SANTA FE — A total of 630 deer licenses left over from the 2024-25 big-game draw will go on sale at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 26, through the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s Online License System.

This first-come, first-served sale will only be open to New Mexico residents during the first 24 hours. If any licenses remain after the first 24 hours, the sale will be opened to non-residents at 10 a.m. June 27.

Important note for youth hunters: Because these are draw licenses, purchasing a license will render youth hunters ineligible to purchase a youth encouragement elk license for the first 14 days of the upcoming sale in July.

To buy a leftover license, hunters must possess a 2024-25 Game Hunting or Game Hunting and Fishing license. Hunters may buy the Game Hunting license, the Habitat Stamp and the Habitat Management Access Validation by logging into their account and clicking the Over-The-Counter (OTC) Licenses, Permits and Stamps link under License Sales 2024. Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to purchase the Game Hunting and Fishing License and other stamps in advance of the application opening date and time. Applicants are further recommended to log in earlier for the best chance to get a leftover license.

Hunters are advised that they must provide a valid mailing address at the time of purchase. Unless the applicant selects the e-tag option, a physical license/tag will be mailed to the hunter for all approved purchases within 14 days.

If you are planning to purchase a leftover license, you must have completed all mandatory 2023-24 harvest reporting requirements prior to the purchase. If a harvest report is not completed, your purchase will be rejected in the post-sale audit. The license fee, but not the application fee, will be refunded on rejected purchases.

Public invited to learn about rattlesnakes during Sunrise Over the Ruins

FORT SELDEN — The public is invited to join the staff of the Fort Selden Historic Site to learn about rattlesnakes while enjoying Sunrise Over the Ruins in the Robledo Mountains.

The site will open at 6 a.m. Saturday, July 6. Sunrise Over the Ruins will allow visitors an opportunity to enjoy the landscape and ruins at first light while also learning more about wildlife in the area. Ranger-guided tours will be held from 9-10 a.m. and a lecture and campfire cooking demonstration from 11 a.m. – noon.

The lecture will center on rattlesnakes, highlighting how to distinguish the features of New Mexico’s rattlesnakes and what to do when encountering one. Following the lecture, the cooking demonstration will feature Rattlesnake Eggs, a fun side dish that’s a play on jalapeno poppers with a New Mexico twist.

Programs are included with the general admission fee of $5 for adults. Children ages 16 and under are admitted free.

The Fort Selden Historic Site is located at 1280 Fort Selden Road in Radium Springs. Take the I-25 Exit 19 to Radium Springs and follow the signs.

Area closures updated for Smokey Bear Ranger District

ALAMOGORDO – The Lincoln National Forest has placed updated restricted area closures to include the National Forest System lands, roads and trails within and around the Smokey Bear Ranger District on the Lincoln National Forest.

This order serves to protect the safety of firefighter personnel and the public as firefighters continue to engage in suppression tactics on the Blue 2 and South Fork wildfires.

The western boundary of the Restricted Area is located at the junction of National Forest Service Road (NFSR) 400 and NFSR 108 Tanbark, NFSR 108 Tanbark to NFSR 107, NFSR 107 to Big Bonito, Trail No. 36 to the junction of Aspen Trail No. 35, Aspen Trial No. 35 to the junction of Crest Trail No. 25, Crest Trail No. 25 to the junction of Trail No. 78, and Trail No. 78 to the Forest Boundary.

The southern boundary is the Forest Boundary from Trail No. 78 going east for approximately 4.75 miles and then south approximately six miles following the Forest Service boundary to the Mescalero boundary, then east along the Forest Service and Mescalero boundaries for approximately 18 miles. The eastern boundary is the southeast corner of the forest bordering the Mescalero and the boundary going north along the Forest Boundary for approximately 12 miles, then west along the Forest Boundary for approximately 16 miles, then north along the Forest Boundary for approximately 9.25 miles to the junction of NFSR 400.

The northern boundary is NFSR 400 west to the junction of NFSR 108 Tanbark Canyon.

A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both.

Learn about Dine, Nde with Bosque Redondo ranger tours

FORT SUMNER — The Bosque Redondo Memorial at Fort Sumner Historic Site is offering ranger-led tours on Dine (Navajo) and Nde (Mescalero Apache) culture each Saturday through the summer.

Join Ranger Lily and Instructional Coordinator Rebekha for a tour of the permanent exhibition “Bosque Redondo… A Place of Suffering, A Place of Survival.” Participants will also tour the outdoors, visiting the site’s flock of Navajo Churro sheep and exploring the exterior grounds at Fort Sumner Historic Site.

These tours teach the experiences of the Dine and Nde who were forced to live at Bosque Redondo Indian Reservation in the 1860s, as well as stories of their resilience and hope.

Tours are included in the general admission price of $7 for adults. Ages 16 and under are admitted free.

Tours will run from 1-3 p.m. Saturdays: July 6, 13, 20 and 27 and Aug. 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31.

The Fort Sumner Historic Site is located at 3647 Billy the Kid Drive in Fort Sumner.