New Mexico Duck Hunting Season 2026-2027: Dates & Regulations
The New Mexico duck season 2026-2027 is now officially set, and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) has published final dates in its 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird Rules & Info supplement. Because New Mexico straddles two of the nation’s great waterfowl flyways, duck hunters here don’t deal with a single statewide season. Instead, the state is divided into four duck hunting zones — the Central Flyway North Zone, Central Flyway South Zone, Pacific Flyway North Zone, and Pacific Flyway South Zone — and each zone has its own opening day and, in some cases, its own bag limits.
Duck hunting in New Mexico generally opens in early to mid-October 2026 and runs into January 2027, with a September teal season kicking things off for early-season specialists. There are no split duck seasons in New Mexico for 2026-2027 — each zone runs one continuous segment, which makes planning a multi-zone road trip refreshingly simple compared to states like Texas or Louisiana. Whether you’re a first-time waterfowler eyeing the Middle Rio Grande Valley or a seasoned hunter chasing mallards in the eastern playa lakes, this guide walks you through every date, bag limit, license, and regulation you need before heading afield.
One thing never changes in waterfowling: regulations can change. Migratory bird frameworks are adjusted annually, and special rules apply on individual wildlife management areas. Always verify the current rules with NMDGF before you hunt.
New Mexico Duck Season 2026-2027 at a Glance
| Information | 2026-2027 Details |
|---|---|
| Regular Duck Season | Central Flyway North: Oct. 10, 2026 – Jan. 13, 2027; Central Flyway South: Oct. 28, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027; Pacific Flyway North & South: Oct. 19, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Hunting Zones | 4 zones: Central Flyway North, Central Flyway South, Pacific Flyway North, Pacific Flyway South |
| Daily Bag Limit | 6 ducks (Central Flyway); 7 ducks (Pacific Flyway) |
| Possession Limit | 3× the daily bag limit (18 Central / 21 Pacific) |
| Shooting Hours | One-half hour before sunrise to sunset (earlier 1 p.m. closeouts on several WMAs) |
| Youth Waterfowl Days | Oct. 3-4 (Central North); Oct. 24-25 (Central South); Oct. 10-11 (Pacific, both zones) |
| Veteran/Military Days | No separate veteran/active-duty waterfowl days listed in the 2026-2027 supplement |
| Early Teal Season | Sept. 12-20, 2026; 6 teal daily (blue-winged, cinnamon, green-winged) |
| Required License | New Mexico Game-Hunting License (resident or nonresident) |
| New Mexico Waterfowl Stamp | None — New Mexico does not require a separate state waterfowl stamp |
| Federal Duck Stamp | Required for all hunters 16 and older ($29) |
| HIP Registration | Required for all migratory bird hunters (free) |
New Mexico Duck Season Dates for 2026-2027
These are the official, final regular duck season dates published by NMDGF in the 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird supplement:
| Duck Hunting Zone | Season Dates |
|---|---|
| Central Flyway North Zone | Oct. 10, 2026 – Jan. 13, 2027 |
| Central Flyway South Zone | Oct. 28, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Pacific Flyway North Zone | Oct. 19, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
| Pacific Flyway South Zone | Oct. 19, 2026 – Jan. 31, 2027 |
Opening and closing days at a glance:
- Earliest opening: Central Flyway North Zone, Saturday, Oct. 10, 2026 — this is opening day for the northeastern quarter of the state.
- Latest opening: Central Flyway South Zone, Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.
- Latest closing: Jan. 31, 2027, shared by the Central South and both Pacific Flyway zones.
- Split seasons: None. Every New Mexico duck zone runs one continuous segment in 2026-2027 — there are no mid-season splits to track.
The staggered openings are deliberate: the northern zone opens earliest as the first cold fronts push birds down from the Rockies and the Prairie Potholes, while the southern zone — where many birds winter on reservoirs and the Rio Grande — opens later. If neighboring-state seasons matter to your travel plans, the Arizona hunting seasons guide covers the western border, and the Colorado duck season guide covers the San Luis Valley flyway connection to New Mexico’s north.
One quirk worth noting: in the Pacific Flyway, scaup has a slightly shorter season than the rest of the duck bag — scaup runs Oct. 19, 2026 – Jan. 12, 2027, closing about three weeks before the regular duck season ends.
