The "DRAFT" 2005 - 2006 Big Game Rules & Information Booklet for New Mexico is now on-line and downloadable at: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/biggamerib05-06high.pdf
Note that Bighorn Sheep info is on page 44 (New Mexico has both Desert and Rocky Mountain Bighorns).

There are quite a few changes for the upcoming draw.

The big game drawing application deadline is April 9, 2005.

Auction and Raffle Tag information is on page 14 of the 2005 Booklet. The deadline to purchase raffle tickets is June 20th, 2005 and the winner will be drawn in "late June".

Good Luck!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RamDreamer,

I noticed that it stated that to apply for Bighorn in 2005 the application must come by mail this year. In addition, the full tag fee now has to be sent in as well. I have not applied in NM before but it was my understanding that you could use your cc online and pay the application fee. Your card would then be charged the $3000 only if drawn for a tag. Well, I just spoke with a woman at the New Mexico F&G office and she told me that yes, as of now, to apply for RM or Desert Bighorn you must do it by mail complete with the tag fee. You can apply for both starting in 2005, if you have $6000 to send in.

FYI,
The final version of 2005 - 2006 Big Game Rules & Information Booklet for New Mexico is now available on the web. They have deleted the "mail only" requirement for sheep that I wrote about above.

Question of clarification: You can still apply on-line for sheep but how are you charged the $3000? Do they only charge if drawn or do they charge your card the $3000 and then send you a refund check?

Glen

The way I read the rules, with the online option you pay just $6 to apply and your card is only charged if you are drawn. With the mail-in option you pay all tag fees up front and they send you a refund. The online option is the way to go. Also, you can apply for both RM Bighorn and Desert Bighorn in the same year starting this year.

Online applications should be available by end of Feb or early March.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: MNHunter,

On-line application capability is available now. Go to https://dgfremote.gmfsh.state.nm.us/sph_ecom/prd/html/index.frames.cfm

Good Luck!

Deadline Passed

The application period for Deer permits, Elk, Antelope, Ibex, Javelina and Bighorn Sheep draw licenses closed on April 12, 2005. Drawing results for these species will be available no later than June 22, 2005 at www.wildlife.state.nm.us and at Department offices.

(Now we get to hold our breath for two-plus months...)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MAY 17, 2005:

ONLINE APPLICATIONS INCREASE FOR 2005-2006 BIG-GAME HUNTING PERMITS

SANTA FE – More New Mexico big-game hunters discovered the convenience of applying for hunting permits online for the 2005-2006 seasons.

Of the 145,126 total applications for 2005-2006 deer, elk, antelope, ibex, javelina and bighorn sheep permits, 78,146, or 53.8 percent, were done online. This is only the second year the Department has offered online applications.

“Our goal was to give people a convenient way to apply for hunts that doesn’t require paying the full license fee in advance,” said Patrick Block, chief of the Department’s administrative services division. “The online system is more efficient because it is built to prevent many of the errors that people make on paper applications.”

Hunters who use the online application system are charged $6 application fees to their credit card. Permit fees, which vary by hunt, are charged to an applicant’s credit card if and when the applicant is successful in the drawing. The application deadline was April 9 for this year’s drawing for deer, elk, antelope, ibex, javelina and bighorn sheep. The drawing will be in June and results will be available on the Department web site, http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us, before the end of June.

This year is the first year New Mexico deer hunters were required to participate in a drawing to hunt on public lands. That accounted for an overall increase of more than 30,000 applicants for deer hunts. Online applications comprised 44 percent of the 52,737 applications for 2005-2006 public deer hunts. Elk hunting permits were most popular for the 2005-2006 drawing hunts, with 64,538 applications, almost 3,000 more than the previous year. Applications for antelope were next at 15,844; followed by bighorn sheep, 6,701; javelina, 2,904; and ibex, 2,412. For more information about the hunt application and drawing process, call (505) 476-8000 or visit http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us.

Anyone know if the auction hunter selected Pecos, Wheeler Pk, or Peloncillos?

Just wondering what units were left for me after I win the raffle.

LOL

Auction hunter is after a Desert Bighorn so he'll be hunting in the Peloncillos. Confirmed this info with NM Game & Fish this a.m.

Dang...I was hoping to have that one available.

The raffle tag will be for a Rocky in either Wheeler, Pecos, or San Francisco River (aka Turkey Creek).

Any bets on how many applications were received for Desert Bighorn in NM this year? With the change to allow folks to put in for both Rocky and Desert this year, still enter via Internet and still only pay the application fee up front via credit card, I'm thinking there are probably 3,000 applicants for that Desert tag this year.

By the way... This news just in... A 199 1/8 Rocky has been taken on the Taos Reservation (the back side of Wheeler Peak) this year. There is an awesome gene pool in that area!

Last day to get your New Mexico bighorn sheep tag raffle tickets is today. They will draw it a week from today. Call (505) 299-4426 and give them a credit card for raffle tickets today. They are $20 each.

The raffle tag this year will be for a Rocky Mountain Bighorn ram in either Wheeler, Pecos, or San Francisco River (aka Turkey Creek).

This note just appeared on the New Mexico Game and Fish home page:


2005 Big Game Draw Results

The 2005 Big Game Special Hunts Drawing has been completed and results will be posted on the website today. Due to difficulties transmitting the data file to the web server, that may not occur until after 5:00 p.m. Thank you for your patience.

Well I have heard of one lucky dog that drew Pecos....but it wasnt me!

I haven't heard of anyone that drew yet. I didn't get a credit card hit so neither my wife nor I drew.

Guess I'll just have to wait for them to draw my name for the raffle tag next week!

Although the home page doesn't admit it, draw results are now posted: http://gameandfish.state.nm.us/drawresults/

From: http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/press_rele...ts/7-05_releases.pdf

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
Contact: Dan Williams, (505) 476-8004
dan.williams@state.nm.us

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, JULY 5, 2005:

BIGHORN PERMIT RAFFLE EARNS $44,438 FOR RESEARCH, RESTORATION

ALBUQUERQUE – New Mexico’s bighorn sheep became $44,438 richer last week – their share of the annual Foundation for North American Wild Sheep raffle for one coveted hunting permit.

Thomas Hufnagel of Volant, Penn., was the lucky winner of the raffle, which is conducted annually as a fundraiser for New Mexico’s bighorn sheep enhancement fund for research, restoration and habitat projects. He bought five of the $20 tickets. Overall, the foundation sold more than 2,600 tickets for the transferable permit, which is highly prized by sheep hunters because of New Mexico’s trophy bighorns.

The State of New Mexico contributes two bighorn permits a year to be used as fund-raisers – one of the raffle and another for the auction at the foundation’s annual convention. This year’s auction permit sold for a record $177,500.

Thirteen bighorn sheep licenses were issued this year through the regular special hunts drawing, including one for a youth hunt in the Pecos Wilderness. For more information about the drawing or other big-game hunts in New Mexico, consult the Department’s rules and information booklet or visit http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us.