell them not to draw me for both? Or some other checkbox elsewhere that says we'd be happy if only 2 of our 3-person group could get a certain goat tag?

I’d really like to put in for multiple tags. I just don’t want (read: can’t afford) multiple outfitted hunts for three hunters. But at the same time I don’t want to spend years applying with no success and never get to go at all.

How do you balance maximizing your odds of drawing, against not wanting to end up with multiple tags in the same year? Are my worries strictly theoretical simply because the odds of drawing two decent tags are just so low in the first place?

 

[PaulIV]

New Mexico has fantastic youth opportunities so definitely apply the children individually. I would apply for elk and mule deer the antelope tags are harder to draw as so few tags are available for each hunt code. You could probably buy land owner tags for antelope but they are not cheap, figure on 3500 apiece. The youth tags for deer and elk are typically for prime units and during prime time periods so definitely take advantage of the potential.

I put in for 5 family members every year for everything from big horn to javelina and we have never drawn enough tags where there was ever a conflict. As a resident we’re lucky if we pull a couple of tags a year. I suppose it’s possible but highly unlikely.

There are no provisions in the draw to prevent overlapping tags for different species.

My son drew some fantastic elk tags as a youth in units that I will likely never be able to draw.

If I can help feel free to pm

Good luck

 

[CMF]

Am I correct that I should only put us in for a party application if I want either three tags or none? CORRECT

Has anyone ever drawn too many tags? NO SUCH THING

Does NM's process have any sort of internal protection whereby if I applied for, say, a deer tag in one part of the state and a goat tag in another, on the same week, I could check a box and tell them not to draw me for both? Or some other checkbox elsewhere that says we'd be happy if only 2 of our 3-person group could get a certain goat tag? NO

I’d really like to put in for multiple tags. I just don’t want (read: can’t afford) multiple outfitted hunts for three hunters. But at the same time I don’t want to spend years applying with no success and never get to go at all.

You only have to go guided if you commit to the guided pool. Maybe do one in the guided pool and others in the regular pool. Then, if you draw more than one, you can just diy one of the hunts.

How do you balance maximizing your odds of drawing, against not wanting to end up with multiple tags in the same year?

There are only a few tags with near 100% draw odds, but there are some youth muley tags. We did that hunt with no success. For most other hunts, the draw odds are usually bad enough not to worry about too many hunts. We had 25 NM apps this year and drew one oryx hunt, but we did draw deer and elk in AZ, so we're going to have a busy Nov.

Are my worries strictly theoretical simply because the odds of drawing two decent tags are just so low in the first place?

You're definitely worrying a little too much. But you should go into it knowing that it's a rare possibility that you couldn't do a hunt and have to eat the tag. Just part of the game.

I would add that some believe there is some first-time applicant luck, and I would be one of them. Of our family of 5, My two boys and I drew difficult hunts our first year applying.

Another thing to note is that youth-specific hunts don't always have the best odds at a tag, and youth can apply for any tag.

 

[OKHunter84]

If you're wanting to draw any tag for any person in your group, then don't apply as a party. Each application being separated will up your draw odds. Put your kiddos in for youth hunts and then yourself for whatever you'd be happy to draw.
You might already know the process but just make sure each application put the choice with the hardest odds first and then each choice after would be the next hardest, (1st - 2% draw odds, 2nd - 15% draw odds, etc).

If you're going to look at an outfitter then make sure they're on the approved outfitter list beforehand and not just a guide. You'll have to have a signed contract prior to the application being filled out.

Guide & Outfitter Information - NMDGF

New Mexico Game & Fish regulates registered hunting outfitters providing equipment and/or services for hire. See guide forms, outfitter lists, applications.

wildlife.dgf.nm.gov