Courses & How-to-Register

  • Wildlife identification (such as whitetail antler or track casts from elk, moose, and bear) is key for responsible, ethical hunters in New Mexico.
  • A pellet shooting trailer helps New Mexico students understand proper sight alignment, sight picture & ethical shot placement while hunting.
  • Students receive instruction on proper zones-of-fire techniques in a Field Day Hunter Education Course from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
  • Students demonstrating the proper kneeling position during a sponsored Hunter Education Course from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
  • Students are instructed to safely work a lever action firearm in a Hunter Education Course from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
  • Student learns to safely work a bolt action firearm in a Department sponsored Hunter Education Course from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
  • Students learning to safely cross a fence during a Hunter Education Course from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish.
  • Field Day course from New Mexico Department of Game and Fish. Students learn the importance of matching correct firearm ammunition.
  • Students during New Mexico Department of Game and Fish field evaluation demonstrating the prone shooting position, the most steady of four positions.

How-to-Register

  • First review our Hunter Education Course Schedule and Course Types in the tabs below.
  • Next create a CIN account for each individual student through our Online License System: click here.
    (If the student already has a CIN account, simply log in: click here).
  • In the student’s CIN account, click Hunter Education (from the Main Menu), then click the Register for Hunter Ed Classes button, and follow the prompts.

2019 Statewide Hunter and Bowhunter Education Courses

Below you will find a current list of scheduled statewide hunter and bowhunter education courses. This list is updated as we hear from our volunteer instructors. Check back frequently if you do not see a class in your area as this list is updated daily.

Hunter Education Homework

All students registered for either a hunter education or field day hunter education course have the option of completing the required pre-course homework either electronically (see link below) OR through a hardcopy student manual. Both options are free. Hardcopy manuals may be picked up from specified locations once a student has registered for a course or from one of the department’s area offices. Either versions of the student manual homework are acceptable and must be completed prior to the first day of class to gain admittance.

It is necessary to have access to a computer, printer and adequate internet to download and print the pdf version of the student manual and worksheets. Students must print and bring the completed worksheets to class to gain admittance. Students do not need to print out the entire manual, just the worksheet pages. This manual meets the pre-course homework requirement portion of any instructor-led hunter education course. Click here to download the FREE pdf student manual and worksheet.

Today's Hunter: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Manual pre-course homework requirement portion of instructor-led hunter education course).

The electronic manual DOES NOT qualify youth hunters for the Mentored-Youth Quiz or for the Mentored-Youth Hunting Program.

Hunter/Bowhunter Education Course List

Updated 01-27-2020
Keep checking on a regular basis for our 2020 hunter and bow hunter education instructor-led course schedule. Courses are added to the below class listing as we hear from our teaching teams.

For specific course times, locations and registration information you MUST be logged into the students New Mexico Online License System account.

Courses listed as Hunter Education are for students of any age. Field Day Hunter Education courses are for students ***10 years of age and older for these classes. Additionally, Live-Fire may be associated with any course and indicates that students will participate in an actual shooting activity on a range. Bowhunter student courses will not certify a student to hunt with a firearm.

