Thermal hunting in nm
- Thread starter timn
- Start date
No night hunting for furbearers on public land. Take a look at page 129 of this year's rule book. Shooting hours are from one half hour before sunrise to one half hour after sunset. There are exclusions for private land, but you have to call and ask about a permit. The rules aren't really published (see top of page 130 about artificial light). Thermal isn't even mentioned though...
limbhanger10
Well-known member
...130+ pages of hunting rules and regulations....and I thought PA and NY was bad.
hunt0168
Well-known member
I’m guessing if NY and PA had all the species that NM has our regs would be more insane.
limbhanger10
Well-known member
Ya...they have quite the cornucopia of game. My dad really enjoyed going there to elk hunt.
Note, in addition to DR's comment here is the actual rules for NON-GAME animals, coyotes, skunks etc.
They are open all year with no bag limit but all hunters and trappers must follow NMDFG rules regarding trapping and hunting. Legal shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset.
So it makes no difference whether it is thermal, IR, or spotlight. It is the legal shooting hours that cover night hunting coyotes in NM
Excerpt from 24-25 rule book
They are open all year with no bag limit but all hunters and trappers must follow NMDFG rules regarding trapping and hunting. Legal shooting hours 1/2 hour before sunrise and 1/2 hour after sunset.
So it makes no difference whether it is thermal, IR, or spotlight. It is the legal shooting hours that cover night hunting coyotes in NM
Excerpt from 24-25 rule book
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The rule book is 160 pages long, but it covers all the hunting regs for 10 big game species, turkey, and furbearers. It also introduces migratory birds (there will be a supplement later in the year). Shoot, the table of contents is two pages long!
Same for 2025-2026. I didn't think of snapping a pic, so thanks AWS.