Summer’s here – now’s the time to get outdoors!

Try one of our youth Hunter Education camps!

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Hunter Education program is designed to promote safe and ethical hunting practices among the next generation of hunters here in the Land of

Enchantment, and what better way is there to get valuable hands-on experience than through one of the Department’s Advanced Skills Camps?

Registration for the Advanced Skills Camp on the Wedding Cake Ranch near Folsom is currently open. This free camp is open to youth ages 10-17 who are accompanied by a registered adult. All equipment and meals will be provided and participants will tent-camp on the property. Participants will earn their New Mexico Hunter Education certification through this camp.

The camp is scheduled for July 11-13, so don’t delay – click here to register now while spaces are still open! Please note that all participants must have a Customer Identification Number (CIN) account with the Department, and they will be required to complete the relevant homework before attending. Click here to create a CIN account if you don’t already have one.

But wait — there’s more!

If you’re not able to attend the camp at Wedding Cake Ranch, there is another opportunity at the end of the month. The Department will be hosting another Hunter Education camp July 25-27 at Tres Ritos Boy Scout Camp in Tres Ritos.

This camp is free of charge thanks to the support of Safari Club International. It is open to youth age 10-17 who have not yet passed a Hunter Education class, along with a registered adult. Meals and equipment will be provided and participants can tent-camp on the property. Space is limited – click here to register before the camp fills up!Remember, you must have a valid Customer Identification Number with the Department to register for the camp, and all required homework must be completed before attending. Click here to create a CIN account if you don’t already have one.

Participants will learn safe and responsible firearm handling, ethical hunting behaviors, conservation, wildlife identification and basic survival skills. Department conservation officers will also be on hand to teach participants about their jobs, and participants can also test their marksmanship skills with bows and arrows.

Additional Hunter Education classes will be offered this month in Virden (July 11-12), Roswell (July 12-13) and Dulce (July 24-25). Check out the Department’s Hunter Education web page for more information.

Help teach the next generation of hunters!

Are you an experienced hunter who wants to share their expertise with youngsters just getting involved in hunting for the first time? The Department of Game and Fish has just the opportunity you’re looking for!

The Department will host a Hunter Education Instructor Training Workshop for those looking to

become certified hunter education instructors on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the Department’s Northwest Area office in Albuquerque. Participants will become certified to teach both the traditional and field day courses, and instructors who don’t already have a required New Mexico hunter education number can gain that certification through this workshop.

There are several steps that interested applicants must complete before registering. First, they must have a valid Customer Identification Number (CIN) account with the Department — click here to create an account if you don’t already have one.

Then, they must complete the required volunteer application documents, which are available by emailing Conservation Education Manager Storm Usrey. Once this is complete, they can register for the class through their CIN account.

Be Safe on Your OHV!

New Mexico offers incredible opportunities for riders to enjoy their off-highway vehicle (OHV). However, the best way to ensure an enjoyable experience is to make sure everyone stays safe.

The Department’s Off-Highway Vehicle Program is offering an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) safety class for

students age 6 and up on July 19 from 8 a.m.-noon at Los Lunas River Park, in cooperation with the Los Lunas Open Space Division. Students will earn the safety permit that is required for OHV operators under age 18. ATVs and safety gear will be available for use during the class.

Space is limited – email DGF-OHVEDU@dgf.nm.gov for more information on how to register. All students must have a Customer Identification Number account with the Department to register.

Get Involved!

The Department and the State Game Commission want to hear from you! You can help shape species management decisions by providing comment on upcoming proposals.

The Department will host two virtual meetings regarding the proposed implementation of shed hunting licenses for non-residents during two upcoming hybrid meetings. The first meeting is July 17 at 6 p.m. at the Department’s Northwest Area office in Albuquerque (click here to register to attend virtually) and the second is June 24 at 6 p.m. at the Department’s Southwest Area office in Las Cruces (click here to register to attend virtually). You can also comment via email at DGF-shedhunter@dgf.nm.gov.

The Public Land User (Habitat) Stamp Citizen Advisory Committee will meet July 22-23 at the Department’s Northwest Area office in Albuquerque to present various fish and wildlife habitat restoration project opportunities that have been developed by the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service and the Department. You can register to attend these meetings via Zoom if you are unable to attend in person —registration for the July 22 portion of the meeting is available here, and you canregister for the July 23 portion here.

Upcoming Events

• • July 11-12 — Hunter Education class in Virden; click here for more information
  • July 11-13 — Advanced Hunter Education Skills Camp at Wedding Cake Ranch; click here to register
  • July 12-13 — Hunter Education class in Roswell; click here for more information
  • July 19 — ATV safety class in Los Lunas; click here for more information
  • July 22-23 — Public Land User Stamp Citizen Advisory Committee meeting in Albuquerque; register to attend virtually (Tuesday and Wednesday)
  • July 24-25 — Hunter Education class in Dulce;click here for more information
  • July 25-27 — Hunter Education Camp at Tres Ritos Boy Scout Camp; click here to register
  • Aug. 15 — State Game Commission Meeting in Reserve; more information coming soon
  • Aug. 23 — Hunter Education Instructor Training Workshop in Albuquerque; click here for more information