Note: sort the contents of this table by clicking arrows next to column names (either up or down), or by typing a single word into the search box. Search examples could be: NEW, Valencia, Bowhunter, etc.
CountyCityClassClass DateRegistration OpensNotice
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter EducationJan 18-19Dec 30
BernalilloSandia ParkHunter EducationJan 25-26Jan 6
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter EducationFeb 1-2Jan 8
BernalilloIsletaHunter EducationFeb 1-2Jan 13
BernalilloSandia PuebloHunter EducationFeb 7-9Jan 22
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter Education
/ Field Day		Feb 8Jan 20
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter Education
/ Field Day		Feb 9Jan 20
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter Education Feb 22-23Jan 27
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter EducationMar 7-8Feb 17
BernalilloIsletaHunter EducationMar 7-8Feb 17
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter EducationMar 14-15Feb 24
BernalilloAlbuquerqueBow Hunter EducationApril 4Mar 6
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter Education
/ Field Day		May 16Apr 27
BernalilloAlbuquerqueBow Hunter
/ Field Day		Jun 13May 25Updated
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter Education
/ Field Day		Aug 15Jul 27
BernalilloAlbuquerqueHunter Education
/ Field Day		Oct 17Sep 27
BernalilloAlbuquerqueBow Hunter EducationDec 5Nov 16
CatronReserveHunter EducationFeb 28-29Feb 1
ChavezRoswellHunter EducationJan 25-26Jan 8
CibolaN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
ColfaxN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
CurryMelroseHunter EducationMar 6-7Feb 17
De BacaFt. SumnerHunter EducationFeb 1-2Jan 6
Dona Ana Las CrucesHunter Education Feb 22-23Jan 27
Dona Ana Las CrucesHunter Education Mar 7-8Feb 17
EddyArtesiaHunter EducationJan 24-25Jan 9
EddyArtesiaHunter EducationFeb 7-8Jan 20
EddyArtesiaHunter EducationFeb 21-22Feb 3
GrantSanta ClaraHunter Education Feb 8-9Jan 15
GrantSilver CityHunter Education Feb 28-29Feb 10
GrantSilver CityHunter EducationMar 7-8Feb 17
GuadalupeN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
HardingRoyHunter EducationJan 10-11Jan 3
HidalgoLordsburgHunter EducationFeb 8 & 15Jan 20
HidalgoVirdenHunter EducationFeb 22Feb 3
HidalgoVirdenHunter EducationFeb 22 & 29Feb 3Updated
LeaLovingtonHunter Education / Live FireJan 31 - Feb 2Jan 17
LincolnCoronaHunter EducationFeb 14-15Jan 27
Los AlamosN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
LunaDemingHunter Education Jan 25-26Jan 6
McKinleyN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
MoraN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
OteroTularosaHunter Education Jan 10-12Dec 19
OteroMescaleroHunter Education Feb 8-9Jan 22
OteroMescaleroHunter Education Feb 15-16Jan 27
OteroCloudcroftHunter Education Feb 22-23Jan 29
QuayN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
Rio ArribaEspanolaHunter Education Jan 31- Feb 1Jan 10
Rio ArribaEspanolaHunter Education Feb 7-8Jan 20
Rio ArribaChamaHunter Education Feb 22-23Feb 3
RooseveltN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
San JuanBloomfieldHunter EducationNov 15-17Oct 15
San JuanFarmingtonHunter EducationJan 24-26Jan 6
San JuanBloomfieldHunter EducationFeb 14-16Jan 22Updated
San JuanFarmingtonHunter EducationFeb 15-16Jan 27
San MiguelN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
SandovalSan FelipeHunter EducationNov 23-24Nov 8
SandovalRio RanchoHunter Education
/ Field Day		Jan 4Dec 11
SandovalSanto Domingo PuebloHunter EducationFeb 8-9Jan 20
SandovalSanto Domingo Hunter Education
/ Field Day		Feb 29Jan 29
SandovalCochiti PuebloHunter Education
/ Field Day		Mar 7Feb 5
Santa FeEdgewoodHunter Education
/ Field Day		Mar 14 Feb 19
SierraN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
SocorroMagdalenaHunter EducationJan 28-Feb 1Jan 13
SocorroMagdalenaHunter EducationFeb 18-22Feb 3
TaosTaosHunter EducationJan 17-19Dec 30
TaosTaosHunter EducationFeb 14-16Jan 27
TaosTaosHunter EducationMar 6-8Feb 17
TorranceN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
UnionN/ANo classes at this time.N/AN/A
ValenciaPeraltaHunter EducationJan 18-19Dec 30
ValenciaBelenHunter Education
/ Live Fire		Jan 25-26Jan 6
ValenciaBelenHunter Education
/ Live Fire		Feb 29Feb 10
ValenciaBelenHunter Education
/ Field Day		Apr 25Apr 4

Bowhunter Course Options

Bowhunter Education courses have limited offerings and/or are scheduled based on demand in any given area. If you are in need of a bow hunter education course to meet hunting requirements out-of-state or to meet other requirements, please contact the Department’s Hunter Education Program at 505-222-4722.

Standard Bowhunter Course – is approximately an eight (8) hour course that incorporates lecture, review and emphasizes hands-on learning. Students are evaluated through a written exam and a field test. An adult is required to attend the course with students 10 years of age and younger. Students must complete their course homework prior to attending the class. Students have the option of completing their homework by obtaining a free hard copy of the Today’s Bowhunter student manual or by completing the online course qualifier. Please be advised that the online option is a user-pay. Instructions on how to obtain a hard copy manual is available through the students New Mexico Online License System CIN account once a they have registered for a bowhunter course.

Field Day Bowhunter Course – is for students 10 years of age and older. This is an accelerated four (4) hour course that focuses on hands-on skills only and field evaluations. An adult is required to attend the course with students under 11 years of age. 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.

 

Today's Bowhunter: New Mexico Department of Game and Fish