New Mexico Duck Hunting Zones
New Mexico divides its waterfowl hunting into four zones based on the two major flyways that cross the state. The Continental Divide and Interstate 40 (plus U.S. Highway 54 at Tucumcari) are the dividing lines:
Central Flyway North Zone — Everything east of the Continental Divide and north of I-40 and U.S. Hwy. 54 at Tucumcari. This is the northeastern part of the state: the high plains around Clayton, Tucumcari, and the playa-lake country, plus the northern Rio Grande corridor.
Central Flyway South Zone — East of the Continental Divide and south of I-40/U.S. 54. This includes the southeastern dairy-and-playa country, Roswell, Carlsbad, and the Pecos River watershed.
Pacific Flyway North Zone — West of the Continental Divide and north of I-40. Think Gallup, Farmington, and the San Juan River basin.
Pacific Flyway South Zone — West of the Continental Divide and south of I-40: the desert wetlands around Las Cruces, Elephant Butte, and the Arizona border counties.
Why does this matter so much? Because the bag limits differ by flyway — Central Flyway hunters get 6 ducks daily while Pacific Flyway hunters get 7 — and the season open dates vary by nearly three weeks. Shooting a limit in the wrong zone on opening day is a ticket, not a trophy. NMDGF publishes the official zone boundaries in the Migratory Game Bird Rules & Info booklet, and hunters should confirm exactly which zone their hunting location falls in before the season. The I-40/U.S. 54 boundary passes right through central New Mexico, so some popular stretches of the Rio Grande sit close to zone lines.
New Mexico Duck Season Bag Limits
New Mexico’s species-specific restrictions differ between the two flyways, so the table below shows both. The total daily duck bag limit is 6 in the Central Flyway and 7 in the Pacific Flyway, and the possession limit is three times the daily bag limit (18 and 21, respectively).
| Duck Species | Central Flyway Daily Limit | Pacific Flyway Daily Limit | Important Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mallard (total, incl. Mexican duck) | 5 | 5 | Only 2 may be female; Mexican ducks count as mallards |
| Hen Mallard | 2 | 2 | Included within the 5-mallard limit |
| Wood Duck | 3 | 3 | Included within aggregate |
| Northern Pintail | 3 | 3 | Included within aggregate |
| Canvasback | 2 | 2 | Included within aggregate |
| Redhead | 2 | 2 | Included within aggregate |
| Scaup | 1 | 2 | Pacific Flyway scaup season runs Oct. 19 – Jan. 12, 2027 only |
| Black Duck | — | — | Rare in NM; none listed as separate sub-limit |
| Mottled Duck | — | — | Not present in New Mexico |
| Hooded Merganser | 2 | 2 | Included within aggregate |
| Other Ducks | Complete the aggregate | Complete the aggregate | — |
How the aggregate works: a Central Flyway limit of 6 ducks could be, for example, 5 mallards (2 hens max) plus 1 other duck — but if you took 3 pintails, only 3 more ducks of any species could fill the daily bag. A Pacific Flyway limit of 7 might be 5 mallards plus a pintail and a canvasback. Remember that Mexican ducks — New Mexico’s resident mallard subspecies along the Rio Grande — count toward the mallard limit, so learn to distinguish them before you shoot.
What License Do You Need to Hunt Ducks in New Mexico?
New Mexico Hunting License
All duck hunters need a New Mexico Game-Hunting License, which costs $15 for residents and $65 for nonresidents. The license is valid for the license year (April 1 – March 31). Key age rules:
- Residents 11 and younger do not need a license (though all other laws, like hunter education and stamps, still apply).
- Youth 17 and younger can buy a reduced-fee Junior Game-Hunting License ($10 resident / $15 nonresident).
- All hunters 17 and younger must have passed hunter education or hold a mentor-youth number.
Note that New Mexico’s $10 Habitat Stamp is only required when hunting on U.S. Forest Service or BLM land — not for general waterfowl hunting — and the $4 Habitat Management and Access Validation applies to big-game and turkey licenses, not ducks.
