National Wildlife Refuge · New Mexico · FWS Region 2

Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is located in Mora County, New Mexico, with about 4,230 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season, all 1 mapped hunt unit are listed as closed to hunting.

1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official website ↗
1hunt units
0huntable acres
4.2KFWS-owned acres
0game categories

Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

  • Big Game
  • Waterfowl
  • Wild Turkey
  • Upland Birds
  • Migratory Birds
  • Small Game
  • Feral & Exotic
  • Fishing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not list any hunting opportunities for this station.

Hunt units (1)

Acreage by status
Closed: 4,230 (100%)0huntable acres
  • Closed4,230 ac 100%
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Station Closed 4,230 —

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid New Mexico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area.

How to get to Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

Navigate

Destination: Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area (FWS reference point)

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Decimal
35.84147, -105.06792
DMS
35°50′29.3″N 105°04′04.5″W

Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

Nearest towns

  • Las Vegas, NM19 mi NE of town
  • Santa Fe, NM50 mi E of town
  • Raton, NM81 mi SW of town
  • Albuquerque, NM103 mi NE of town

Closest airports

  • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport103 mi
  • AMA Rick Husband Amarillo194 mi

Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

Today at Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area

Legal light*–
Sunrise–
Sunset–

*½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.

Full season calculator →

2026–2027 season sun table

DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
Tue, Sep 1, 20266:01 AM6:31 AM7:29 PM12h 58m
Tue, Sep 15, 20266:11 AM6:41 AM7:09 PM12h 28m
Thu, Oct 1, 20266:23 AM6:53 AM6:45 PM11h 52m
Thu, Oct 15, 20266:35 AM7:05 AM6:26 PM11h 20m
Sun, Nov 1, 20265:51 AM6:21 AM5:06 PM10h 44m
Sun, Nov 15, 20266:05 AM6:35 AM4:54 PM10h 18m
Tue, Dec 1, 20266:21 AM6:51 AM4:47 PM9h 56m
Tue, Dec 15, 20266:32 AM7:02 AM4:47 PM9h 45m
Fri, Jan 1, 20276:40 AM7:10 AM4:56 PM9h 46m
Fri, Jan 15, 20276:39 AM7:09 AM5:08 PM9h 58m
Mon, Feb 1, 20276:31 AM7:01 AM5:25 PM10h 25m

Computed for 35.841, -105.068 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

7-day hunting weather

Loading National Weather Service forecast…

Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area FAQ

Is hunting allowed at Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service does not currently list hunting opportunities at Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area. All mapped units are closed to hunting.

Do I need a permit to hunt Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area?

FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

Where is Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area located?

Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and Conservation Area is in Mora County, New Mexico, about 19 miles NE of Las Vegas, NM (straight-line). GPS: 35.84147, -105.06792.

What are legal shooting hours at Rio Mora NWR and Conservation Area?

Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

Nearby refuges & public land

Mora NFH

Mora County, NM · 18 mi NW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Las Vegas NWR

San Miguel County, NM · 22 mi S

2 open3 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️

7.3K huntable acres

Maxwell NWR

Colfax County, NM · 57 mi NE

1 closed
🎣

Valle de Oro NWR

Bernalillo County, NM · 109 mi SW

1 closed
No hunting listed

Alamosa NWR

Alamosa County, CO · 115 mi N

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇🎣

6.8K huntable acres

Monte Vista NWR

Rio Grande County, CO · 127 mi NW

1 open1 special1 closed
🦌🦆🕊️🐇

11.2K huntable acres

All refuges in New Mexico →

Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated September 29, 2026.