N.M. Admin. Code § 19.31.10.11

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 21, November 5, 2024

Section 19.31.10.11 - USE OF VEHICLES, BOATS, AIRCRAFT AND ROADS IN HUNTING

A.Shooting from the road: It is unlawful to shoot at, wound, take or attempt to take any protected species on, from, across or from within the right-of-way fences of any graded, paved or maintained public road. In the absence of a right-of-way fence it is unlawful to shoot at, wound, take or attempt to take any protected species from any part of the graded, paved or maintained surface of the public road. "Public road" as used herein shall mean any road, street or thoroughfare which is open to the public or which the public has a right of access and which has been paved, graded, maintained or any road, street or thoroughfare which has been paved, graded or maintained using public funds.

B.Shooting at artificial wildlife from the road: It is unlawful to shoot at artificial wildlife on, from, across or from within the right-of-way fences of any graded, paved or maintained public road. In the absence of a right-of-way fence it is unlawful to shoot at any artificial wildlife from any part of the graded, paved or maintained surface of the public road. "Public road" as used herein shall mean any road, street or thoroughfare which is open to the public or which the public has a right of access and which has been paved, graded, maintained or any road, street or thoroughfare which has been paved, graded or maintained using public funds.

C.Shooting from within or upon a vehicle, boat or aircraft: It is unlawful to shoot at any protected species from within or upon a motor vehicle, motor-driven boat, sailboat or aircraft except as allowed by a department issued permit. A person may shoot from any motor-driven boat when, the motor has been completely shut off and its progress therefrom has ceased.

D.Harassing protected species: It is unlawful, at any time, to pursue, harass, harry, drive or rally any protected species by any means except as allowed while legally hunting, or as otherwise allowed by Chapter 17 NMSA or state game commission rule.

E.Hunting after air travel: It shall be unlawful for anyone to hunt for or take any protected species until after the start of legal hunting hours on the day following any air travel except by regularly scheduled commercial airline flights or legitimate direct flight to the final destination.

F.Use of aircraft for spotting game: It shall be unlawful to use aircraft or drone to spot or locate and relay the location of any protected species to anyone on the ground by any means of communication or signaling device or action.

G.Using information gained from air flight:

(1) It shall be unlawful to hunt for or to take, or assist in the hunting for or taking of, any protected species with the use of information regarding location of any protected species gained from the use of any aircraft until 48 hours after such aircraft use.

(2) It shall be unlawful to hunt for or to take, or assist in the hunting for or taking of, any protected species with the use of information regarding location of any protected species gained from the use of any drone at any time.

H.Aircraft, drone and vehicle exemptions to this rule: The Director may exempt a person from the prohibition of utilizing an aircraft, drone or vehicle for management purposes.

I.Vehicle off of established road or driving on a closed road:

(1) During the seasons established for any protected species, it is unlawful to drive or ride in a motor vehicle which is driven off an established road on public land or to drive or ride in a motor vehicle on a closed road on public land, when the vehicle bears a licensed hunter, angler or trapper.

(2) During the seasons established for any protected species, it is unlawful to drive or ride in a motor vehicle which is driven off an established road on private land without written permission, when the vehicle bears a licensed hunter, angler or trapper.

(3) It is unlawful to drive or ride in a motor vehicle which is being driven off an established road when gathering or searching for shed antlers on public land or to drive or ride in a motor vehicle on a closed road when gathering or searching for shed antlers on public land.

(4)Exception: Snowmobiles and to retrieve lawfully taken game in an area not closed to vehicular traffic.

(5) Public land as used in this section shall mean any federally owned or managed property, any state owned or managed property, any private property which is part of a unitization hunting agreement, ranch wide agreement or unit wide agreement for the species being hunted, any private property which the department has paid for public access for the species being hunted or any New Mexico state game commission owned or managed property.

J.Mobility-Impaired (MI) hunters:

(1)Shooting from a vehicle: The holder of a MI card is authorized to shoot at, take or attempt to take protected species during their respective open seasons, with the appropriate license, from a stationary motor-driven vehicle only if the vehicle has been parked completely off of the established road's surface and only when the established road has no right-of-way fence. The holder of a MI card may not shoot at, take or attempt to take any protected species from within the right-of-way fence on any established road.

(2)Crossbow use: The holder of a MI card may use a crossbow during any bow hunt.

(3)Assistance for MI hunters: The holder of a MI card may be accompanied by another person, who is designated in writing, to assist in taking or attempting to take any big game animal which has clearly been wounded by the licensed MI hunter. The person so designated must carry that written authorization from the MI hunter at all times while in the field in order to act as their assistant. A MI hunter may only designate one person at a time to assist them. Any person assisting a MI hunter must follow the sporting arm type designated for that hunt and all other laws and rules which apply to a licensed hunter.

N.M. Admin. Code § 19.31.10.11

19.31.10.11 NMAC - Rp, 19.31.10.13 NMAC, 4-1-2007, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXVII, Issue 23, December 15, 2016, eff. 12/15/2016, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXIX, Issue 24, December 27, 2018, eff. 4/1/2019, Adopted by New Mexico Register, Volume XXXIII, Issue 21, November 8, 2022, eff. 4/1/2023