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Hunting Regulations at Bitter Lake Check Station Procedure General Regulations National Wildlife Refuge All hunters using the Middle Tract must Disturbing wildlife, such as “rallying” or Public on Bitter Lake National complete survey cards at the check station stirring up birds so that they fly over the Wildlife Refuge is allowed in those areas (near Visitor Center) after each hunt, hunt areas, is prohibited. designated as open to hunting by field signs regardless of success. Neither hunters nor their dogs may exit and as indicated on the accompanying map. Firearms and Ammunition hunt areas to retrieve game. The following terms and conditions supplement the regulations which govern Refuge hunters must follow State mandated All personal property, including decoys hunting on National Wildlife Refuges, as set regulations pertaining to legal sporting and portable blinds, must be directly forth in Title 50, Code of Federal arms and ammunition. Only shotguns tended at all times. Regulations, part 32 and in current Federal (capable of holding no more than three Access to the North Tract is restricted to Migratory Bird and State Hunting shells) are permitted while legally hunting walk-in or via horseback, except non- Regulations. ducks, geese, coots, sandhill cranes, doves, motorized bicycles may be used on quail, pheasants, and on designated Species Allowed established roads only east of the Salt hunt areas of the refuge. Only U.S. Fish Creek Wilderness. North Tract and Wildlife Service approved nontoxic Feral hogs may be taken (no bag limit) shot may be used in shotguns when hunting , feral hog, , duck, goose, coot, from the North Tract only while legally on any part of Bitter Lake National sandhill crane, dove, quail and pheasant. hunting deer and only with the weapon Wildlife Refuge. Possession of lead shot Middle Tract legal for deer on that day. for hunting is illegal on the refuge. The Duck, goose, coot, sandhill crane and discharge of weapons other than for legal Falconry hunting is not permitted. pheasant. hunting purposes is prohibited. All litter, including spent ammunition Hunting Days and Times Dogs casings, must be removed and disposed of properly. Please help us sustain the refuge (Refer also to supplemental Hunting Hunting dogs may be used for hunting hunt by removing any litter that you see, Seasons leaflet) waterfowl and upland game. They are even if you did not put it there. Hunts are North Tract required to be under close control of their subject to closure if problems with litter handlers at all times. Hunting is allowed on all days within the persist. State authorized seasons during legal Hunt Sites and Blinds Hunters are expected to exercise hunting hours. (No extended Eurasian– All hunting sites are considered available to reasonable care when attempting water collared dove, youth waterfowl or late light hunters on a first come, first served basis. crossings as unpredictable conditions may goose conservation order seasons or year No pit blinds or permanent blinds are exist. round rabbit hunting). allowed. Portable blinds are allowed but Please only attempt to shoot at game from Middle Tract must be removed each day. within a reasonable range. “Sky busting” Hunting is allowed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Roads, Parking, and Trails (shooting out of range) only promotes and Saturdays within the State authorized Vehicle travel is allowed only upon instances of wounded and lost game and seasons from legal morning shooting time to established public use roads. Other access reduces the quality and success of the hunt 1:00 p.m. (No early teal, youth waterfowl or is limited to established public use roads for everyone. late light goose conservation order seasons). and trails until inside the designated hunt For Additional Information: Permits and Licenses Requirements area. Parking is allowed in designated Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge A valid State hunting license is required. A parking areas only. Do not block roads or 4200 East Pine Lodge Road Federal Migratory Bird Permit (HIP) is intersections. Roswell, NM 88201 required for anyone hunting migratory birds. Refuge / Wildlife Violations Persons 16 years of age and older must also 575/625-4011 Please report any hunting or refuge have a validated Federal 575/625-4004 FAX violations by calling US Fish & Wildlife and Conservation Permit (Duck Stamp) www.fws.gov/refuge/Bitter_Lake Service’s TIPS hotline at 1-844-397-8477 while hunting waterfowl. All crane hunters or contact the New Mexico Game & Fish must have a free Federal Sandhill Crane Operation Game Thief hotline at 1-800-432- September 2020 Permit (available at all New Mexico 4263. Do not confront violators but rather be Department of Game and Fish Offices). a safe/good witness and provide as much Habitat Management and Access Validation information about the incident as possible. required (except as per state regulations). BITTER LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE HUNTING SEASONS – 2020/2021

