When does deer season start in New Mexico?

September 1, 2026 is the first listed deer opener for New Mexico; it is archery mule deer / white-tailed deer Sep 1-24, 2026.

When is New Mexico's firearm deer season?

Oct 17-21, 2026 is the listed firearm deer window for New Mexico. Check zone and permit details with New Mexico NMDGF before hunting.

When does spring turkey open in New Mexico?

A current spring turkey opener is not listed for New Mexico yet. Check New Mexico NMDGF for the latest turkey dates.

Do I need a license to hunt in New Mexico?

Yes. Hunters generally need the appropriate New Mexico hunting license, and some seasons may require tags, permits, stamps, or zone-specific authorizations. Confirm final requirements with New Mexico NMDGF.

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New Mexico Deer Season 2026-27

New Mexico deer season dates start with Sep 1-24, 2026. The table below keeps every listed deer row together with zones and notes where available.

Quick answer

New Mexico's listed 2026-27 firearm deer season runs Oct 17-21, 2026.

Archery Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Sep 24, 2026.

Firearm - Premium Statewide Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Jan 31, 2027.

The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to New Mexico NMDGF.

Last verified: June 15, 2026 · Source: New Mexico NMDGF

Deer

28 listed rows

Deer - McGregor Range

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

168d

Dec 19-20, 2026

$100 access fee; military-only and general hunt

Zone: Unit 28 McGregor Range

Deer - WSMR

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

188d

Jan 8-10, 2027

White Sands Missile Range only; $60 access fee; mandatory check-in/out

Zone: Unit 19 WSMR

Deer - WSMR

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

202d

Jan 22-24, 2027

White Sands Missile Range only; $60 access fee; mandatory check-in/out

Zone: Unit 19 WSMR

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Archery

Upcoming

59d

Sep 1-24, 2026

Multiple units with varying license numbers; bow season generally Sept. 1-24 across most units

Zone: Various GMUs (statewide draw)

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Firearm - Premium Statewide

Upcoming

59d

Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027

Premium statewide deer hunt DER-1-700; 1 license available

Zone: Statewide

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Muzzleloader

Upcoming

85d

Sep 27-Oct 3, 2026

Muzzleloader season in most units Sept. 27-Oct. 3; some units differ

Zone: Various GMUs

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

112d

Oct 24-28, 2026

Multiple firearm season dates vary by unit; Oct. 24-28 is one common window

Zone: Various GMUs

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

119d

Oct 31-Nov 4, 2026

Oct. 31-Nov. 4 firearm season in many units

Zone: Various GMUs

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

126d

Nov 7-11, 2026

Nov. 7-11 firearm season in many units

Zone: Various GMUs

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

133d

Nov 14-18, 2026

Nov. 14-18 firearm season in many units

Zone: Various GMUs

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Youth Only - Firearm

Upcoming

140d

Nov 21-29, 2026

Youth only firearm season Nov. 21-29 in multiple units

Zone: Various GMUs

Mule Deer / White-tailed Deer

Archery - Late

Upcoming

181d

Jan 1-15, 2027

Late bow season available in multiple units

Zone: Various GMUs

Show 16 more deer rows

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Premium Statewide

Upcoming

59d

Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027

Hunt code DER-1-700; premium statewide draw hunt; 1 license

Zone: Statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Archery

Upcoming

59d

Sep 1-24, 2026

Draw hunt; specific units vary; see hunt codes DER-2-XXX in regulations

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Muzzleloader

Upcoming

85d

Sep 27-Oct 3, 2026

Draw hunt; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Muzzleloader - Restricted

Upcoming

85d

Sep 27-Oct 3, 2026

Restricted muzzleloader only; see hunt codes DER-3-169, DER-3-397

Zone: Units 9, 52

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

105d

Oct 17-21, 2026

Draw hunt; any legal sporting arm; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

112d

Oct 24-28, 2026

Draw hunt; any legal sporting arm; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

119d

Oct 31-Nov 4, 2026

Draw hunt; any legal sporting arm; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

126d

Nov 7-11, 2026

Draw hunt; any legal sporting arm; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

133d

Nov 14-18, 2026

Draw hunt; any legal sporting arm; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Youth Firearm

Upcoming

140d

Nov 21-29, 2026

Youth-only draw hunt; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

144d

Nov 25-29, 2026

White-tailed deer either-sex hunts in select units

Zone: Various units

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

161d

Dec 12-16, 2026

Either-sex white-tailed deer hunts in select units

Zone: Various units

Mule Deer/White-tailed Deer

Archery

Upcoming

181d

Jan 1-15, 2027

Draw hunt; late archery season; specific units vary

Zone: Various units statewide

White-tailed Deer

Firearm - Either Sex

Upcoming

140d

Nov 21-25, 2026

Either-sex white-tailed deer hunts in select southern units

Zone: Units 21, 23, 24, 26

White-tailed Deer

Regular Firearm

Upcoming

154d

Dec 5-13, 2026

High-demand hunt for fork-antlered white-tailed deer

Zone: Units 21, 23, 26

White-tailed Deer

Firearm - Either Sex

Upcoming

154d

Dec 5-13, 2026

Late either-sex white-tailed deer season in select units

Zone: Units 21, 23, 26, 27