Hunting in New Mexico: 5 Animals to Hunt Year-Round

New Mexico, the "Land of Enchantment," offers a variety of hunting opportunities. A diversity of game species results from the state's range of habitat that stretches from the Lower Sonoran Zone at 3,000 feet to the Alpine Zone's highest elevation of 13,000 feet. According to Our Public Lands, popular game species in New Mexico "include deer, elk, quail, dove, pheasants, and teal, while lesser hunted species include pronghorn and javelina and exotics like Oryx, Persian ibex, and Barbary sheep." The following five species are available for hunting year-round in New Mexico.

ALERT: Should Obama Have More Control Over Guns? Vote Now

Cougars  - The hunting of cougars, or mountain lions, is allowed throughout the year in New Mexico since the species has become a nuisance for ranchers and farmers. In an attempt to control the population, the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish issues cougar licenses permitting hunters to use rifles, handguns, or bow and arrow to kill two cougars per license. 
Oryx  - The oryx, an exotic species introduced in 1969 by the New Mexico Game & Fish Department, is available for year-round hunting. A native of Africa's Kalahari region, the large gazelle has adapted so successfully to New Mexico's environment that it has become a nuisance, overgrazing on ranchers' lands and damaging fragile habitats where no natural predators exist to keep populations in check.  Most oryx hunts take place on White Sands Missile Range, requiring a security-background check for access. If drawn for a hunt, foreigners must be accompanied by authorized personnel at all times.

VOTE NOW:

Is New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez Doing a Good Job?

Bison  - Bison are considered livestock in New Mexico, and therefore can be hunted any time without a license on private land. Various outfitters and ranches offer bison hunting in New Mexico, although some companies have suspended these hunts due to severe drought.
Coyote - The coyote, another animal on the wrong side of ranchers and farmers, is unprotected from hunting in New Mexico. No license is required for New Mexico residents, although nonresidents must purchase a license. There are no limits, and there is no closed hunting season.   The ease of coyote hunting has led some businesses to offer contests that reward winners for killing the most coyotes. Public outcry has prompted the state legislature to consider a ban on such coyote hunting competitions in New Mexico. The ban would outlaw the contests while still allowing landowners to hunt the animals on their property.
Feral Hogs -  State residents and nonresidents can hunt feral hogs throughout the year without a license. New Mexico encourages hunting of these nonnative nuisance hogs because they are destructive to both native wildlife and habitat.