New Mexico Draw Odds
New Mexico is a pure random draw with no bonus or preference points: every application gets a random sequence number and is filled with its first, second or third choice if a licence is still open in the applicant's quota pool. By state law at least 84% of each hunt code's licences go to residents, up to 10% to applicants of any residency who list a New Mexico registered outfitter, and 6% to unguided nonresidents - so unguided nonresidents are very unlikely to draw any hunt code with 12 or fewer licences.
You must first buy a nonrefundable $90 nonresident Game-Hunting License (+$4 HMAV), and the $13 application fee plus the full licence price ($773 standard / $998 quality or high-demand elk; $398 / $623 deer; $423 pronghorn) is charged when you apply; the licence part is refunded within about 10 business days if you are unsuccessful.
Applications close at 5 p.m. MDT on the third Wednesday of March (March 18, 2026) and results post April 22; nonresidents cannot apply for antlerless elk or WMA-only hunts.
Sources: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish documents, last verified August 31, 2026. · 8 sources
Odds by Species
Deer
337 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 2,278
- Applicants per Tag
- 4.8
Elk
322 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 912
- Applicants per Tag
- 22.6
Antelope (Pronghorn)
159 hunt codes- NR Tags 2026
- 79
- Applicants per Tag
- 47.6
The Rules, Side by Side
Nonresident and resident rules for every species. Small numbers are sources.
| Species | Who | System | Choices | NR Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer, Pronghorn | Nonresident | Random draw 1 | 3 | 6% · 10% 2 |
| Resident | Random draw 1 | 3 | — | |
| Elk | Nonresident | Random draw 1 | 3 | 6% · 10% 2 |
| Resident | Random draw 1 | 3 | — |
NR Share
- Deer, elk, and pronghorn
- 6% The pool for nonresidents who apply without a New Mexico outfitter. 10% The pool shared by residents and nonresidents who apply with a registered New Mexico outfitter.
How This Draw Works, With an Example
Random draw: Every applicant has the same chance: tags divided by applicants. No points count in this draw.
Buying Points
New Mexico has no points to buy: every applicant has the same chance each year.
Fees
| 2026 Fee | Nonres. | Resident | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every Applicant | |||
| Game-Hunting License (must be purchased, nonrefundable, before applying for any big-game draw) 4 To apply | $90 | $25 | To apply |
| Draw application fee (per species, nonrefundable; included in the printed draw price) 2 To apply | $13 | $7 | To apply |
| Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV), mandatory age 18+, added automatically with the Game-Hunting License 4 To apply | $4 | $4 | To apply |
| Habitat Stamp (required to hunt on BLM and Forest Service land; buy by May 15 to be printed on the licence/tag) 4 If drawn | $10 | $10 | If drawn |
| Deer | |||
| High-Demand Deer License (printed $623 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $610 | $53 | To apply |
| Quality Deer License (printed $623 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $610 | — | To apply |
| Quality/High-Demand (Q/HD) Deer License (printed $623 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $610 | — | To apply |
| Standard Deer License (printed $398 incl. $13 application fee). Quality / high-demand hunt codes are $623 printed 2 To apply | $385 | — | To apply |
| Elk | |||
| High-Demand Elk License (printed $998 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $985 | $93 | To apply |
| Quality Elk License, mature bull or either sex (printed $998 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $985 | — | To apply |
| Quality/High-Demand (Q/HD) Elk License (printed $998 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $985 | — | To apply |
| Standard Elk License, mature bull or either sex (printed draw price $773 incl. $13 application fee); charged at application, refunded if unsuccessful. Quality / high-demand hunt codes are $998 printed 2 To apply | $760 | — | To apply |
| Pronghorn | |||
| Pronghorn License (printed $423 incl. $13 application fee) 2 To apply | $410 | $63 | To apply |
| Cash to Apply, One Species | $517– |
$89– |
Kept if you miss |
Cash to apply adds up every fee due with an application; each extra species adds its own application fee.
Next Application Deadlines
You pay the full tag fee when you apply.
-
Mar 17, 2027 151 days expected
Dates marked expected are last cycle's schedule rolled forward by New Mexico Department of Game and Fish's own rule; confirm them once the new dates are published.
Legal cartridges in New Mexico by species and weapon
Sources (8)
Draw Rules, Fees and Deadlines
- 1. New Mexico Commission of Public Records - State Records Center and Archives · 19.31.3 NMAC - Licensing and Application (Wildlife / Hunting and Fishing), current text, effective 1/1/2023 · 2026
- 2. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2026-2027 Draw Hunt License Fees / Draw Hunt Licenses (booklet pp.17-18 extract)
- 3. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2026-2027 New Mexico Hunting Rules & Information
- 4. New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2026-2027 Over-the-Counter (OTC) License Fees (booklet p.16 extract)
Draw Results, Hunt Lists and Harvest Reports, 2023–2026
2026 · 1 document
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2026 Big Game Drawing Odds Complete Report
2025 · 1 document
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2025-26 Big-Game Drawing Odds Complete Report
2024 · 1 document
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2024-25 Big-Game Drawing Odds Complete Report
2023 · 1 document
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · 2023 Big-Game Complete Drawing Odds Report
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About These Numbers
Rules, fees and deadlines are copied from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish documents and change by commission action; a date marked expected is last cycle's schedule rolled forward. The odds on each species page are last draw's results. Check the agency's site and apply there; we don't take applications. How we compute these.