New Mexico Deer Population An estimated 97,00 deer in 2022, up slightly from 95,000 in 2021 from good weather, but down from 105,000 deer in 2020 as result of drought. About 88% mule deer and 12% Coues whitetails and Texas whitetails. The state estimated mule deer populations have been in the range of 80,000 to 100,000 from 2015 to 2022, but noted the effect of drought in 2021 and better weather in 2022. There have also been rough estimates of 10,000 to 15,000 Coues and other white-tailed deer. An estimated total population of 98,000 deer in 2016, down from about 200,000 in 1999. The mule deer population was estimated at 301,000 or more in the mid-1960s compared to about 90,000 (80,000 to 100,000) in recent years. New Mexico 2023 Deer Forecast. New Mexico 2023 Elk Forecast.
New Mexico Deer News
Santa Ana Pueblo takes back ancestral land, declares conservation efforts, trespassing enforcement June 13, 2024 New Mexico,
Source New Mexico
... Our Land reports the Pueblo is using traditional knowledge and western science to heal the land after it was aggressively grazed for more than a century... “The elk have returned, the deer has returned, the antelope have returned, the bobcats, the mountain lions have returned,” ...
New report reignites debate around New Mexico's elk private land use system April 30, 2024 KUNM
... Elk are notorious for causing damage on private lands ... New Mexico’s Elk Private Land Use System or EPLUS, is meant to offset these damages and incentivize private land conservation ... providing landowners with special elk “tags” ... Opponents say the program privatizes elk hunting, making it more available to those with deep pockets...
Conservation agreement will protect elk migration route in northern New Mexico December 17, 2023 New Mexico, Albuquerque Journal
... A conservation agreement between one northern New Mexico landowner and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation means that elk and mule deer will be guaranteed 3,537 acres of winter range in perpetuity...
Colorado wolf releases could impact New Mexico's recovery of the lobo September 21, 2023 New Mexico, Carlsbad Current-Argus
... The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is presently undertaking recovery efforts concentrated in southwest New Mexico and southern Arizona, with 136 wolves in New Mexico and 105 in Arizona in 2022, according to the agency’s latest data published in February...
Wandering bull moose is captured in downtown Santa Fe, moved to habitat in northern New Mexico September 13, 2023 New Mexico, Caledonian Record
... The moose was sedated with a tranquilizer dart and loaded onto a trailer before being evaluated by a Game and Fish Department veterinarian and determined to be in good health...
Moose sighting near Tesuque, New Mexico September 11, 2023 KRQE Blogs
... [photos available] ..,
Plan to address wildlife-vehicle collisions in Grant awaits funding May 31, 2023 NEw Mexico, Silver City Daily Press
... fund the design phase of the first of 11 prioritized projects. Theoretically, the U.S. 180/N.M. 90 Silver City Wildlife Corridor is the plan’s second highest priority ... Most collisions in Silver City’s hot spot — 465 out of 574 animal collisions — are with mule deer...
Game and Fish investigating animal dumping ground May 10, 2023 New Mexico, KOB.com
... in northeast Albuquerque... at least four to five carcasses of doe deers ... illegal to move, handle, or possess wildlife that’s dead or alive ...
US rolls out funding for wildlife crossings along busy roads April 4, 2023 New Mexico, ABC
... Native American tribes, as well as state and local governments will be able to tap into $350 million in infrastructure funds to build wildlife corridors ... New Mexico also joined the effort when lawmakers passed legislation this spring to set aside $100 million for conservation projects...
New Mexico OKs its 1st wildlife bridges to limit collisions March 23, 2023 St. Joseph News-Press
... Several hundred large animals — primarily deer and elk — are killed in the state each year by collisions that can also total cars and severely injure human passengers..,
Rising oryx numbers may distress New Mexico ecosystem March 9, 2023 New Mexico, The Wildlife Society
... The New Mexico Game and Fish Department first introduced the South African oryx ... to the Tularosa Basin starting in 1969 ... Their diet overlaps with native species like ... mule deer ... Based on their larger size, and the weapons they wield in the form of nearly three-foot long horns, they could outcompete these ungulates for water and food ...
New Mexico lawmakers weigh next step for wildlife crossings January 30, 2023, Kiowa County Press
...State data also shows between 2002 and 2018, more than 11,000 deer were involved in crashes, or about 671 each year. The state's 2022 Wildlife Corridors Action Plan identified 11 safe-passage projects to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and restore habitat connectivity ...
2023-2024 Elk Hunting Forecast January 26, 2023 New Mexico, Department of Game and Fish
... Recent population estimates for elk indicate that the greater majority of herds are either stable or slightly increasing in size, with approximately 104,000 elk across all of New Mexico ...
