NMDGF Conservation Enforcement
The Field Operations Division is responsible for coordinating and administrating the Department’s law enforcement efforts.
The NMDGF’s Field Operations Division patrols New Mexico’s vast landscape via foot, boat, snowmobile, OHV, aircraft, pick-up truck and horseback. The Field Operations Division also plays a critical role in Department activities from assisting with annual state and county fairs, the Department’s Outdoor Expo, Hunter Education, National Archery in the Schools program (NASP) and numerous wildlife/fishery management activities.
Field Operations headquarters is located at the Department’s Santa Fe office and coordinates Department wide efforts and programs through four area offices located in each region of the state. Field Operations is responsible for eight statewide programs: Operation Game Thief, Hunting and Fishing License Revocations, Field Law Enforcement-Uniform Patrol and Investigations, Guide and Outfitter Registrations, Special Use Permits, Officer Training and Education, Scientific/Educational Permits, and Special Investigations Unit.
The division currently has 72 Officers in the field from District Officer to Sergeant. Officers now receive standardized patrol trucks which are fully equipped with firearm locking systems, high watt, high band radios, laptop computers with Computer Assisted Dispatch (CAD’s) and are receiving dispatch services from New Mexico State Police/ Department of Public Safety.
Rules & Statutes (External Links)
Chapter 17 Statutes
Regulation 19.30 Wildlife Administration
Regulation 19.31 Hunting & Fishing
Regulation 19.32 Trapping and Furbearers
Regulation 19.33 Endangered and Protected Species
Regulation 19.34 Wildlife Habitat and Lands
Regulation 19.35 Captive Wildlife Uses
Regulation 19.36 Wildlife Education and Training
New Mexico Court Case Lookup
Rules & Information (Publications Page)
Conservation Officers (Game Wardens) can be found patrolling the lands and waters of the state day and night. Most people will tell you that enforcing the game and fish laws is their primary responsibility, but the job doesn’t stop there. In addition to enforcement, the conservation officer educates the public about wildlife and wildlife management, conducts wildlife surveys, captures “problem animals,” investigates wildlife damage to crops and property, assists in wildlife relocations and helps to develop new regulations.
Now Hiring!
Apply Here
Application Deadline: Thursday, March 30th, 2023
To become a Conservation Officer, the educational requirements include a Bachelor of Science degree from an accredited college or university in biological sciences, police science or law enforcement, natural resources conservation, ecology, or related fields. The Department has determined that “related fields” are, but are not limited to: Agricultural Science, Animal Science, biology, botany, chemistry, conservation, criminal justice, criminology, ecology, entomology, environmental management, environmental science, environmental studies, fisheries or wildlife management, forestry, forest wildlife, geography, geology, herpetology, life science, mammalogy, marine biology, natural resources, ornithology, physics, psychology, plant taxonomy, range science, water quality management and zoology.
Hiring Timeline
Updated 2-10- 2023:
March 1: Job Announcement Opens
March 30: Job Announcement Closes at 17:00 (Mountain Standard Time (MDT))
April 29: Physical Pre-Assessment Testing (see physical standards for below 6,000 feet) and Wildlife Written Exam (see sample test for study tips): Albuquerque
April 30: Interviews (if applicant passed physical pre-assessment and written testing): Albuquerque
May 2: Medical Examination (if selected to continue the process): Albuquerque
May 3: Psychological Examination (If selected to continue the process): Albuquerque
May 4: Uniform & Body Armor fitting at Galls/Kaufman’s West (if given a conditional job offer): Albuquerque
May 15: Start date. Report for duty at the NMDGF Southeast Area Office in Roswell at 08:00 MDT.
May 22-31: Recruit Basic Firearms Training: Location TBD
June 5- 14: Recruit School Block 1 – Law Block: Roswell
June 17 – 30: Recruit School Block 2: Chama
July 5- 9: Recruit Basic Boat Operations Training: Elephant Butte
July 12: Hunter Education Instructor Workshop: Albuquerque
July 15-19: Wilderness Patrol Tactics & Horse Packing: Gila Hot Springs
July 20: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Physical Pre- Assessment (same physical standards as April 29th): Hobbs
July 27- 28: Wildlife Restraint, Immobilization and Euthanasia: Albuquerque
Aug. 13: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Training #A-22-50- Hobbs
Dec. 8: Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Basic Police Officer Training #A-22-50 Graduation- Hobbs
Dec. 23 *: Report for duty to your assigned Field Training Officer (FTO) for 14 weeks of in the field training
February *: Recruits will get their district duty station assignments and can begin preparing to find housing etc.
