Website: New Mexico Game & Fish
Contact Phone Number: 1-888-248-6866
Address:  1 Wildlife Way Santa Fe, NM 87507
Email: [email protected]
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Coyote Hunting New Mexico Laws & Regulations

Are coyotes defined as furbearer, game animal, or other in New Mexico? Coyotes and skunks are unprotected furbearers and defined as Nongame species. Nongame species include porcupine, prairie dogs, rabbits, ground squirrels, and Himalayan tahr. Coyote and skunks are Unprotected Furbearers. Feral hogs are an Unprotected Species.

Do you need a license to hunt coyotes in New Mexico? Residents are not required to have a license to take nongame species.

Can a non-resident hunt coyotes in New Mexico? Nonresidents must purchase a Nonresident Nongame License or a New Mexico Nonresident Hunting License. Nongame hunting is not permitted on Wildlife Management Areas, unless specifically permitted by rule.

Nonresidents who hunt protected furbearers or who trap protected and unprotected furbearers in New Mexico must have a Nonresident Trapper License. Nonresidents who hold a Nonresident Nongame License or any current New Mexico nonresident hunting license may use any legal sporting arm to hunt and possess coyote, prairie dog, rabbit or skunk, but may not set traps or snares unless they also have a Nonresident Trapper License. Nonresidents of states not allowing New Mexico residents to trap may not legally purchase a New Mexico Nonresident Trapper License.

Is there a specific season for coyotes in New Mexico? There is no closed season or bag limit on unprotected furbearers or unprotected species (feral hogs).

Is there a bag limit for coyotes in New Mexico? No Limit.

What are the legal hunting hours in New Mexico? Legal shooting hours are from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset for all big game and turkey, unless otherwise noted.

Are electronic game calls legal in New Mexico? Yes.

Are decoys legal in New Mexico? Yes

What firearms are approved/disapproved for coyotes in New Mexico? It is unlawful to use tracer ammunition, full-metal jacketed bullets or fully automatic weapons.

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Furbearers may be taken with firearms, bow and arrows, crossbows traps and snares. Calls (including mechanically or electronically recorded calling devices) are legal for hunting protected furbearers.

Are suppressors allowed for hunting in New Mexico? All game animals legal

Legal ammunition or restrictions for hunting coyotes in New Mexico? It is unlawful to use tracer ammunition or full-metal jacketed bullets.

Are there regulations for possessing, transporting dead coyotes, or pelts across state lines in New Mexico? No restrictions.

Is night hunting allowed in New Mexico? Not for Coyotes. During open season, raccoon hunters possessing a valid Trapper License may hunt raccoons with the aid of artificial light. Artificial light must be a headlamp or handheld flashlight. Artificial light cannot be cast from a vehicle. Legal sporting arms are limited to a rimfire rifle or handgun no larger than .22 caliber, shotguns, bows and crossbows. Hunting any other furbearer with the aid of artificial light or after legal shooting hours is unlawful.

It is unlawful to shine spotlights or other artificial lights into areas where big-game species or livestock may be present, while in possession of any sporting arm, except as permitted by rule for raccoon.

Sporting arms may be seized and forfeited if used to take, attempt to take, illegally possess or transport big game during a closed season; if used while exceeding the bag limit for big game during an open season; or if used to take or attempt to take big game with the use of a spotlight or artificial light except for raccoon (see page 124). Vehicles and sporting arms used by anyone charged with spotlighting or hunting with the aid of artificial light may be confiscated at the scene and are subject to forfeiture and sale upon conviction.

NMDGF officers may seize vehicles used to hunt at night with the aid of artificial light. Vehicles used by spotlighters may be confiscated and sold at auction.

In addition to civil assessments, poachers may incur criminal fines for first offenses, including: Hunting with artificial light = $300 fine.

Can you hunt coyotes from a vehicle in New Mexico? It is unlawful to shoot at, pursue, harass, harry, drive or rally any protected species by use of or from a motor-driven vehicle, powerboat, sailboat, aircraft or drone.

It is unlawful to hunt from, signal locations of protected species to hunters from or harass game with aircraft; hunt protected species observed from aircraft within 48 hours of observation; or hunt protected species the same day of air travel, except by commercial airline or direct flight to a landing strip.

Can baiting be used to hunt coyotes in New Mexico? It is unlawful to take or attempt to take game species by the aid of baiting or scenting. Knowingly take or attempt to take game species in a baited or scented area, except quail on private land. Individuals may use scent-masking agents on their person, but these agents may not be used to attract game species.

Can dogs be used to hunt coyotes in New Mexico? Dogs may be used only during open trapping season for protected furbearers. There is no “pursuit or training season” other than the regular open season—except for raccoon.

Is there a coyote bounty program in New Mexico? Not at this time.

Good luck out there coyote hunting in New Mexico!

This information is for informational purposes only. This website has no affiliation with any department of the above mentioned state. For your own safety please contact your local office to verify the information presented. CoyoteHunting101.com is not responsible for your own stupidity.