Deadline to apply for draw hunts is Aug. 12 at 5 p.m.

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Wildlife will begin accepting applications for draw Sandhill crane and pheasant permits beginning at 10 a.m. July 15.

Applications can be made through your online account or by phone at 888-248-6866. The application deadline for draw Sandhill crane and pheasant permits is Wednesday, Aug. 12, at 5 p.m. Successful applicants must have a valid 2026-2027 Game Hunting License or Game Hunting and Fishing License, as well as any applicable stamp(s), in addition to their draw permit. 

The hunts available during this draw application period are listed below:

Bernardo, Jackson Lake and W.S. Huey WMA Youth-only Pheasant Hunts

Hunt Area

Hunt Code

Season Dates

Bag Limit/# of Permits

Bernardo

PHE-0-001

Oct. 17

3 males/20

W.S. Huey

PHE-0-002

Dec. 5

3 males/40

Jackson Lake

PHE-0-004

Dec. 5

3 males/10

W.S. Huey WMA Pheasant Hunt<.h4>

Hunt Area

Hunt Code

Season Dates

Bag Limit/# of Permits

W.S. Huey

PHE-0-003

Dec. 12

3 males/40

Sandhill Crane Hunts*<.h4>

Hunt Area

Hunt Code

Season Dates

Bag Limit/# of Permits

Eastern Hunt

N/A; free
permit required

Oct. 24-
Jan. 21, '27

3 per day and 6 in
possession/Unlimited

Estancia Valley Hunt

SCR-0-101

Dec. 12-15 
and Dec. 17-20

3 per day and 
6 in possession/65

MRGV Hunts

SCR-0-102

Nov. 14-15

3 per day and 
6 in possession/87
 

SCR-0-103

Nov. 28-29

3 per day and 
6 in possession/87
 

SCR-0-104

Dec. 12-13

3 per day and 
6 in possession/87
 

SCR-0-105

Jan. 2-3, '27

3 per day and 
6 in possession/87
 

SCR-0-106

Jan. 9-10, '27

3 per day and 
6 in possession/87

Southwestern

SCR-0-108

Oct. 31-Nov. 8

3 per day and 
6 in possession/75
 

SCR-0-109

Jan. 2-3, '27

3 per day and 
6 in possession/77

*Up to four hunters may apply per application.

Youth Sandhill Crane Hunt (residents only)*<.h4>

MRGV 
Youth-Only

SCR-0-107

Nov. 21

3 bag and 3 in possession/24

*Up to two hunters may apply per application.

Successful Sandhill crane applicants also must have a Harvest Information Program (HIP) number. Each year, migratory game bird hunters must obtain a separate HIP permit number for each state in which they hunt migratory game birds.

Both the 2026-2027 Hunting Rules and Information Booklet and the 2026-2027 Migratory Bird Rules and Information Supplement are currently available on the Department's website in both English and Spanish.