April 13*: Upon successful completion of all training recruits will be promoted to District Wildlife Officer and will be stationed in their own district. Duty stations could be anywhere in the state and will be based on Department need.
*These are approximate dates. The exact date will be situation/recruit dependent and may vary from this schedule.
Please call or email Lt. Andrew Armendariz with any questions about becoming a Game Warden, the hiring process or to schedule a ride along with an officer in any area of the state.
Andrew Armendariz
Lieutenant- Field Operations Division
New Mexico Department of Game & Fish
Cell Phone – (505) 690-9563
Email – Andrew.Armendariz@dgf.nm.gov
Conservation Officers
Conservation Officers (Fish and Game Wardens) can be found patrolling the lands and waters of the state day and night. Most people will tell you that enforcing the game and fish laws is their primary responsibility, but the job doesn’t stop there. In addition to enforcement, the conservation officer educates the public about wildlife and wildlife management, conducts wildlife surveys, captures “problem animals,” investigates wildlife damage to crops and property, assists in wildlife relocations and helps to develop new regulations.
Contacts
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
1 Wildlife Way
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Law Enforcement – Field Operations Division
Email: DGF-FieldOps@dgf.nm.gov
Phone: 505-476-8085
HR Administrator
JoeRay Anaya
JoeRay.Anaya@dgf.nm.gov
NM Department of Public Safety
Law Enforcement Academy
4491 Cerrillos Road
Santa Fe, NM 87507
Phone: 505-827-9251
www.lea.nm.gov
For assistance or questions relating to job postings and online applications, please contact:
New Mexico State Personnel Office (SPO)
Career Services – Job Opportunities
(505) 476-7759 or email applicant.support@dgf.nm.gov
NEOGOV Customer Support 1-855-524-5627
Featured Officers
Featured Officers and Career Advancement officers answer your questions from the field. Learn more about Conservation Officer (Fish and Game Warden) employment from the Careers in Enforcement page.
Officer Spotlight
July – Officer Spotlight: Ryan Francis
Name: Ryan Francis Duty Station: Carlsbad District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Game Management Units: 30, 31, 33 Lincoln National Forest, Guadalupe District Length of Service: 2 years Field Training: Albuquerque Education:High School – Ruidoso High School- Ruidoso, NM College – New Mexico State University – Las Cruces, [...]
Career Advancement
Lt. Shawn Carrell (Promotion)
Name: Lt Shawn Carrell Promotion to: Lieutenant - Revocation Manager Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Overseeing the Revocation program, Special use Permits, and the Guide and Outfitter program. Length of Service: 15 Years Education: High School –Portales High School College – Easter New [...]
Officer Spotlight Archives
July – Officer Spotlight: Ryan Francis
Name: Ryan Francis Duty Station: Carlsbad District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Game Management Units: 30, 31, 33 Lincoln National Forest, [...]
April – Officer Spotlight: Derek Ridgway
Name:Derek Ridgway Duty Station: Cimarron District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Valle Vidal, GMU’s 55A, 55B, 54, 48 Length of Service: [...]
March – Officer Spotlight: Jayme King
Name: Jayme King Duty Station: Socorro District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Game Management Unit’s 13, 17, 18, 19, 20 Length [...]
January Officer of the Month
Name: Jerry Pohl Duty Station: Estancia District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU’s 8,14, 39 & 43 Education: Masters in Criminal [...]
December Officer of the Month
Name: Clovis Rivera Duty Station: Reserve District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU: 16A, 16D, northern parts of 16B and 23 [...]
November Officer of the Month
Name: Tommy Heck Duty Station: Pecos District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU 45, 43, Pecos Wilderness Education: BS, Wildlife Management. [...]
October Officer of the Month
Name: Shana Burkhardt Duty Station: District Officer, Bloomfield/Largo Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU 2C, GMU 7 Education: Bachelors of Science Degree [...]
September Officer of the Month
Name: Matthew Lackey Duty Station: Socorro District Officer Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU 13 17 18 19 20 Education: Bachelor of [...]
August Officer of the Month
Name: Don Norton Duty Station: Game Warden, Carlsbad District Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU’s 29,30,31 Education: Bachelor Degree Forestry Wildlife/Law Enforcement; [...]
July Officer of the Month
Name: Wyatt Harwell Duty Station: Conservation Officer, Espanola District Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU’s 5B, 6C, 45, 50 and 51 Education: [...]
June Officer of the Month
Name: Matthew Ordonez Duty Station: Conservation Officer, Raton District Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU: 55A, 55B, 56, 57, 58 Education: Bachelor’s [...]
