Courses & How-to-Register

Courses are available year-round and statewide and all course types will certify students in hunter education. All course registration for instructor-led courses is conducted online through the student’s NMDGF Customer Identification Number (CIN) account. It is recommended to enroll in the first available course in your area. Courses before the draw deadlines and hunting seasons fill quickly. Bowhunter Education courses will not certify a student to hunt with a firearm.

To view a current course listing, please click the Course Schedule tab above. Additional courses in your area may be scheduled throughout the year so be sure to check the Course Schedule frequently for updates.

There are several types of course options to obtain your education certification. All instructor-led courses require students to complete a homework requirement prior to course attendance. The homework is free and can be found on the Course Schedule tab. To view course specifics you MUST be logged into your New Mexico Online License System account.

Hunter Education – is an instructor-led student course approximately 14-16 hours in length. This traditional style of course is for students of ANY AGE that incorporates lecture, video, hands-on and review methods to educate students. Students who are 10 years of age and younger must have a parent/guardian/responsible adult attend the course with them.

Field Day Hunter Education – is an accelerated instructor-led hunter education course approximately six (6) hours in length. This course for students 11 years of AGE and older ONLY and incorporates less lecture and review and adds more hands-on components. This course is an excellent option for Mentor-Youth Hunters.

Live Fire – any instructor-led hunter education course may have an additional live-fire portion. If a course has a live-fire component students will have the opportunity to practice their marksmanship and shooting fundamentals under the direct instruction of certified instructors and department staff on a range.

Once registered in an instructor-led course, students must attend all class sessions, pass a written exam and will be tested on their ability to safely handle firearms to earn their hunter education certification. Classes often spend two or more hours outdoors. Please be sure the student is dressed accordingly. If the student fails the course, they will need register and take the entire course again.

Online Hunter Education

This course is an entirely online hunter education course option for New Mexico residents 11 years of AGE and older only. There is no required instructor-led course component for students who pass this hunter education course option. The online course is user-pay and upon successful course completion, students will be required to pay a user-fee to the online course provider. Online students must pass all chapter quizzes and the final exam to earn their New Mexico hunter education number. This is NOT the homework for the instructor-led courses.

The department will continue to offer instructor-led, in-person student courses for students who do not qualify for the online course and for those who would prefer to take the in-person course. See the Course Schedule tab for upcoming, statewide hunter education course dates. Questions: contact the Hunter Education Office at (505) 222-4731, email dgf-he@state.nm.us , or contact any of the Department’s satellite offices.

Once a student has successfully passed either an instructor-led or the online course, the hunter education certification is recognized in all 50 states, Canadian provinces and Mexico.

Hunter Education Cards/Numbers
Hard copy hunter education cards are no longer mailed out to graduating students. Upon successful completion of a hunter/bowhunter education course, students will need to reprint their CIN card. The student will see an additional line with the hunter ed number listed below their name. Once the hunter ed number is listed on the CIN card, it becomes the student’s Hunter Education card/proof and is what they need to carry with them while hunting. If the hunter ed number does not appear on the CIN card after successful completion of a New Mexico hunter education course, please contact the Hunter Education Office at (505) 222-4731 or email dgf-he@state.nm.us .

The department bowhunter education courses teaches the fundamentals of safe and responsible archery hunting. Bowhunter education certification is not required to hunt during archery seasons in New Mexico; however, it is required in several surrounding states. Information on states with mandatory bowhunter education requirements can be found at the IHEA’s Bowhunter Education Standards webpage. The New Mexico Bowhunter Education Certification is accepted in all 50 states and Canadian Provinces. Bowhunter education courses are very hands-on and students are not required to have their own equipment.

Registration for bowhunter education courses is conducted online through the students department CIN account.

Field Day Bowhunter Course – is for students 11 years of age and older. This is an accelerated four (4) hour course that focuses on hands-on skills only and field evaluations. Students participating in the Bowhunter Field Day course are REQUIRED to complete the online Field Day qualifier course and exam at www.bowhunter-ed.com/newmexico/. This course is a user pay. It is necessary to have access to a computer, printer (for completion certificate) and adequate internet access to complete the online portion for the Bowhunter Field Day.

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