New Mexico Waterfowl Stamp or Validation
Here’s some genuinely good news for your wallet: New Mexico does not require a state waterfowl stamp, duck stamp, or migratory bird validation. Unlike many states, there is no separate state-level waterfowl fee beyond your Game-Hunting License. The only state-level add-on for migratory bird hunting is the free HIP registration below.
Federal Duck Stamp
Federal law requires all waterfowl hunters 16 years of age and older to purchase and carry a valid Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp (Federal Duck Stamp), which costs $29. Critical details:
- The stamp must be signed in ink across the face to be valid for hunting if you carry the physical stamp.
- Electronic stamps (E-Stamps) are available online through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the E-Stamp receipt is valid immediately for 45 days while the physical stamp is mailed to you.
- Stamps are valid July 1 through June 30, and one Federal Duck Stamp is valid in any state — no need to buy a new one per state.
- You can buy stamps at NMDGF offices and license vendors, most U.S. Post Offices, or online.
HIP Registration
HIP (Harvest Information Program) is a federal data-collection program that all migratory game bird hunters must complete. In New Mexico:
- Every migratory game bird hunter must obtain a HIP number — no age exemption applies to registration itself.
- Registration is free.
- You complete HIP when you buy your license through the NMDGF online license system or at any license vendor, answering a few harvest-survey questions.
- A separate HIP registration is required for each state you hunt, each year.
License Requirement Summary
| Requirement | Resident | Nonresident | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunting License | Yes — Game-Hunting License | Yes — Game-Hunting License | Free for residents ≤11 |
| HIP Registration | Yes — free | Yes — free | Renew annually |
| New Mexico Waterfowl Stamp/Validation | Not required | Not required | NM has no state duck stamp |
| Federal Duck Stamp | Yes, if 16+ | Yes, if 16+ | $29, signed in ink |
New Mexico Duck Hunting License Costs for 2026-2027
| License or Permit | Resident Cost | Nonresident Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Game-Hunting License | $15 | $65 |
| Junior Game-Hunting License (17 and under) | $10 | $15 |
| Temporary 4-Day Game-Hunting License | Not issued | $33 |
| Federal Duck Stamp (16+) | $29 | $29 |
| HIP Registration | Free | Free |
| Habitat Stamp (only for USFS/BLM land hunting) | $10 | $10 |
A few pricing notes: all purchases carry a $1 vendor fee; the Game-Hunting & Fishing combination license ($30 resident) is available if you also fish; and license fees are subject to legislative adjustment, so confirm the current price when you buy. Compared to most waterfowl states, a New Mexico nonresident duck hunt is inexpensive — license, duck stamp, and free HIP come to under $100 total.
Youth Waterfowl Hunting Days in New Mexico
New Mexico offers dedicated Youth Waterfowl Days in every zone, held before each regular duck season opens:
| Zone | Youth Waterfowl Days |
|---|---|
| Central Flyway North | Oct. 3-4, 2026 |
| Central Flyway South | Oct. 24-25, 2026 |
| Pacific Flyway (North and South) | Oct. 10-11, 2026 |
The rules for these special hunts:
- Eligibility: Youth hunters must be 17 years of age or younger and fully licensed — no special hunt permit is required.
- Adult supervision: An adult 18 or older must accompany the youth in the field.
- Can adults hunt? The accompanying adult may not hunt ducks during youth days, though a properly licensed adult may participate in other seasons open at the time (such as goose seasons where applicable).
- Species: In the Pacific Flyway, youth may take ducks, coots, and gallinules; in the Central Flyway, ducks and coots only.
- Bag limits: Regular season bag and possession limits apply during youth days.
- Requirements: Hunters 16 and older still need the Federal Duck Stamp; HIP is required for all youth.
- Open WMAs: Bernardo, La Joya, Wagon Mound, Charette Lake, McAllister Lake, and Tucumcari wildlife management areas are open for youth waterfowl days — a great chance for young hunters to access managed wetlands before the crowds.