May Officer of the Month
Name: Shawn Carrell Duty Station: Corporal, Jemez District Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: GMU 6A,6B,6C, Southern Jemez Mountains Education: Bachelor’s Degree in [...]
Career Advancement Archives
Lt. Shawn Carrell (Promotion)
Name: Lt Shawn Carrell Promotion to: Lieutenant - Revocation Manager Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Overseeing the Revocation program, Special use [...]
Megan Otero (Promotion)
Name: Megan Otero Promotion to: Guide and Outfitter Program Manager Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Management of Guides and Outfitters- Statewide [...]
Tim Cimbal (Promotion)
Name: Tim Cimbal Promotion to: Colonel Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Statewide Field Operations Length of Service: 17 years Education: High School [...]
Andrew Armendariz (Promotion)
Name: Andrew Armendariz Promotion to: Lieutenant, Law Enforcement Training & Recruiting Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Statewide- Law Enforcement Training, Field Training [...]
Benjamin Otero (Promotion)
Name: Benjamin Otero Promoted: Sergeant, Chama Supervisory District Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: 6A,6B,6C, 7,5A,5B,4,51,52, Rio Chama Wildlife Area, Sargent Wildlife Area, [...]
Brady Griffith (Promotion)
Name: Brady Griffith Promoted: Lieutenant, Field Operations Division Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Training and recruiting (statewide) Education: Bachelor of Science – [...]
Ty Jackson (Promotion)
Name: Ty Jackson Promoted: Captain – Field Operations; Santa Fe Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: I am responsible for law enforcement field [...]
Craig Sanchez (Promotion)
Name: Craig Sanchez Promoted: Assistant Chief of Education, Information and Education Division Special Area of Responsibility/Game Mgmt Units: Oversees the Hunter Education, NASP, OHV, [...]
Special Use Permits and Information
Note: For best results with fillable PDF forms, please download and only open with Adobe Acrobat.
Importation Permits
Information
Importation Regulation 19.35.7 NMAC
License/Permit Fee Regulation 19.30.9 NMAC
Applications
Scientific and Educational Use of Wildlife
Information
Regulation 19.35.6 NMAC effective 12/30/2013Scientific Collecting & Research Purposes
Educational Use of Wildlife
Special Permit Applications
Airborne Hunting
Aquaculture
Call Pen
Regulation 19.35.2 NMAC
Class ‘A’ Lake
Regulation 19.35.9 NMAC
Class ‘A’ Park
Regulation 19.35.9 NMAC
Commercial Collecting
Regulation 19.35.10 NMAC
Falconry
Regulation 19.35.8 NMAC
Field Trial
Regulation 19.35.2 NMAC
Fur Dealers
Game Bird Propagation
Group Fishing Privileges
Nuisance Control
Regulation 7.4.2 NMAC (NM Health Dept.)
Protected Mammal
Regulation 7.4.2 NMAC (NM Health Dept.)
Shooting Preserve
Regulation 19.35.3 NMAC
Use of Artificial Light
Regulation 19.30.13 NMAC
Wildlife Rehabilitation
Regulation 19.35.5 NMAC
Zoo
Guide & Outfitter Information
Outfitters, Guides and Outfitted Hunts
NMDGF regulates registered outfitters, guides and outfitted hunts. An outfitter is any person who advertises or holds themselves out to the public for hire or is employed or accepts compensation for providing, within the unit where a hunt occurs, facilities, equipment or services for hunting activities. A “New Mexico Outfitter” is a person who has met very specific qualifications as set forth in law to participate in the 10% special drawing pool.
Before hiring an outfitter, hunter-clients should research the preferred outfitter and obtain references. A list of registered outfitters is provided on this web page. If any person claiming to be a registered outfitter is not on the registered list, do not do business with them and contact the department. It is unlawful for guides to book hunts or contract with hunters directly. Guides are not outfitters. Guides must work under the supervision of their outfitter.
Guide & Outfitter Registrations are Now Online!
Renew Online: To get started, please login to your customer account at https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/
NEW Guide Applicants must take the “Guide & Outfitter Exam” in person at their nearest New Mexico Department of Game and Fish office. Exams are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm; closed weekends and holidays. Once you have passed the exam, within a few days, you will receive instructions on how to apply online through your G&F customer account.
NEW Outfitter Applicants should use the Outfitter Application or Renewal Form and follow the checklist of required documents. Always start with the three years proof of guiding employment with a NM registered outfitter. Email proof for review to DGF-Guide-Outfitter@dgf.nm.gov. Once your outfitter application packet qualifies and is approved, you will receive instructions on how to apply online through your G&F customer account.
