1. A. The director of the department of game and fish [department of wildlife], or any other officer charged with enforcement of the laws relating to game and fish if so directed by the director, may bring a civil action in the name of the state against any person unlawfully wounding or killing, or unlawfully in possession of, any game quadruped, bird or fish, or part thereof and recover judgment for the following minimum sums as damages for the taking, killing or injuring:

   for each elk $ 500.00 for each deer 250.00 for each antelope 250.00 for each mountain sheep 1,000.00 for each Barbary sheep 250.00 for each black bear 500.00 for each cougar 500.00 for each bison 600.00 for each ibex 1,000.00 for each oryx 1,000.00 for each javelina 100.00 for each beaver 65.00 for each bird 20.00 for each fish 5.00 for each endangered species 500.00 for each raptor 200.00 for each turkey 150.00 for each jaguar 2,000.00.

   for each elk

   $ 500.00

   for each deer

   250.00

   for each antelope

   250.00

   for each mountain sheep

   1,000.00

   for each Barbary sheep

   250.00

   for each black bear

   500.00

   for each cougar

   500.00

   for each bison

   600.00

   for each ibex

   1,000.00

   for each oryx

   1,000.00

   for each javelina

   100.00

   for each beaver

   65.00

   for each bird

   20.00

   for each fish

   5.00

   for each endangered species

   500.00

   for each raptor

   200.00

   for each turkey

   150.00

   for each jaguar

   2,000.00.

2. B. Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A of this section, the state game commission [state wildlife commission] shall establish damages recoverable by civil judgment on a game animal, bird or fish designated to be a trophy animal by commission rule.
3. C. Damages recovered pursuant to this section are intended to compensate the state for the loss of unique public resources and shall not be limited or reduced by the extent of fines assessed pursuant to any criminal statute. The department of game and fish [department of wildlife] shall not award or issue a license, permit or certificate to a debtor owing damages pursuant to this section until the judgment has been paid in full to the department.
4. D. No verdict or judgment recovered by the state in an action shall be for less than the sum fixed in this section. The action for damages may be joined with an action for possession, and recovery may be had for the possession as well as the damages.
5. E. The pendency or determination of an action for damages or payment of a judgment, or the pendency or determination of a criminal prosecution for the same taking, wounding, killing or possession, is not a bar to the other, nor does either affect the right of seizure under any other provision of the laws relating to game and fish.
6. F. The provisions of this section shall not be interpreted to prevent, constrain or penalize a Native American for engaging in activities for religious purposes, as provided in Section 17-2-14 or 17-2-41 NMSA 1978.
7. G. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a landowner or lessee, or employee of either, who kills an animal, on private land in which the person has an ownership or leasehold interest, that is threatening human life or damaging or destroying property, including crops; provided, however, that the killing is reported to the department of game and fish [department of wildlife] within twenty-four hours and before the removal of the carcass of the animal killed; and provided further that all actions authorized in this subsection are carried out according to rules of the department.

History: Laws 1912, ch. 85, § 45; Code 1915, § 2468; C.S. 1929, § 57-253; 1941 Comp., § 43-230; 1953 Comp., § 53-2-28; Laws 1963, ch. 276, § 1; 1969, ch. 28, § 1; 1971, ch. 75, § 3; 1997, ch. 224, § 2; 1999, ch. 31, § 3; 2006, ch. 22, § 1.

ANNOTATIONS

Bracketed material. — The bracketed material was inserted by the compiler and is not part of the law. Laws 2025, ch. 9, § 11 provided that references in law to the department of game and fish shall be deemed to be references to the department of wildlife.

Laws 2025, ch. 9, § 11 provided that references in law to the state game commission shall be deemed to be references to the state wildlife commission.

The 2006 amendment, effective May 17, 2006, adds Subsection B to provide that the commission shall establish damages recoverable by civil judgment on a game animal, bird or fish designated as trophy animal and adds Subsection C to provide that damages are intended to compensate the state for loss of unique public resources and shall not be modified by the extent fines are assessed and that the department shall not issue licenses or permits to a debtor owing damages pursuant to this section until the judgment for damages has been paid.

The 1999 amendment, effective June 18, 1999, added the judgment amount with regard to jaguars at the end of Subsection A and inserted "of game and fish" in Subsection E.

The 1997 amendment, effective July 1, 1997, revised the schedule of fees in Subsection A, added Subsections D and E and made minor stylistic changes.

Civil and criminal prosecution. — A district attorney has the authority and duty to prosecute civil as well as criminal cases in which the state is a party and which arise in his or her district under the game and fish laws. Double jeopardy prohibitions do not inhibit the district attorney from bringing a civil action for damages pursuant to Section 17-2-26 NMSA 1978 against a person previously convicted and sentenced for a criminal offense arising out of the same conduct in violation of the game and fish laws, because the damages authorized by Section 17-2-26 NMSA 1978 are remedial rather than punitive and serve to compensate the state for the loss of unique public resources. 2008 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 08-04.

Sums of money listed constitute minimum amount of money in a civil liability suit. 1968 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 68-07.

Officer bringing action has discretion in requesting amount. — This section vests discretion in the director or other officer bringing the action to set the request for the defendant's liability at any level consonant with the statutory minimum. 1968 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 68-07.

Officer bringing action may ask for sum within jurisdiction of magistrate. — If, in the exercise of his discretion, the officer bringing the suit on behalf of the state should determine that the suit should ask for no more than the statutory jurisdictional maximum amount, then the suit may be heard by a justice of the peace (now magistrate). 1968 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 68-07.