This year of coronavirus has been tough on all of us, including on NM BHA. But it’s time for some good news. Thanks to a generous donation from a New Mexico landowner, we are giving away a bull elk license (rifle or muzzleloader, GMU 34) to a NM BHA member with one stipulation – that it be used by someone who has either never hunted or harvested a big game animal.
As a member of New Mexico BHA your support helps us ensure future generations of New Mexicans have the same outdoor opportunities we've enjoyed. We are committed to safeguarding the public lands that support our hunting and angling traditions and enrich our lives and seeing that our public lands, along with the fish and wildlife they support, are managed as a sacred public trust.
Now through Aug. 3 we are asking you to recruit one new member to join NM BHA and champion wildlife conservation and fair and equitable access for all. Members are the lifeblood of our grassroots organization, and bolstering our ranks will allow us to tackle critical issues in 2021 like stream access, road closures and affronts to the North American Model of Wildlife Management like New Mexico’s current E-PLUS elk tag system.
With your help we can ask the Game Commission to revisit and amend a program that has allowed private land tag allocations to balloon over the years, so that today HALF of all elk hunting licenses in New Mexico are given to a small group of landowners to sell, give away or not even use. Only after the E-PLUS program takes its share of tags are the remaining licenses allocated to the public, both resident and nonresident. Treating public draw hunters as an afterthought robs us of the opportunity to hunt, to fill the freezer and to pass on our hunting traditions to the next generation who simply can’t afford to purchase high-dollar private land tags. NM BHA believes the State Game Commission should uphold its public trust obligation by reforming the current E-PLUS system to more equitably manage elk tag allocation on public and private land in New Mexico.
With the goal of improving public access to elk tags in mind, NM BHA will randomly select one current member to receive a bull elk tag in GMU 34 for this October – with the requirement that the tag must be used by a beginner resident hunter. If you’re a NM BHA member who has never hunted, this is an amazing opportunity. If you’re like most members, however, and already are an experienced hunter, we are asking you to gift this valuable tag to a friend or family member who has had limited hunting opportunities. Alternatively, you can select someone from the additional nominations we gather.
We are thrilled to put a free, highly coveted bull elk tag in the hands of a budding New Mexico hunter. A winner will be selected randomly on or around Aug. 4 from a list of current NM BHA members and alternative entries.
Click Here To Enter Giveaway and Make Donation of $35
Click Here To Nominate a Beginner Hunter
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hunt Details
NM BHA will facilitate the transfer of private land elk authorization to eligible recipient either in-person or remotely via Zoom. The winner has a choice of four cow elk hunts during the 2021 hunting season only: Youth hunt - (Oct. 9-13), (Nov 27 - Dec. 1), (Dec. 4 - 8), (Dec. 11 - 15). NM BHA reserves the right to publicize the hunt through any of its media, including the name and photograph of the hunter and details of the hunt itself.
Eligibility
OPEN ONLY TO LEGAL RESIDENTS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, who have either never hunted or never harvested a big-game animal and in possession of a certificate proving that he/she has passed this, or another state’s hunter education course or is currently enrolled in the New Mexico Mentored-Youth (MY) Hunting Program. Hunter is responsible for abiding by all NMGF regulations.
Official Rules & Alternative Method of Entry