GAME BAG LIMIT MIDDLE TRACT SEASON NORTH TRACT SEASON

DEER 1 deer possessing an antler Middle Tract closed to deer hunting ANY LEGAL SPORTING ARM (Hunt Unit 32) which has a definite fork, Oct. 31–Nov. 4, 2020 (DER-1-295) showing two or more distinct November 14–18, 2020 (DER-1-296)

points. A burr at the base does not constitute a point or MUZZLELOADER, BOW AND CROSSBOW fork. October 24–28, 2020 (DER-3-301)

(No antlerless season on the refuge) BOW ONLY September 1–24, 2020 (DER-2-299) and January 1–15, 2021 (DER-2-300)

Feral Hog No Limit Middle Tract closed to feral hog hunting Hog(s) may be hunted only while legally hunting deer and only with the weapon legal for deer on that day.

Dove 15 per day Middle Tract closed to dove hunting September 1–October 28, 2020 (45 in possession) and December 1, 2020 – January 1, 2021 (No bag/possession limit for (No extended season for Eurasian-collared dove) Eurasian-collared dove)

Quail 15 per day Middle Tract closed to quail hunting November 15, 2020 – February 15, 2021 (30 in possession)

Rabbit No Limit Middle Tract closed to rabbit hunting November 15, 2020 – February 15, 2021

Pheasant 3 males per day December 10 & 12, 2020 December 10–13, 2020 (6 in possession) Thurs. & Sat. - 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1:00 p.m.

Sandhill Crane 3 per day October 24, 2020 – January 23, 2021 October 24, 2020 – January 24, 2021 (6 in possession) Tues, Thurs, & Sat - 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1:00 p.m.

Dark Geese 5 per day October 17, 2020 – January 30, 2021 October 17, 2020 – January 31, 2021 (Canada and White-Fronted Geese) (15 in possession) Tues, Thurs, & Sat - 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1:00 p.m.

Light Geese 50 per day October 17, 2020 – January 30, 2021 October 17, 2020 – January 31, 2021 (Snow, Blue-phase Snow, & Ross’s Geese) (No possession limit) Tues, Thurs, & Sat - 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. (No light goose conservation order season on refuge) (No light goose conservation season on refuge)

American Coot 15 per day October 29, 2020 – January 30, 2021 October 28, 2020 – January 31, 2021 (45 in possession) Tues, Thurs, & Sat - 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. (No youth waterfowl season on refuge) (No youth waterfowl season on refuge)

Ducks 6 per day total to include no October 29, 2020 – January 30, 2021 September 12– 20, 2020 (September teal season) more than 5 (only 2 Tues, Thurs, & Sat - 1/2 hr. before sunrise to 1:00 p.m. October 28, 2020 – January 31, 2021 females), 2 , 3 wood (Mexican-like ducks are considered part of the mallard bag) (No September teal or youth waterfowl season on the (No youth waterfowl season on refuge) duck, 3 scaup, 2 hooded Middle Tract) merganser, 1 pintail, 2 (possession = 3 times daily) Deer (Youth and hunters with disabilities This will be three special “draw” hunts held on Oct. 24-25, Nov. 14-15, and Dec. 19-20, 2020 on the refuge. Deadline to apply is only) September 25, 2020. Contact the refuge at the number listed below to find out if you are eligible and for more information. HUNTERS MUST COMPLY WITH ALL FEDERAL AND STATE HUNTING REGULATIONS. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT THE REFUGE AT (575) 625-4009 or 4011.