1. A. A person under the age of eighteen years who satisfies the requirements of either of the following training courses shall be issued a certificate following successful completion of a hunter training course:

   1. (1) Completion of an approved hunter training course comprised of class work and firearms proficiency training and testing; or
   2. (2) completion of an approved hunter training course comprised of a written lesson and testing and current registration in the department’s mentored-youth program.
2. B. Registration in the department’s mentored-youth program is limited to first-time youth hunters, 8 to 17 years of age, for a period of two consecutive license years and a person shall register in the program only once.

3. C. Mentored-youth program hunters may hunt with a firearm only after successful completion of the written lesson and testing portion of the course and while supervised by a licensed and mentor certified or hunter education certified parent, guardian or another licensed adult with consent of the parent or guardian who is within unaided voice and sight distance.

   1. (1) Mentors shall possess a mentor certification number obtained after completion of a hunter training course comprised of a written lesson and testing and current registration in the department’s mentored-youth program; or
   2. (2) shall possess a hunter education certification number obtained through a New Mexico hunter training course or a hunter training course of another state which is approved by the New Mexico department of game and fish.

4. D. Mentored-youth program hunters shall be limited by age to hunt as follows:

   1. (1) Mentored-youth under the age of ten years shall be limited to hunting small-game; or
   2. (2) mentored-youth ten to seventeen years of age shall be limited to hunting small-game, turkey, deer, pronghorn antelope and javelina.

[19.36.3.9 NMAC – Rp, 19.36.3.9 NMAC, 4/1/2024]