1. A. The director of the department of wildlife shall keep a record of all money received and licenses and permits issued by the department, numbering each class separately. Upon satisfactory proof that a license or permit has been lost before its expiration, the director may issue a duplicate and collect a just and reasonable fee as determined by state wildlife commission rule.

2. B. Beginning April 1, 2027 and on April 1 of each successive year, the state wildlife commission may adjust the fees provided by this section for inflation as provided in Subsection C of this section. The director of the department of wildlife shall collect the following fees for each license of the class indicated:

   Resident, fishing $35.00 Resident, game hunting 25.00 Resident, deer 50.00 Resident, junior-senior, deer 25.00 Resident, senior, disabled, game hunting and fishing 20.00 Resident, fishing and game hunting combination 42.00 Resident, junior, fishing and game hunting combination 15.00 Resident, disabled veteran, fishing and game hunting combination 10.00 Resident, antelope 60.00 Resident, elk cow 60.00 Resident, elk bull or either sex 90.00 Resident, junior-senior, elk 60.00 Resident, bighorn sheep, ram 150.00 Resident, bighorn sheep, ewe 75.00 Resident, Barbary sheep 120.00 Resident, bear 55.00 Resident, turkey 35.00 Resident, cougar 55.00 Resident, oryx 175.00 Resident, ibex 110.00 Resident, javelina 55.00 Resident, fur dealer 50.00 Resident, trapper 50.00 Resident, junior trapper 20.00 Nonresident, fishing 90.00 Nonresident, junior fishing 20.00 Nonresident, junior, game hunting 20.00 Nonresident, game hunting 90.00 Nonresident, deer 375.00 Nonresident, quality deer 600.00 Nonresident, bear 350.00 Nonresident, cougar 350.00 Nonresident, turkey 125.00 Nonresident, antelope 400.00 Nonresident, elk cow 550.00 Nonresident, elk bull or either sex 750.00 Nonresident, quality elk 975.00 Nonresident, bighorn sheep 3,500.00 Nonresident, Barbary sheep 350.00 Nonresident, oryx 1,600.00 Nonresident, ibex 1,600.00 Nonresident, javelina 155.00 Nonresident, fur dealer 200.00 Nonresident, trapper 500.00 Nonresident, nongame 65.00 Nonresident, shed hunter license 200.00 Resident, senior, disabled, fishing 8.00 Resident, junior fishing 5.00 Temporary fishing, one day 12.00 Temporary fishing, five days 30.00 Resident, senior, disabled, game hunting 15.00 Resident, junior, game hunting 10.00 Temporary game hunting, four days 40.00 Second rod validation 10.00.

3. Resident, fishing
4. $35.00
5. Resident, game hunting
6. 25.00
7. Resident, deer
8. 50.00
9. Resident, junior-senior, deer
10. 25.00
11. Resident, senior, disabled, game hunting and fishing
12. 20.00
13. Resident, fishing and game hunting combination
14. 42.00
15. Resident, junior, fishing and game hunting combination
16. 15.00
17. Resident, disabled veteran, fishing and game hunting combination
18. 10.00
19. Resident, antelope
20. 60.00
21. Resident, elk cow
22. 60.00
23. Resident, elk bull or either sex
24. 90.00
25. Resident, junior-senior, elk
26. 60.00
27. Resident, bighorn sheep, ram
28. 150.00
29. Resident, bighorn sheep, ewe
30. 75.00
31. Resident, Barbary sheep
32. 120.00
33. Resident, bear
34. 55.00
35. Resident, turkey
36. 35.00
37. Resident, cougar
38. 55.00
39. Resident, oryx
40. 175.00
41. Resident, ibex
42. 110.00
43. Resident, javelina
44. 55.00
45. Resident, fur dealer
46. 50.00
47. Resident, trapper
48. 50.00
49. Resident, junior trapper
50. 20.00
51. Nonresident, fishing
52. 90.00
53. Nonresident, junior fishing
54. 20.00
55. Nonresident, junior, game hunting
56. 20.00
57. Nonresident, game hunting
58. 90.00
59. Nonresident, deer
60. 375.00
61. Nonresident, quality deer
62. 600.00
63. Nonresident, bear
64. 350.00
65. Nonresident, cougar
66. 350.00
67. Nonresident, turkey
68. 125.00
69. Nonresident, antelope
70. 400.00
71. Nonresident, elk cow
72. 550.00
73. Nonresident, elk bull or either sex
74. 750.00
75. Nonresident, quality elk
76. 975.00
77. Nonresident, bighorn sheep
78. 3,500.00
79. Nonresident, Barbary sheep
80. 350.00
81. Nonresident, oryx
82. 1,600.00
83. Nonresident, ibex
84. 1,600.00
85. Nonresident, javelina
86. 155.00
87. Nonresident, fur dealer
88. 200.00
89. Nonresident, trapper
90. 500.00
91. Nonresident, nongame
92. 65.00
93. Nonresident, shed hunter license
94. 200.00
95. Resident, senior, disabled, fishing
96. 8.00
97. Resident, junior fishing
98. 5.00
99. Temporary fishing, one day
100. 12.00
101. Temporary fishing, five days
102. 30.00
103. Resident, senior, disabled, game hunting
104. 15.00
105. Resident, junior, game hunting
106. 10.00
107. Temporary game hunting, four days
108. 40.00
109. Second rod validation
110. 10.00.
111. C. On April 1, 2027 and on April 1 of each successive year, the state wildlife commission may adjust the fees provided by Subsection B of this section by an amount up to the total amount reflected by the annual percentage change in the consumer price index; provided that the fees shall not be adjusted below the minimum amounts of the previous year as a result of a decrease in the consumer price index, and the fees shall be adjusted on April 1, 2032 and every five years thereafter. The amount of the adjustment shall be rounded to the nearest dollar. By November 1, 2026 and by November 1 of each successive year, the department of wildlife shall post on its website the fees provided in Subsection B of this section for the next year.
112. D. Residents who participate in the supplemental nutrition assistance program are eligible to receive a twenty-five percent discount on all license fees after qualifying with the department of wildlife.
113. E. As used in this section, "consumer price index" means the consumer price index, not seasonally adjusted, for all urban consumers, United States city average for all items, or its successor index, as published by the United States department of labor for a twelve-month period ending September 30.

