New Mexico Game and Fish closed Bear Management Zone 10 on October 9, 2026, after the harvest limit for that area was reached. I opened the department’s official closure notice, which lists Bear Management Zones 2, 3, 9, 10, and 12 as now closed to bear hunting. All other zones in the state remain open, and the department points hunters to its current harvest report chart for the latest zone status.
What the closure means
Bear Management Zone 10 covers a portion of north-central New Mexico, including parts of the Sangre de Cristo range, where fall hunting pressure tends to peak in October. The closure is a routine step the department takes when the seasonal quota is met through legal harvest. The notice did not specify how many bears were taken in Zone 10 before the shutdown, only that the limit had been reached.
The same notice applies to any hunter who had planned a trip into Zone 10 for the remainder of the season. New Mexico Game and Fish reminds hunters to check the zone status before heading out, because closures can happen with little advance warning once a quota fills.
For New Mexico homeowners
If you live near the edges of Zones 2, 3, 9, 10, or 12, the end of hunting pressure in those areas may mean bears range more freely into backyards as they bulk up for winter. That is a good time to secure trash cans, remove bird feeders, and keep pet food inside. The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish confirms the closures in its official notice. If a bear wanders onto your property, a long tool and a clear exit path work better than direct confrontation, much like the approach I describe in 5 Steps to Safely Remove a Snake From Your Garden Shed , give the animal room to leave on its own.
