Through a cooperative agreement, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) permit migratory game bird and upland game hunting across 461 acres of the Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center.
- Migratory Game Birds: We allow the hunting of sandhill crane, light and dark geese, duck, merganser, coot, mourning and white-winged dove, and band-tailed pigeon on designated areas of the center.
- Upland Game: We allow the hunting of Eurasian collared-dove; dusky (blue) grouse; pheasant; scaled quail; and Abert's, red, gray, and fox squirrels on designated areas of the center.
Key Hunting Rules to Know
- Licenses: A valid New Mexico Game-Hunting License and Habitat Management and Access Validation (HMAV) are required, as well as a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number and federal migratory bird stamp, if hunting migratory game birds.
- Non-toxic shot: Hunters may possess only approved non-toxic shot while in the field hunting on the Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center. Rim-fire firearms and compressed air guns used for Eurasian collared-dove, grouse and squirrels do not require non-toxic projectiles.
- Access: The designated hunt areas may only be accessed on foot through H-brace walk-in points located east of the center along Wichita Road.
- Regulations: Hunting is allowed only during regular seasons as determined by the New Mexico State Game Commission. The center observes standard state shooting hours for migratory game birds (one-half hour before sunrise to sunset) and upland game (one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset) and all state bag and possession limits apply.
Laws, rules, and regulations