Veteran and Active-Duty Military Waterfowl Hunting Days
Unlike many states, the New Mexico 2026-2027 Migratory Game Bird supplement does not list any separate veteran or active-duty military waterfowl hunting days. No special dates, qualification criteria, or documentation rules exist for a standalone military waterfowl hunt in New Mexico this season. Veterans and active-duty hunters participate under all the regular season dates, bag limits, and licensing requirements described in this guide — though qualifying hunters should ask about NMDGF’s reduced-fee disabled veteran licenses (a $10 Disabled Veteran Game-hunting & Fishing license is available) if they also pursue other game.
Early Teal Season in New Mexico
Yes — New Mexico offers a genuine September teal season for 2026-2027, and it’s a fantastic early-season option across the state:
- Dates: Sept. 12-20, 2026
- Legal species: Blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, and green-winged teal only
- Daily bag limit: 6 teal, singly or in aggregate
- Possession limit: 18
- Shooting hours: One-half hour before sunrise to sunset statewide — including on Bernardo and La Joya WMAs, where teal-season hours run later than the regular-season WMA rules
- Requirements: Standard Game-Hunting License, free HIP registration, and a Federal Duck Stamp if you’re 16 or older
Early teal regulations differ significantly from the regular duck season: the species list is much narrower (all other ducks are off-limits), the daily limit applies only to teal, and identification skills matter enormously since blue-winged and cinnamon teal share wetlands with juvenile shovelers and other lookalike species. When in doubt, don’t shoot.
New Mexico Duck Hunting Shooting Hours
Legal shooting hours for migratory game birds in New Mexico are one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, unless otherwise noted. That’s the statewide standard for ducks, geese, and the September teal season. However, several wildlife management areas close earlier:
- Bernardo, Jackson Lake, La Joya, and W.S. Huey WMAs: shooting ends at 1 p.m. during applicable waterfowl seasons (Bernardo Unit D’s exception runs to one-half hour after sunset on specified days during the light goose conservation order).
- Many WMA units are also open only on specific days (typically Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday), so check unit-level rules, not just dates.
- During Youth Waterfowl Days at Bernardo, blind selection is first-come, first-served starting one-half hour before sunrise.
Because NMDGF sunrise/sunset tables drive the exact legal window, carry the official table in the Migratory Game Bird supplement and remember that WMA boundaries can hold different hours than adjacent private land.
Where Can You Hunt Ducks in New Mexico?
Public Land
New Mexico’s public waterfowl opportunities cluster along the Rio Grande, Pecos River, and high-plains playas:
- State Wildlife Management Areas: The flagship waterfowl WMAs are Bernardo and La Joya in the Middle Rio Grande Valley — managed wetland units with blinds, day restrictions, and early-afternoon closeouts. Casa Colorada, Wagon Mound, Charette Lake, McAllister Lake, Tucumcari, Jackson Lake, and W.S. Huey round out the roster, each with unit-specific rules (some sections are falconry-only or handicap-accessible, and vehicles are restricted to designated areas).
- National Wildlife Refuges: Bosque del Apache NWR is legendary for sandhill cranes and snow geese, with designated waterfowl hunt areas and seasonal rules; Sevilleta, Bitter Lake, and Las Vegas refuges also offer managed hunting on portions of their land. Refuge-specific regulations always supersede general state rules, so check each refuge’s hunt brochure.
- BLM and National Forest lands: Generally open to waterfowl hunting, with the $10 Habitat Stamp required.
- Rio Grande corridor: The International Boundary and Water Commission authorizes bird hunting on designated federal levee-adjacent tracts along the river in southern New Mexico.
Private Land
New Mexico law requires permission to enter posted or fenced private land, and much of the state’s best duck water — dairy lagoons, irrigation ponds, playa lakes, and corn-stubble river bottoms — is private. Always obtain written permission where possible; the state’s trespass laws carry real penalties, and landowner relations are the currency of long-term access. Nonresident hunters should budget time to secure access before opening day.
Draws, Reservations, and Controlled Hunts
New Mexico does not run a lottery for general duck hunting — regular duck seasons on WMAs and refuges are first-come, first-served. However, sandhill crane hunts in the Estancia Valley and Middle Rio Grande Valley are draw-permit hunts (with an application deadline in mid-August), and the Bernardo Youth Hunt Unit uses first-come, first-served blind selection on youth days. If you plan to combine duck and crane hunting, apply for crane permits through the NMDGF online system well before the August deadline.
