Rabbit Hunting

[MrReady]

Does anybody hunt rabbit ? I am not from NM but I live here now and I am not sure on how it works. So if any of you guys hunt rabbit( or small game) any info would be great. Thanks.

[sinclair]

Used to be an avid hunter. Don't have the endurance these days. What would you like to know ? Maybe this would be better. The state wildlife site has it all, well lots of things anyway. Main site is here:

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/

But your particular question is best answered by looking at the current state laws and regs found by wading around on the above site. If you miss it then go here:

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/publications/documents/rib/2008/smallgame08.pdf

Its a 22 page PDF file. Look on page 9 for part of this:

Nongame species: These are coyotes, skunks, rabbits*, and rock squirrels. Note the asterisk on rabbits. White-sided (Antelope) Jackrabbits are a nationally protected rare species, sorta like taking a bald eagle. You don't want to ever be in that position.
Residents of the state are not required to have a license for nongame species. Non-residents must have either a non-resident, nongame species license or any other current non-resident hunting license. Nongame species may be taken on any US Forrest Service or BLM Lands that are open to hunting. Private land with written permission of the owner in your possession.(Best obtained with an Access Courtesy Card, real easy to do.)
State Trust Land as long as both Residents and non-residents have the appropriate license for the appropriate Trust game land species normally hunted there, even though you are hunting rabbits. (Use caution for State Trust Lands.) Indian Reservations with permission/license from the Reservation Game authority.

[MrReady]

Thanks big time. This is the kinda info I was looking for.

[sinclair]

Thanks big time. This is the kinda info I was looking for.

Well, if you are that serious, maybe I should continue a bit. In my first post above, lets call that the legal issue and hunting laws. Also that site I gave you can be used to obtain any hunting license the state offers.

Lets call this post the GPS or navigation issue. How do you know where you are versus the hunting issue ? I recommend good hunting maps, say those that identifiy hunting boundaries for you. I recommend the BLM hunting maps, but they are a bit on the pricey side. If you consider it to be insurance against being fined or trespassing, then the price aint so bad.

Available New Mexico Hunting maps by area:

http://mappery.com/map-name/Index-of-BLM-Maps-for-NM-Hunting-Units

To order any of these maps call toll free: 1-877-851-8946 or go to

http://www.publiclands.org/mapcenter

[MrReady]

Another thing I never thought about. Good thinking.

[Jizzle]

how illegal or legal is what i've heard called "bunny blasting"?

it's where you go out in the desert with a truck and blast bunnies? I heard a guy at work talking about it. doesn't sound like the smartest thing ever.

[sinclair]

how illegal or legal is what i've heard called "bunny blasting"?

Sounds to me like the pdf in my first post above would go a long way toward you being able to keep the guys at work out of serious trouble. Lets see, on page 4 is this little advisory if the bunny blasting occurs at night.

Page 4
"Vehicle Confiscation: Department officers may seize vehicles used in the crime of hunting at night with the use of artificial light. Vehicles used by "spotlighters" may be confiscated and sold at auction." And that is in addition to the fines and loss of hunting privileges.

Page 5
The left side is a list of no-no's for small game and water fowl. The eighth and ninth on the list, taken together, not only prohibit hunting from ANY vehicle, they also prohibit hunting within 40 feet of ANY road or easement, EVEN ON FOOT. Note this whole pdf is only for small game/water fowl.
If big game hunting or bow hunting or black powder, you need to see the other rules and regs for those categories. When you see the words "protected species", that's generic game animals which have a hunting season. It means managed by the game department. That is not the same thing as a nationally protected rare species, which New Mexico does have a few. The rare ones can never be hunted since they have more rights then you do.

Page 7
Hunting on private land, generic rules.

Page 12
Use of non-toxic shot for shotgunners in WMA areas.

Page 14
Summary of Federal Game law that supercedes NM game law. Persons cited for federal migratory game violations must appear in Federal Court.

Note for MrReady: Page 3 appears to conflict with Page 9, since page three says "ALL Hunters must have a license." I suspect a recent change to the law. Let me look around for the real cause.

[MrReady]

Before I started this thread it thought it was simple. Then I started
reading the rules and I figured out thatthere is a little more to it than
I thought. :eek:

[sinclair]

I figured out that there is a little more to it than I thought.

Look at it sorta like a vacation or going boating, or off-roading. There are hazards associated with most things we do and they are best addressed by good preparation. Well planned and you are confident with the whole effort. That means no big unpleasant surprises and a good time.

There are over 30 million acres of public land open to hunting in this state. Most of it well worth your time.

Check these sites out with that in mind:

http://www.sangres.com/sports/hunt/huntingnm.htm

http://www.nmosg.com/Hunting/

BLM Hunting info:

http://www.blm.gov/nm/st/en/prog/recreation/recreation_activities/hunting.html

[Grampa]

As is the norm, Sinclair has covered this about as accurately as you can get. I have been a volunteer hunter safety instructor for the past couple of years which allows me to keep up with most of the regulations but I have to admit that is the first time I went to the BLM website. Thanks Sinclair, that will come in handy next class. Like it or not, with an increase in population comes an increase in rules and regulations, even when it comes to bunny rabbits. There used to be people hunting quail and rabbits in the foothills east of Scenic and the arroyos off of South Florida here in Alamogordo. Try that now and someone's going to call the law. I kind of liked it more 30 years ago, internet be hanged :rolleyes:

Laws of Life # 16. Opportunities always look bigger after they have passed.