New Mexico
Landowner Tags
How the Tag System Works in New Mexico
There are three different ways to hunt big game in New Mexico. First, you can draw a license in the annual big game draw. Next, you could purchase a private “Ranch Only” landowner tag that allows you to hunt that private land only. Or third, you could buy the most popular “Unit-Wide” landowner tag that allows you to hunt all of the public land in that unit, the issuing landowner’s private land as well as any other private lands enrolled in the unit-wide system within that hunt unit.
The Department of NM Game & Fish issues elk authorizations to eligible landowners in the through the EPLUS program. These authorizations can then be bartered/traded or sold to buy an elk license. The purchase of a landowner tag is also subject to New Mexico sales tax.
In addition to buying a landowner tag, NM requires license fees and stamps as well
In addition to your tag, you will still need to purchase an Elk License, a NM small game license (Res-$15, NonRes-$65), and pay the mandatory HMAV fee ($4) as well as a habitat fee ($10) if hunting National Forest or BLM lands.
Elk License Costs
Bull Elk: Res $99, Non-Res $557(S), $782(Q)
Cow Elk: Res $69, Non-Res $347
How much does New Mexico landowner tag cost?
Prices for landowner tags can vary greatly. In large part, it’s a supply and demand issue. The more that people are competing for tags to hunt in New Mexico, the higher it drives the price. There has been a large jump in tag costs in the last couple of years. Though cow tags can go for much much less, landowner tags for bull elk can currently range anywhere from about $3,000 to around $7,000 dependent on the unit quality and availability.
2023 New Mexico Elk Tags
Unit 53 Antlerless, Mature Bull & Either Sex Hunts:
Unit 53 borders and runs from the Valle Vidal unit east of Red river all the way west to the Rio Grande Gorge and the Taos area. This is a vast unit of approximately 200,000 acres of public land with lots of elk and quality bulls.
SEPTEMBER ARCHERY HUNTS – Either Sex Tags Left: 0 of 11 SOLD OUT
We are listing 4 Unit Wide Archery tags from a ranch in Unit 53. Price $4500 plus sales tax.
September 1st -14th This is an Either Sex Archery hunt for Unit 53.
September 15th -24th This is an Either Sex Archery hunt for Unit 53.
OCTOBER HUNTS – Mature Bull (Any Legal Weapon) or Either Sex (Muzzleloader/Bow/Crossbow) Tags Left: 8 of 15 left.
Our October Tags allow the purchaser to select from one of the three different dates below and two types of hunts. Price $4000 plus sales tax (Multiple tag discounts).
October 7th – 11th This is an Either Sex (Bull/Cow elk) hunt and the hunter can use a Muzzleloader, bow or crossbow.
October 14th – 18th This is a Mature Bull only hunt and the hunter can use any legal weapon.
October 21nd – 25th This is a Mature Bull only hunt and the hunter can use any legal weapon.
NOVEMBER HUNTS – Antlerless (Any Legal Weapon) Tags Left: 6 of 17 left.
These Tags allow the purchaser to select from three different hunt dates. Price $850 plus sales tax (Multiple tag discounts)
November 11th – 15th This is an Antlerless Elk hunt and the hunter can use any legal weapon.
November 18th – 22nd This is an Antlerless Elk hunt and the hunter can use any legal weapon1