Your registration will remain Pending until it is processed then you will receive an email notification that it is completed. You can check the status of your registration by logging back into your customer account and clicking on Guide or Outfitter – My Registrations. Your registration will be on your CIN Card, please note that NMDGF will no longer be mailing cards or renewal forms.
If you need help with usernames and passwords, please call our info center at 1-888-248-6866 M-F 8-5.
Contract Requirements
All outfitters shall execute a written contract with each hunter-client, signed and dated by all parties before the hunt begins. Contracts shall designate the terms, guide to hunter-client ratio, hunt dates, compensation charged and services to be provided.
All outfitters shall have a copy of the contract available for inspection in the field during the hunt or they must submit an electronic copy of the contract to the guide and outfitter registrar at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled hunt. Email contracts to DGF-Guide-Outfitter@dgf.nm.gov.
10% Special Drawing Pool
New Mexico’s special drawing pool allocates up to 10% of all available big-game licenses for each hunt code. To apply in the 10% special drawing pool, a “New Mexico Outfitter” shall execute a written contract with each special drawing pool applicant. Contracts must be signed and dated by all parties prior to application for any special drawing pool license. It is unlawful for an outfitter or guide to contract with themselves or to guide themselves using a special drawing pool license. A “New Mexico Outfitter” may release a contracted hunter-client to another “New Mexico Outfitter” provided that the original contract was valid, in place prior to the application deadline and only if it is mutually agreed upon and signed by all parties.
A “New Mexico Outfitter” shall ensure that each hunter-client who obtains a license through the 10% special drawing pool is accompanied by the outfitter or their registered guide for at least two days during the contracted dates of the hunt in the area where the hunter-client’s license is valid. Accompanied shall mean that the outfitter or their registered guide physically escorts the hunter-client in the field during the hunter-client’s license hunt dates.
A hunter-client who obtains a license through the 10% special drawing pool, and chooses to hunt beyond their contracted hunt dates must carry a copy of the contract while hunting if it had not been submitted electronically to the registrar at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled hunt. It is unlawful to hunt with a license obtained through the 10% special drawing pool without being accompanied by, and contracted with, a “New Mexico Outfitter” or their guide for at least two days during the hunt.
Landowner Agents
Any person who purchases landowner permits or private land licenses for a hunter-client or pays for access to a landowner’s deeded property for a hunter-client in any way, shall be considered an outfitter.
A landowner or their agent who is guiding or outfitting on the landowner’s deeded property or pursuant to a landowner permit is exempt from the department’s registration process but may register if they choose.
Agent is a person who is legally authorized by employment or written contract to act on behalf of a private landowner to oversee the landowner’s hunting operation on their deeded property. Agents may not act independently from the landowner. A landowner or their agent must be in compliance with the registration requirements of any pertinent government land management agency when involved with commercial activities on lands controlled or administered by a government land management agency for each hunt code.
To apply or obtain more information, email DGF-Guide-Outfitter@dgf.nm.gov.
Help Solve a Case
Operation Game Thief is a New Mexico Department of Game and Fish program, which pays rewards to citizens who turn in poachers. Begun in 1977 here in New Mexico, Operation Game Thief or a similar program has now been adopted by nearly every other state. In short, Operation Game Thief is crime-stoppers for wildlife. In fact, the program was modeled after the original crime-stoppers program started by the Albuquerque, NM Police Department.
Rewards are:
$750 for cases involving elk and bighorn sheep;
$500 for deer and oryx;
$350 for antelope;
$250 for turkey, bear, cougar, javelina, ibex, barbary sheep, endangered species, small game, fish, raptors and furbearers.
File a secure and anonymous report online:
Cases Solved
State Supreme Court upholds $74,000 restitution owed in poaching case
New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Public contact, Information Center: 888-248-6866Media contact, Ryan Darr: [...]
Case solved thanks to Operation Game Thief call
SANDOVAL COUNTY - On December 07, 2015 an anonymous caller reported that Dalton Strain from [...]
Case of antelope poached in Hidalgo County solved
HIDALGO COUNTY - On October 10, 2015, Operation Game Thief took a report of a [...]
Case of poached Coues white-tailed deer solved
CATRON COUNTY - On November 9, 2015 an OGT report was filed of two Coues white-tailed deer [...]
Cold Cases
See more: Help Us Solve These Cold Cases
Department seeking information on elk poached near Tres Piedras
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY - On September 29, 2016, a bull elk was found on [...]
Department seeking information on a mule deer killed out of season
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY - On August 29, 2016 Sergeant Matt Anthony received a report of [...]