Important New Mexico Duck Hunting Regulations
Key rules every New Mexico duck hunter must follow:
- Non-toxic shot: Federal law requires approved non-toxic shot (steel, bismuth, tungsten, etc.) for all waterfowl hunting — lead shot is prohibited nationwide for ducks and geese.
- Shotgun capacity: Standard federal rules require shotguns incapable of holding more than three shells for duck and goose hunting; the “unplugged” allowance applies only during the Light Goose Conservation Order (Feb. 1 – March 10, 2027).
- Electronic calls: Prohibited during regular duck seasons; permitted only during the Light Goose Conservation Order with the required free permit.
- Baiting: Hunting migratory game birds over bait is a federal violation — this includes recently spread grain, salt, or feed that could concentrate birds.
- Wanton waste: You may not abandon edible portions of migratory game birds; retrieve and retain your birds.
- Species identification: Because sub-limits (hen mallards, pintails, canvasback, scaup) are enforced per bird, hunters are responsible for identifying ducks in hand and in the air. Migratory birds may not be totally feathered or plucked before transport — leave one fully feathered wing or the head attached for identification.
- Retrieval: Make a reasonable effort to retrieve downed birds, including wading or using a dog.
- HIP compliance: Carry your HIP number with your license.
- WMA-specific rules: Day-of-week openings, 1 p.m. closeouts, designated-vehicle rules, and unit closures all apply at state WMAs — read the unit listings in the supplement.
Best Ducks to Hunt in New Mexico
New Mexico’s duck species mix reflects its position at the junction of two flyways:
- Mallard (including Mexican duck): The king of New Mexico’s ducks. Rio Grande Valley potholes, Bernardo and La Joya wetlands, and eastern playa lakes hold strong mallard numbers, with the best hunting from November through January as cold fronts push new birds south.
- Northern Pintail: Abundant in the Central Flyway’s southern zone and on reservoirs like Elephant Butte and Conchas; early migrants arrive by the October openers.
- Green-winged Teal: One of the most consistently harvested ducks in the state, found on shallow marshes and river sloughs throughout the season.
- Blue-winged and Cinnamon Teal: Primarily early-season and September teal targets in the Rio Grande Valley and southwestern wetlands; most blue-wings depart by late October.
- Gadwall: A dependable late-season bird on the Middle Rio Grande managed wetlands and southern reservoirs.
- American Wigeon: Common along the Rio Grande and on pacific-flyway desert ponds, peaking mid-December through January.
- Northern Shoveler: Ubiquitous on New Mexico’s shallow wetlands all season — great for dog work and young hunters.
- Wood Duck: A specialty bird of the Rio Grande’s cottonwood sloughs and the Gila drainage in the Pacific Flyway south; the 3-bird daily limit is generous by national standards.
- Redhead and Canvasback: Divers taken on Elephant Butte, Ute Lake, and Bitter Lake NWR waters; both carry 2-bird sub-limits.
- Scaup: Late-season divers on large reservoirs; note the Pacific Flyway’s shorter scaup season ending Jan. 12.
Tips for Hunting During the New Mexico Duck Season
- Scout water levels first. New Mexico lives and dies by irrigation and snowpack. The Rio Grande’s managed wetlands at Bernardo and La Joya flood on a schedule set by water availability, and playa lakes in the east can be bone-dry or brim-full depending on summer monsoons. Check water conditions in the week before your hunt — don’t assume last year’s spot still holds water.
- Hunt the front. New Mexico’s biggest flights follow cold fronts out of the Rockies and the central plains. The staggered zone openings mean the Central Flyway North’s Oct. 10 opener often catches the first significant migration of pintails and teal.
- Travel light but hide well. Desert and high-plains cover is sparse — low-profile layout blinds brushed into saltgrass, tamarisk, or croppings beat oversized spreads on a bare playa bank. On the Rio Grande, dense willow and coyote-willow fringes make natural cover.
- Use wind and small water. Ducks in dry country concentrate on the few reliable ponds; a modest 6-12 decoy spread on a small pothole with a good wind landing zone outperforms a giant spread on a big reservoir.
- Mind the afternoon closeouts. On Bernardo, La Joya, Jackson Lake, and W.S. Huey, shooting ends at 1 p.m. — plan your hunt window backward from the closeout and be out of the field on time.
