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New Mexico Legal Hunting Hours (2026)

Info: In New Mexico, legal shooting hours for big game are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset; hunting outside those hours is prohibited.

InfoVerified Jun 18, 2026

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Official source: wildlife.dgf.nm.gov →

New Mexico legal hunting hours by date

The rule above (big game): 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, worked out from each place’s own sunrise and sunset. Start times are rounded up and end times down to the minute.

Legal hunting hours for Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe	Start (MDT)	End (MDT)
Sat, Oct 17	6:43 AM	6:55 PM
Sun, Oct 18	6:44 AM	6:54 PM
Mon, Oct 19	6:44 AM	6:52 PM
Tue, Oct 20	6:45 AM	6:51 PM
Wed, Oct 21	6:46 AM	6:50 PM
Thu, Oct 22	6:47 AM	6:49 PM
Fri, Oct 23	6:48 AM	6:48 PM
Sat, Oct 24	6:49 AM	6:46 PM
Sun, Oct 25	6:50 AM	6:45 PM
Mon, Oct 26	6:51 AM	6:44 PM
Tue, Oct 27	6:52 AM	6:43 PM
Wed, Oct 28	6:53 AM	6:42 PM
Thu, Oct 29	6:54 AM	6:41 PM
Fri, Oct 30	6:55 AM	6:40 PM

Sunrise moves about 4 minutes for every 50 miles east or west, so times where you hunt can differ from Santa Fe. Seasons, species, special areas and Sundays can have their own hours — check the official source before you hunt. Sunday hunting in New Mexico

General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.

Legal Hunting Hours in states bordering New Mexico

The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.

ArizonaInfo
In Arizona, legal shooting time is during daylight hours (per the sunrise-sunset chart) or as set by Commission Order. Artificial light is illegal except for raccoon and certain mammals.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: azgfd.com · Full Arizona rule →
ColoradoInfo
In Colorado, big game may be taken from one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset (2 CCR 406-2).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: cpw.state.co.us · Full Colorado rule →
OklahomaInfo
In Oklahoma, big game shooting hours are one-half hour before official sunrise to one-half hour after official sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: wildlifedepartment.com · Full Oklahoma rule →
TexasInfo
In Texas, all game animals and nonmigratory game birds may be taken from 30 minutes before official sunrise to 30 minutes after official sunset.
Verified Jun 18, 2026 · Source: tpwd.texas.gov · Full Texas rule →
UtahInfo
In Utah, big game may be taken only between one-half hour before official sunrise and one-half hour after official sunset (Utah Admin. Code R657-5-6).
Verified Jul 30, 2026 · Source: adminrules.utah.gov · Full Utah rule →

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