2023-2024 Deer Hunting Forecast January 26, 2023 New Mexico, Department of Game and Fish
... Because of the influence of precipitation on fawn survival, most of New Mexico’s fawns are lost during the dry summer ... Mule deer populations in southwestern ecosystems require at least 35 fawns per 100 does over the long term to maintain stable populations. This is much lower than the 60-70 fawns per 100 does required in northern states, because New Mexico does not experience the heavy winter die-off that is experienced in those areas ...
Watch out for wildlife in the new year January 7, 2023 New Mexico, lcsun-news.com
... In 2019, the state legislature passed the Wildlife Corridors Act, which allocated $500,000 to study and identify priority areas to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions involving mule deer, elk ...
New Mexico Deer News and Information Archive by Topic: Population and Management, Deer in the News, Disease, Suburban, Transportation
New Mexico data: The state has provided an estimated range of 80,000 to 100,000 mule deer from 2012 to 2023 to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. In 2024 the state reported: "The 2023-2024 winter has been good in New Mexico with normal or above average
snowfall in most parts of the state. New Mexico’s long-term drought has resulted in reduced
recruitment. However, there have been enough beneficial moisture years to allow the population
to remain stable throughout the state with local variation."
In 2023 the state reported: "The 2022 summer monsoons were very robust in New Mexico, and we saw major improvements in vegetative health, soil moisture, and streamflow. The 2023 spring moisture has been also above average for the state... Because of consecutive years of good precipitation and fawn recruitment, many populations should start increasing throughout the state." An estimated elk population of 104,000 in 2022.
The population graph below combines hunting data with estimates for the mule deer population range given by the state and a few other published sources. The data analysis. Historic estimates for Coues and whitetail deer are limited, but they are thought to have expanded their range in recent years.
A dry 2021 pushed the population toward the lower end of the range as reflected in the graph above. The state reported a rough estimate of 12,500 Coues white-tails and Texas white-tails to the Natioinal Deer Associaton for 2019. For 2022 Game and Fish reduced deer hunting licenses for southeast New Mexico. Using hunting data and published comments, the 2021 the total deer population is estimated at 95,000 given the drought - about 83,000 mule deer and 12,000 Coues and Texas whitetails.
Graph Below from 2022 Western Assocation of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, submitted by the state of New Mexico. Follow link for details.
A population estimate in the press of about 80,000 mule deer and 12,000 Coues deer in 2013 compared to the model estimate of 98,000. Some white-tails in the river bottoms and along the Texas border, Coues white-tails are mostly in the southwest. Persistent drought beginning in the winter of 2010-11 reduced populations. In 2013 the state reported: "The latest drought hitting New Mexico that began in the winter of 2010-2011 has continued throughout the state. Mule deer populations have declined statewide because of low recruitment. Some moisture occurred statewide during the monsoon season followed by the 2011-2012 winter with more precipitation than in 2010-2011. 2012-2013 has been one of the driest periods in recorded history."
A population estimate of 5,000 Coues whitetails in 2009. Up to 200,000 mule deer in 1999.
History Habitat loss and over hunting pushed the population down to its low of about 40,000 in the early 1900's. In 1894 New Mexico began to restrict the taking of wild game. In 1894 the deer season was reduced to six months and banned killing deer for hides. In 1899 the hunting limit was set at one buck but no does.
In 1931 a doe harvest is reinstated to control some populations. According the Department of Fish and Game: "Mule deer populations climbed to approximately 150,000 by 1938, reached 250,000 in 1950, and peaked at 301,000 or more in the mid-1960s." Doe hunts were generally ended in 1983. In 2013 only 124 were taken compared to 8509 bucks. A three point or better antler restriction was imposed in 2004, currently requires forked antler. Hunter success usually around 30 percent. Historical information from: Mule Deer in New Mexico [PDF] Mule Deer of New Mexico [PDF]
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was first discovered in New Mexico in 2002, in the southern hunting region on the White Sands Missile site where, according to one source, deer were imported from Colorado where CWD was prevalent. Two of three deer that tested positive in 2006 came from the area, with the third from an area near the village of Timberon. Five deer from the region tested positive in 2016.
Elk were hunted to extinction in the late 19th century. A private ranch started a reintroduction in 1911.
Moose. A moose was sighted in September, 2023, near Tesuque.
Cougars An estimated 3,000 to 4,500 cougars (mountain lions) in the state in 2015.
Bears An estimated 5,000 to 7,000 bears.
Mexican Wolf An estimated 87 wolves in 2019. In 2023 an estimated 136 wolves as a result of recovery estimates.
Report Poaching: People can report poaching anonymously to Operation Game Thief at 800-432-GAME.
Other useful links:
- New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources Department
- New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) is a nonprofit organization of sportsmen and women dedicated to protecting New Mexico’s wildlife, public lands ...
- Guidelines for Monitoring Elk and Mule Deer Numbers in New Mexico [PDF]