CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – The first week of June may not feel like the heart of hunting season, but for many New Mexico hunters, this is when the real planning begins.
Across Cibola County, hunters preparing for the 2026–2027 season should now be checking license status, reviewing draw results, confirming hunter education requirements, watching fire restrictions and studying maps for the fall. Much of Cibola County’s hunting activity is tied to New Mexico’s draw system, public land access and the rugged game management units that surround Grants, Mount Taylor, the El Malpais area and the Cibola National Forest.
For hunters who applied for draw licenses, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish uses an automated random draw system. Applications are assigned a random sequence number, and the system checks first, second and third choices against available licenses. New Mexico does not give preference to applicants who were unsuccessful in previous years, meaning hunters start fresh each draw cycle.
State law sets aside at least 84% of draw licenses for New Mexico residents. Another 10% are awarded to residents and nonresidents applying with a New Mexico registered outfitter, while 6% are available to nonresidents applying without an outfitter. Antlerless elk licenses and hunts held exclusively on Wildlife Management Areas are reserved entirely for New Mexico residents.
For Cibola County hunters, elk and deer are often the major focus. Residents applying for elk, deer, pronghorn, javelina, Barbary sheep, bighorn sheep, ibex or oryx must purchase a nonrefundable 2026–2027 Game-Hunting License or Game-Hunting & Fishing License before applying. Draw license applications also include a nonrefundable application fee of $7 for residents and $13 for nonresidents.
Successful applicants are issued a license and carcass tag unless they choose the E-Tag option. Unsuccessful applicants are refunded the draw license fee, but not the application fee or other license fees.
Cibola County is also a place where hunters must pay close attention to land ownership. The county includes federal land, state land, private ranches and tribal lands. Hunting on tribal land requires tribal permission or a tribal permit. Private land also requires permission from the landowner. Hunters should not assume open country means open access.
The Cibola National Forest remains one of the important hunting areas in the region, but hunters should check current U.S. Forest Service alerts before heading out. June also brings a serious fireweather concern in western New Mexico. Fire restrictions can affect camping, vehicle access, equipment use and whether hunters can safely scout certain areas.
Young hunters and families should also look closely at education requirements. Hunters 17 years old and younger must have a Hunter Education number or a New Mexico mentor-youth number before purchasing a gamehunting license. Youth-only hunts are available for hunters who are 17 or younger on opening day of the hunt. The mentoryouth program allows firsttime hunters ages 8–17 to hunt under the supervision of a qualified adult mentor, but the program is limited to certain species.
Reduced-fee licenses are available for resident juniors, resident seniors, disabled residents, activeduty military members and veterans. New Mexico residents who are active-duty military or honorably discharged veterans may qualify for a 50% discount on licenses, permits and stamps, though the discount does not apply to application fees or some other charges.
For Cibola County residents who are new to hunting, June is a good time to start small: create or check a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish account, confirm hunter education status, review the 2026– 2027 rules booklet, and make sure maps show public land boundaries clearly. Scouting should be done carefully and respectfully, especially near private property, Pueblo lands and areas affected by drought or fire danger.
Hunters should also remember that regulations can vary by species, unit, weapon type and season. A legal elk hunt in one unit may not be legal in another. A license may specify bow, muzzleloader or any legal sporting arm. Tags, stamps and validations must match the hunt.
For help with licenses, applications, harvest reporting or general hunting information, residents can contact the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at 1-888-248-6866 or visit wildlife.dgf.nm.gov.