2026 New Mexico Hunting Season Dates

Season windows from official New Mexico Department of Game & Fish data, organized by species, unit, weapon, and tag type so you can line up realistic hunt dates before you apply.

Year

2026

Earliest Archery Open

Sep 1, 2026

2026 season

Latest Rifle Close

–

2026 season

Total Seasons

across all species

The 2026 New Mexico calendar spans 69 season windows across 1 species, opening as early as Sep 1, 2026 for archery. Each species carries its own archery, rifle, and muzzleloader dates, and many vary by unit.

Line these windows up against the application deadlines before you apply, since drawing a tag you can't hunt around your schedule is a wasted point year. Dates below come from official New Mexico Department of Game & Fish records; use the year selector above to compare seasons across years.

Elk

See Elk draw odds →

Elk Season Dates

Season	Weapon	Opens	Closes	Tag Type	Tags Available
10 · archery	Archery	Sep 1, 2026	Sep 14, 2026	Draw	–
12 · archery	Archery	Sep 1, 2026	Sep 14, 2026	Draw	–
13 · archery	Archery

2026 New Mexico Season Dates FAQ

When does hunting season open in New Mexico in 2026?

The earliest New Mexico 2026 archery season we track opens Sep 1, 2026. Dates vary by species, unit, and weapon; check the full breakdown below. Source: official New Mexico Department of Game & Fish records.

What can I hunt in New Mexico in 2026?

We track 69 New Mexico 2026 season windows across 1 species: Elk. Each has its own archery, rifle, and muzzleloader dates by unit.

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Last updated Apr 21, 2026 from official New Mexico Department of Game & Fish records.