Poached deer tied to stop sign
Luna County – The Department of Game and Fish is seeking information on a [...]
Program Background
Why Develop Such A Program?
A young man was hired to cover the state and give the appearance of violating New Mexico’s big game laws. He salvaged heads, hides and feet from hunting season discards and from road kills, then froze them to plant later as “evidence” of violations. Under a collector’s permit, he actually killed a few animals and put them to similar use. All his operations were conducted with the knowledge of only a very small number of people. Hardly anyone in the department knew of his existence, even fewer knew of his purpose. Armed with a large collection of deer parts, he then went about his task of placing simulations of poaching evidence throughout the state. The obvious intent was to determine how many of the simulated poaching events were reported to the department, even when the operative knew that the public had observed him.
At the conclusion of the research project, it was clear that the significance of the out-of-season deer kills was very serious, and was estimated in the neighborhood of 34,000 deer per year. Similar studies in other states produce comparable results and indicated that there were as many deer being killed illegally as there were being taken lawfully. While some of the simulations were observed, there were not as many detected or reported to the department as we would have liked. The operative attributed his success in avoiding apprehension to two primary things. The officers districts were too big, and they aren’t getting any help from the public.
How Does The Program Work?
The Operation Game Thief system is set up to accept calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to make sure that we are available whenever someone has information about a wildlife law violation. If you are uncertain about whether or not the information should be reported, the best thing to do is make the report and let a Game and Fish officer sort out the problem. All calls are confidential and the reporting individual has the option of remaining anonymous.
- Anyone having information relating to a wildlife law violation can contact the Operation Game Thief hotline, which is toll-free within New Mexico at 1-800-432-4263, or submit an on-line report. All information about the incident is taken and the caller is assigned a code number;
- The information is relayed to an officer who immediately initiates an investigation;
- If a poacher is arrested or issued a citation on the basis of information provided by the caller, a reward is authorized;
- Rewards can be paid in cash, check or money order and the payment is arranged to protect the anonymity of the caller;
- Most wildlife enthusiasts don’t except the reward — they just want the criminals stopped!
The key to success and catching poachers is to report the information as quickly as possible. It is also helpful to give as much detailed information as possible. The following is a checklist which is helpful in providing the necessary information.
Help Support OGT
It’s easy to donate and support New Mexico’s wildlife!
Operation Game Thief needs your support for continuing success. Your donation is tax deductible, and the money is used to pay rewards in wildlife cases and to promote the OGT program.
Make your donation payable to:
Operation Game Thief
P.O. Box 25112
Santa Fe, NM 87504
Annually the Operation Game Thief program pays between $8,000 – $10,000 in rewards, and its conviction rate exceeds 98%. Most cases involve big game, such as deer, elk, antelope, bear, cougar and turkey, but callers have also tripped up poachers taking overlimits of fish and game birds, killing raptors and illegally collecting endangered species.
The reward fund doesn’t use tax or license dollars. It comes from clubs, organizations, businesses and mainly, thousands of ordinary men and women who have chipped in from a few dollars to several hundred, showing their support for Operation Game Thief — and sending the poacher a message.
Enforcement Contacts
NMDGF Enforcement
Law Enforcement Field Operations
1 Wildlife Way
Santa Fe, NM 87504
PO Box 25112
Santa Fe, NM 87507
For assistance or questions relating to job openings and applications, please see the Enforcement Careers page.
Operation Game Thief
NMDGF’s Operation Game Thief pays rewards to citizens who turn in poachers.
⇒ File a secure and anonymous report online.
⇒ View new unsolved and solved case reports.
Click Here to visit the Operation Game Thief page:
Regional Contacts
See also the NMDGF Directory: https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/home/contact/
| Northwest Office: Vacant, Captain 7816 Alamo Rd NW Albuquerque, NM 87120 Phone: (505) 222-4700 Fax: (505) 222-4720 E-mail: |
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| Northeast Office: Matthew Anthony, Captain 215 York Canyon Road Raton, NM 87740 Phone: (575) 445-2311 Fax: (575) 445-5651 E-mail: matthew.anthony@dgf.nm.gov |
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| Southwest Office: Mike Matthews, Captain 2715 Northrise Drive Las Cruces, NM 88011 Phone: (575) 532-2100 Fax: (575) 522-8382 E-mail: mike.matthews@dgf.nm.gov |
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| Southeast Office: Andrew Gray, Captain 1615 W College Blvd Roswell, NM 88201 Phone: (575) 624-6135 Fax: (575) 624-6136 E-mail: andrew.gray@dgf.nm.gov |