History: 1953 Comp., § 53-3-6, enacted by Laws 1964 (1st S.S.), ch. 17, § 5; 1965, ch. 32, § 1; 1966, ch. 17, § 1; 1967, ch. 2, § 1; 1969, ch. 28, § 3; 1971, ch. 75, § 5; 1973, ch. 268, § 2; 1977, ch. 180, § 3; 1979, ch. 286, § 2; 1980, ch. 17, § 1; 1983, ch. 117, § 2; 1992, ch. 28, § 2; 1993, ch. 189, § 2; 1995, ch. 87, § 2; 1996, ch. 87, § 1; 1998, ch. 51, § 2; 2003, ch. 195, § 2; 2005, ch. 74, § 2; 2007, ch. 8, § 2; 2009, ch. 230, § 2; 2010, ch. 45, § 2; 2011, ch. 25, § 2; 2011, ch. 186, § 4; 2015, ch. 148, § 2; 2025, ch. 9, § 10.

ANNOTATIONS

Repeals and reenactments. — Laws 1964 (1st S.S.), ch. 17, § 5, repealed former 53-3-6, 1953 Comp., relating to license fees and prohibiting fishing without a license, and enacted a new 17-3-13.1 NMSA 1978.

The 2025 amendment, effective April 1, 2026, references to the "state game commission" were changed to the "state wildlife commission", raised license fees for most categories of licenses, allowed the state wildlife commission to adjust for inflation the license fees provided for in this section, and required the department of wildlife to post on its website the fees provided for in this section for the next year, and provided for certain discounts on all license fees; in Subsection B, after the subsection designation, added "Beginning April 1, 2027 and on April 1 of each successive year, the state wildlife commission may adjust the fees provided by this section for inflation as provided in Subsection C of this section."; and added new Subsections C through E.

The 2015 amendment, effective April 1, 2016, removed from the list of license fees, certain licenses for military members; in Subsection B, after the first occurrence of "Resident, senior, handicapped,", deleted "military", after the second occurrence of "Resident, junior fishing", deleted "Temporary active-duty fishing, five days . . . . . 12.00", and after "Resident, junior, game hunting", deleted "Temporary active-duty game, four days . . . . . . 16.00".

The 2011 amendment, effective April 1, 2012, eliminated the distinction between small game hunting and general hunting licenses; lowered resident game hunting, deer and combined game hunting and fishing license fees; and increased nonresident game hunting license fees.

The 2010 amendment, effective May 19, 2010, in Subsection B, changed the license class "Resident, senior, handicapped" to the license class "Resident, senior, handicapped, military".

The 2009 amendment, effective July 1, 2009, in Subsection B, added the “Resident, disabled veteran, fishing and small game combination” license fee of $10.00.

The 2007 amendment, effective April 1, 2008, in Subsection B provided fees for the resident, junior-senior deer license; the resident, fishing and small game combination license; and the resident, junior-senior, fishing and small game combination license.

The 2005 amendment, effective April 1, 2006, increases fees for all classes of fishing and hunting licenses.

The 2003 amendment, effective July 1, 2003 for trout water anglers and April 1, 2004 for warm water anglers, added the last entry of the table in Subsection B.

The 1998 amendment, effective July 1, 1998, added a fee for a temporary small game license at the end of the section.

The 1996 amendment, effective April 1, 1997, in Subsection B, changed the general hunting and fishing fee from $23.00 to $20.00; changed the resident elk cow fee from $45.00 to $37.00; changed the resident elk bull or either sex fee from $75.00 to $60.00; changed the nonresident bison fee from $200.00 to $1,000.00; and changed the resident junior-senior handicapped fishing fee from $10.50 to $5.00.

Fee structure, although discriminatory, not offensive. — The present fee structure in this section, which discriminates against nonresidents, is not offensive to either the privileges and immunities clause, U.S. Const., art. IV, § 2, or the U.S. Const., amend. XIV. Terk v. Gordon, No. 74-387-M (D.N.M., filed Aug. 25, 1977), aff'd, 436 U.S. 850, 98 S. Ct. 3063, 56 L. Ed. 2d 751 (1978).

1964 act was not retroactive. — Laws 1964 (1st S.S.), ch. 17, which enacted or amended certain statutes dealing with hunting and fishing licenses, was not retroactive in operation, since it operated prospectively from May 25, 1964. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-91.

Increasing fees is not impermissibly discriminatory. — Where an act of the legislature increases hunting or fishing license fees as of a certain date, any discrimination between persons on the basis of when they purchase a license is permissible, rational and unavoidable. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-91.

There is no discrimination in an act which increases hunting or fishing license fees as of a certain effective date except that which may result from an individual's own action or inaction. 1964 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 64-91.

Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 35 Am. Jur. 2d Fish and Game § 45.