New Mexico Sheep Draw Question
Wild Sheep
Contributors to this thread:
I usually apply for New Mexico sheep however as a non resident, do I even have a chance to draw with the new system? I used to put in because there were no preference points and since I apply for elk anyway, I figured why not throw my name in but is it even possible to draw as an unguided non resident?
There should be 1 desert ram tag and 1 rocky tag in the non-resident pool. So yes there is a chance, pretty slim but not zero.
There's enough of a chance to justify the purchase of a $13 lottery ticket.
JRABQ...is there a chance if you don't attach to a guide????
How do you know which hunt has the available tag? Also, do you front the tag fee when you apply or only if you draw?
"How do you know which hunt has the available tag?"
As I understand it, there is one NR tag in each ram hunt code (BHS-1-201 and BHS-1-204). You could draw any of the choices within each of those codes, until one NR draws a tag.
There are 2 ewe hunt codes so be careful.
The quota is really treated as a "cap", or "up to" situation, not a guarantee, so it is possible that no NR will draw a tag. But given the number of applicants and tags this is highly unlikely.
You have to front the fee when you apply. NM is usually pretty good about issuing refunds quickly, but it is a lot of money.
"is there a chance if you don't attach to a guide????"
As described above, yes. But your chances in the outfitter pool are probably better, since there are fewer applicants. In this pool there should be (up to) 2 tags available for desert sheep (21 tags, 10% =2 tags). There will be either 1 or 2 tags available in the outfitted pool for Rocky Mtn, depending on who you talk to.
For a rough idea of your odds, last year there were ~2700 applicants in NR pool, and ~500 in the outfitted pool. Anybody's guess how those numbers will change this year.
you front the tag fee of over $3,000 for a really small chance to draw. Last Year I sent in Over $9,000 for me and my 2 kids to be in the draw and then selected ZERO non-residents for desert sheep so our odds were Zero. The odds of ZERO are much worse than winning the lottery. I feel cheated to say the least.
"The odds of ZERO are much worse than winning the lottery."
Yep that sucks. That was last year, the court ruling came at a bad time. This year they bundled everything into 2 hunt codes so they could give out NR and outfitter tags and still abide by the 84/10/6 quota, which is required by statute. At least I think that's why they did it.
its as clear as mud, not sure if they are giving out 2 or 3 tags
ABQBW explains the nr tags over in the nm forum.
ABQBW thanks for taking then time to explain..
Per the NM dept of games and fish, the Director is going to issue 3 additional permits this year.
1 Rocky ram tag to the outfitted pool 1 rocky ewe any weapon tag 1 rocky ewe archery tag
the actual breakdown will be as follows:
Rocky Ram 16 res, 2 outfitted, 1 nonresident Rocky Ewe 11 res, 1 outfitted, 1 nonresident Rocky Ewe archery 11 res, 1 outfitted, 1 nonresident Desert Ram 18 res, 2 outfitted, 1 nonresident
Don't even ask what I think about the Director issuing an extra rocky ram permit to a nonresident in the outfitted pool... (it will go to a nonresident because no resident would be statistically stupid enough to apply in the outfitted pool).
ABQBW,
The reasoning is a mess for sure!
Adveturewriter,
If you ever draw that tag I hope you will be generous enough to let me contribute in some way. I can be a great pack mule!
So what was the reasoning for issuing the additional permits?
The reasoning? The Director of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish doesn't think the outfitters and Nonresidents will draw enough sheep permits now that the quota applies so she is going to create and issue additional permits just for them. She is bending the living crap out of the law to do it. It's basically flipping the bird at NM residents. She, like most of her predecessors over the past few decades could give a rats ass about NM residents. Unless of course they are outfitters or landowners.
Perhaps she is feeling the lost revenue?? It will take a year or two for the numbers to shake out and reality to set in. Then who will pay? I wonder.
The lost revenue is insignificant. There aren't enough sheep permits to matter. They doubled the number of auction and raffle permits a few years ago that generate far more money than nonresident permit fees. The Rocky permit and Desert permits auctioned for $330,000 this year combined. She is giving up a permit for $3000. No. It's not a revenue thing. It is a New Mexico Dept of Game and Fish bias in favor of nonresidents, landowners, and outfitters. She is a product of the culture and DNA of the organization where she has spent her entire career. It's an automatic response.