- Identify before shooting, especially in teal season. With hen-mallard, pintail, canvasback, and scaup sub-limits — plus teal-only September rules — positive identification is a legal requirement, not just etiquette. Carry a folding ID guide in your blind bag.
- Layer for 40-degree swings. High-desert mornings can start below freezing in October and hit 70 by afternoon; on the same day. Dress in breathable layers with a windproof outer shell.
- Combine species smartly. Goose seasons overlap heavily with duck dates, and the free light goose conservation order runs into March — a single Middle Rio Grande trip in January can fill a mixed bag.
Frequently Asked Questions About New Mexico Duck Season
When does duck season start in New Mexico for 2026-2027?
Regular duck season opens Oct. 10, 2026 in the Central Flyway North Zone, Oct. 19, 2026 in both Pacific Flyway zones, and Oct. 28, 2026 in the Central Flyway South Zone. The earliest waterfowl opportunity of the year is the September teal season, which runs Sept. 12-20, 2026, and youth waterfowl days open each zone a week before its regular season.
What is the daily duck limit in New Mexico?
The daily bag limit is 6 ducks in the Central Flyway and 7 in the Pacific Flyway, with a possession limit of three times the daily bag (18 and 21). Sub-limits include 5 mallards (only 2 hens), 3 pintails, 3 wood ducks, 2 redheads, 2 canvasbacks, 2 hooded mergansers, and 1 scaup (Central) or 2 scaup (Pacific).
Do I need a duck stamp to hunt in New Mexico?
Yes — every waterfowl hunter 16 years of age or older must carry a signed $29 Federal Duck Stamp. New Mexico itself does not sell a state duck stamp or waterfowl validation, so the federal stamp plus your Game-Hunting License and free HIP registration is the complete requirement.
Do you need a license to duck hunt in New Mexico if you’re under 16?
New Mexico residents 11 and younger need no hunting license, and hunters 17 and younger buy a reduced-fee Junior Game-Hunting License. However, youth waterfowl hunters who are 16 or 17 still must purchase the Federal Duck Stamp, and everyone must register with HIP. During Youth Waterfowl Days, an adult 18 or older must accompany the youth.
Are there split duck seasons in New Mexico?
No. For the 2026-2027 season, every New Mexico duck zone runs one continuous season segment with no splits — a single opening and closing date per zone. The only multi-segment waterfowl hunting involves geese, such as the Pacific Flyway North Zone goose season (Sept. 26 – Oct. 11 and Nov. 2 – Jan. 31).
Can nonresidents duck hunt in New Mexico?
Yes. Nonresidents can buy a $65 Game-Hunting License (or a $33 four-day temporary license), register free with HIP, and hunt all public seasons and WMAs. A nonresident can be fully legal for a duck hunt for under $100 including the Federal Duck Stamp — among the most affordable nonresident waterfowl licenses in the country.
Where are the best public lands for duck hunting in New Mexico?
The Bernardo and La Joya WMAs in the Middle Rio Grande Valley are the state’s premier managed waterfowl areas, with blinds, flooded units, and youth-day access. Bosque del Apache and Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuges offer designated hunt areas, and eastern playa lakes and BLM land provide wide-open walk-in opportunities. Each area has its own days, hours, and unit rules — verify before you go.
Is there an early teal season in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico’s 2026 September teal season runs Sept. 12-20, with a daily limit of 6 blue-winged, cinnamon, or green-winged teal and a possession limit of 18. Shooting hours run one-half hour before sunrise to sunset, and standard licenses, HIP, and the Federal Duck Stamp (16+) all apply.
Before You Hunt: Check the Latest New Mexico Regulations
Migratory bird hunting regulations are set annually through a federal-state framework, and in-season changes do happen: refuge units open and close, WMA water conditions shift, and emergency closures can take effect mid-season. The zone boundaries, dates, and limits in this guide reflect the officially published 2026-2027 rules as of September 11, 2026 — but before every hunt, confirm current conditions and rules directly with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish at wildlife.dgf.nm.gov or 1-888-248-6866. A five-minute check of the latest regulations protects your license, your harvest, and the resource.