Frequently asked questions - New Mexico Game and Fish

Online Application System Frequently Asked Questions 

Page 1 

ACCOUNTS 

How do I create an account? 

From the home page 

(www.wildlife.state.nm.us) choose “License 

Sales.” Here you have the options to enter 

your username and password, create an 

account, or find an account using the 

“Recover Account” option (see #2 below). If 

you know you do not have an account, 

choose “Create Account” and follow all 

instructions. Note that the blue dot in front of 

some fields provide addition information 

when the cursor is placed over it. 

When creating an account, it says “It 

appears you already have an account.” 

Please exit the area you are in and return to 

the “Login” page. Choose the “Recover 

Account” option. This will prompt you for 

your first name, last name, date of birth and 

the last four digits of your social security 

number. If your information is recognized it 

will prompt you to continue. Make sure you 

search for your account using any alternate 

first names you may have registered with 

(i.e. William, Will, Bill etc.). 

I have never created an account, but I 

have one? Who created an account for 

me? 

Accounts are migrated over from old 

systems, the manual local vendor system 

and from NMDGF Law Enforcement data. If 

other people have had access to your 

information (parents, grandparents, and 

outfitters) they may have set up an account 

in your name. Make sure your account is 

secure by changing your password and 

updating your security question (“Recovery 

Information”). 

When I login the system tells me I have 

duplicate accounts? 

When creating an account, it says the 

“username is not available.” 

Usernames are unique. As you are entering 

your username, the system may display 

“Username not available.” Complete 

entering your desired username, if the 

system still displays “Username not 

available” please choose an alternate name. 

When you have chosen a unique username 

the system will display “Username available” 

in green. 

I forgot my username and/or password. 

From the “Login” page choose “Recover 

Account.” Enter the requested personal 

information and choose “Find Account.” The 

system will either indicate “Cannot find an 

account that matches your information” or 

“Account Located. If this name is NOT your 

name return to the previous screen and 

make sure you entered your information 

correctly.” If the name is your name the 

system may ask you to enter the answer to 

a security question. Once your question is 

answered correctly, you will be given your 

username and you will be asked to reset 

your password. Passwords should be 6-15 

characters long with both letters and 

numbers. Once your password has been 

accepted, you will see “Your password has 

been updated” at the top of the “Login’ page. 

If you cannot answer your secret question, 

please call the Department at 888-248-6866. 

The answer to the security question is 

wrong or not working. 

The answer to the security question must be 

typed in exactly as it was entered; it is case 

sensitive. If you cannot get past the security 

question, please call the Department at 888- 

248-6866. 

Please call 888-248-6866 and we will work 

to correct your accounts.


Page 2 

When creating an account the system 

says “New password is not formatted 

properly.” 

Passwords must contain 6-15 characters, a 

combination of letters and numbers; it is 

case sensitive. 

My outfitter created my account, how do 

I gain access? 

Try to recover your account access through 

the Recover Account feature. If this does 

not work, contact your outfitter to retrieve 

this information. If you cannot reach your 

outfitter, please contact the Department at 

888-248-6866. 

PERSONAL INFORMATION 

My name, date of birth, last for digits of 

my social security number and/or my 

residency status has changed, how do I 

correct in the system? 

Please call the Department at 888-248-6866 

to update your identifying personal 

information. 

My address, email and/or phone number 

have changed, how do I update the 

information? 

Go to “My Account” in the main menu and 

you can update your contact and personal 

information. 

an application” and will be prompted for the 

application number and attach code. Attach 

codes are always 6 characters (letter, 

number, letter, number, letter, number). 

Please note the number of applicants per 

application is different for each species, 

refer to the Hunting Rules and Information 

Booklet for this information. 

I am trying to attach to another 

application but the application number 

and attach code don’t seem to be 

working? 

Make sure you are entering the correct 

application number obtained from the initial 

applicant. The attach code is 6 characters 

(letter, number, letter, number, letter, 

number). Finally make sure the application 

is not full and that it is an application you 

can attach to. 

I am trying to apply for Oryx in Draw 1 

but it is not there? 

The oryx draw is now part of Draw 2. 

I am trying to apply for hunts in Wildlife 

Management Area’s but do not see the 

options? 

Only New Mexico residents may apply for 

and draw hunts held exclusively on Wildlife 

Management Areas. Nonresidents may 

apply for hunts that occur concurrently on 

both WMA’s and public land. 

APPLYING FOR THE DRAW 

How do I create a group or party 

application? 

