New Mexico Game and Fish considers increasing license prices, changing department name

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The New Mexico Game and Fish Department (NMGAFD) could soon be going by a new name, and that’s not the only change lawmakers are proposing. They’re also looking to hike hunting and fishing fees.

“This is an evolution of past efforts. This is the second discussion draft we’ve worked on during the interim; this won’t be the final bill,” said Rep. Matthew McQueen (D-Santa Fe). The draft bill could mean a shakeup for New Mexico’s Department of Game and Fish, with three key parts.

“The first is an update and modernization of the department and the commission’s mission to be a broader wildlife agency,” McQueen explained. He said his goal is to give the department and the game commission the authority to handle any wildlife in New Mexico, not just game and fish, and this includes a name change to better reflect that mission.

“It [the bill] takes the current game commission and changes it to a wildlife commission; it changes the name of the department to the department of wildlife,” McQueen says.

The second part of the bill is reforming that commission, which governs hunting and fishing regulations and oversees the department. The bill overhauls how its members are nominated, who selects them, and how long they stay. It will still consist of seven members, but the bill clarifies who should hold the positions.

“It remains three at large positions; there are geographic and political party diversity requirements; and then it has four sort of position seats. Those include a rancher or farmer, a conservationist, a hunter or angler, and a scientist,” McQueen said

The third part has to do with financing, including figuring out state funding sources and raising the prices of hunting and fishing licenses; some by a few dollars, others by much more.

“I should note that they [the fees] haven’t been updated in 20 years. They’re set in statute, so they immediately, with inflation, they sort of get whittled away,” McQueen explained. The proposal also adds a provision for the fees to be adjusted with inflation going forward based on a calculation with the consumer price index (CPI).

The New Mexico Game and Fish Department says they’ve been working with the sponsors on the bill as it evolves. “There will be meetings and discussions between us and the sponsors of that bill as this process goes forward,” said Darren Vaughan, communications director for NMGAFD.

If the bill makes it through the Roundhouse, it could go into full effect by the end of 2026.