One person must first submit an initial 

application. When submitted, the initial 

applicant will be given an application (8 

digits) number and an attach code. Each 

applicant after the owner then enters the 

application system and chooses “Attach to 

The system is asking for a private land 

authorization number? 

Units 2A, 2B, 2C, 4 and 5A off have deer 

hunts available on private land only. To apply 

for these hunts, the applicant must have an 

authorization code obtained from the 

landowner. These authorization numbers may 

only be used one time. Landowner’s can 

obtain authorization numbers from the 

Northwest Area Game and Fish office.


Page 3 

It won’t let me attach to an application. 

Check that the application is not full and that 

the species for which you are applying allows 

multiple applicants. The reason you cannot 

attach will be noted towards the top of the 

page in a yellow box. 

I am trying to attach but it says the 

application is full. 

Check the Rules and Information booklet for 

the number of applicants allowed for the 

species to which you are attempting to apply. 

If the number of applicants has been met no 

more applicants may attach to the 

application. 

I am trying to change the hunt codes, but 

the system is not letting me. 

Once an application is paid in full, it cannot 

be edited. If you must change your hunt 

codes, you will need to delete the application 

and start over. The application fee is nonrefundable 

($8.00 residents and $20.00 nonresidents); 

the license fee for deleted 

applications will be refunded with the normal 

refund process in late April or early May. 

Do I need to submit a separate application 

for each species? 

Yes, a separate application is required for 

each species. 

How do I know my application is 

submitted correctly? 

You will receive a receipt that you may print 

to show that you have applied. You should 

have the status “Paid” assigned to your 

application. You should receive an email 

confirmation from 

NMspecHunts@state.nm.us. Please make 

sure you are able to receive from this address 

and that your email address in your account 

is correct. 

How can I tell if people are attached to 

my application. 

Log in to your account; go to “License 

Sales” then to “Public Draw Licenses.” 

Find the application in question and 

choose “Review,” all applicants on the 

application will be displayed. 

How do I view my application once it 

has been submitted? 

Log in to your account; go to “License 

Sales” then to “Public Draw License.” All 

the applications you have applied for 

should be displayed. Click “Review” to 

open each individual application. 

I am trying to apply for another 

person, but all I see is my 

information? 

If you see your information then you are 

logged in to your account. Log out of 

your account and have the other person 

log in to their account so they may apply 

for the draw. 

I don’t see the hunts I am trying to 

apply for? 

Hunt codes are listed in the Rules and 

Information Booklet. Please ensure you 

are referring to the correct year’s 

publication. Make sure you have chosen 

the correct species. If you are trying to 

apply for youth hunts, you must be a 

youth to see those hunts. If you are trying 

to apply for mobility impaired hunts, you 

must be certified as mobility impaired 

with the Department to see those hunts. 

Only residents of New Mexico may apply 

for cow elk hunts or hunts held 

exclusively on a Wildlife Management 

Area. If you have previously held a once 

in a life time hunt, you will not be able to 

view or choose that selection.


Page 4 

I am trying to apply for a cow elk hunt but 

do not see the cow elk hunt codes. 

Only New Mexico residents are eligible to 

apply for and draw cow elk licenses. 

application fee and your deleted application 

license fee will be refunded in late April or 

early May. 

When will I know if I am successful? 

CHANGING AN APPLICATION 

I want to withdraw my application, how 

do I do that? 

You may delete your application from the 

draw, but doing so will forfeit your nonrefundable 

application fee. To delete an 

application, log in to your account. Choose 

“License Sales” then “Public Draw Licenses” 

then choose the application you want to 

delete and click “Review.” On the review 

page, in the top right-hand corner, there will 

be an option to delete. If you delete yourself 

from an application you may submit another 

application for the same species, but you 

may NOT re-attach to the application 

number from which you are deleted. 

Deleting an application does NOT affect the 

other applicants. If you have submitted 

payment for an application and then choose 

to delete it, you will be refunded for the 

license fee with all draw refunds in late April 

or early May. 

I accidentally deleted my application. 

If you are deleted from an application it is 

final. You may submit another application 

for the same species, but you may NOT reattach 

to the application from which you are 

deleted. 

I applied for the wrong hunt and want to 

change to another hunt code? 

Once payment has been submitted for an 

application, it may not be edited. You may 

delete your application and submit another, 

but you will forfeit the non-refundable 

Check the current Rules and Information 

Booklet to find actual release dates. Email 

will be sent out to successful applicants. 

Make sure we have your correct email 

address in your account and that you can 

receive emails from 

NMSpecHunts@state.nm.us. 

PAYMENT/REFUNDS 

I am entering my credit card for my 

application, but it is not accepting it? 

We accept MasterCard and Visa log debit or 

credit cards only; please make sure you are 

using a credit card we accept. Enter the 

credit card number with NO spaces or 

dashes. Make sure the card is not expired 

and that the CCV code on the back of the 

card is entered correctly. 

What does status “Paid” mean 

“Paid” means the application fee and full 

license has been paid. 

When will my credit card be charged? 

Credit cards are charged the non-refundable 

application fee and the full license fee at the 

time you submit the application. When your 

card is successfully charged the payment 

portion of the screen will have the message 

“Approved.” If your card is not successfully 

charged the message will be “Declined.” 

Please ensure your card is approved before 

exiting the application. If your application is 

left unpaid it will NOT be valid for the draw.


Page 5 

What happens if I change my residency 

status after I have applied and paid? 

If you need to change your residency status 

after you have submitted the application fee, 

please call the Department at 888-248-6866. 

We will change your status. If you are 

changing from a resident to a non-resident 

you will owe additional fees, we will collect 

those over the phone via credit card or 

electronic check. If you are changing from a 

non-resident to a resident, we will owe you 

money and it will be refunded during the 

normal refund process in late April or early 

May. You must meet the residency 

requirements as defined in the Hunting 

Rules and Information Booklet. 

My credit card was lost/stolen, can I 

change the number? 

Credit card numbers may not be changed. 

If your credit card is no longer valid when 

refunds are issued you will instead receive 

a paper check; please ensure the mailing 

address in your account is correct. 

When will refunds be issued? 

Refunds for Draw 2 will be issued in late 

April or early May. 

What happens if my credit card is 

declined? 

If I am not successful, do I get a refund 

for the game hunting license? 

Refunds options are available for game 

hunting licenses purchased in conjunction 

with the draw. To be eligible for a refund 

the applicant MUST choose the refund 

option AND must be unsuccessful for all big 

game applications. If the refund option is 

not chosen, refunds will not be given. 

There is NO refund option for game hunting 

and fishing combination licenses. 

How will I receive my refund? 

Applications paid by credit card/debit card 

will be refunded directly to the card that was 

charged. Applications paid by e-checks will 

be issued paper checks; please make sure 

your mailing address in your account is 

correct. 

GENERAL QUESTIONS 

Will I receive my game hunting or game 

hunting and fishing license in the mail? 

No, all licenses purchased through the 

online system will be able to be printed at 

home or wherever you prefer. If you do not 

have access to a printer, you may request a 

license be mailed to you by calling 888-248- 

6866. 

If your credit card is declined when initially 

submitting the application, you do not have 

a valid application. Please ensure you 

have the appropriate funds in your account 

before applying for the draw.


Page 6 

Why do I have to buy a game hunting 

license? 

In 2011, the State Legislature made 

changes that impact all residents and 

nonresidents who hunt in New Mexico. 

These changes were effective beginning the 

hunt year starting April 1, 2012. One of the 

changes made is the requirement that any 

one applying for or purchasing a big game 

or turkey license must have a game hunting 

or game hunting and fishing license. 

How can I see everything I have applied 

for and purchased? 

Under the main menu choose the “My 

Purchases” option. From the drop down 

box, choose the year you are inquiring 

about. This will display all purchases, 

including applications that have occurred 

directly with the Department. Licenses 

purchased from local vendors are not 

displayed in real time. 

I would like to purchase a General 

Hunting and Fishing license, but cannot 

find it? 

In 2011, the State Legislature made 

changes that impact all residents and nonresidents 

who hunt in New Mexico. One of 

the changes made is the requirement that 

any one applying for or purchasing a big 

game or turkey license must have a game 

hunting or a game hunting and fishing 

license. The game hunting license is valid for 

small game and takes the place of the small 

game license which was part of the General 

Hunting license, effectively making a 

General Hunting license or General Hunting 

and Fishing license obsolete. 

ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS 

If you have additional questions, please 

contact 888-248-6866. 

Do I need to purchase a deer license if I 

applied for a draw deer license? 

If you are successful for deer in the public 

land draw you will have a deer license 

issued to you. . Licenses sold at local 

vendors and through the “General License” 

portion of our website, are only valid for 

Private Land Only. Do not buy a deer 

license from a local vendor or through 

General License sales until draw results 

have been announced. If you have any 

questions regarding this topic, please call 

888-248-6866.

Frequently asked questions - New Mexico Game and Fish

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