It is unlawful for any person to carry, transport or have in his possession, bows, arrows, crossbows or firearms of any kind or description within or upon any game refuge or to discharge any firearm or arrow into or within any state game refuge in New Mexico; provided this section shall not apply to any county, state or federal officer in the discharge of his official duties, nor to persons crossing refuges over public roads and trails with firearms unloaded or taken down; provided further that permits may be issued by the director to stockmen, trappers, ranchers and property owners, or their employees, to carry firearms while engaged in the discharge of their legitimate affairs on or within game refuges.
History: Laws 1937, ch. 23, § 3; 1941 Comp., § 43-213; 1953 Comp., § 53-2-13; Laws 1979, ch. 340, § 3.
ANNOTATIONSSection is limited to state game refuges. — It was the intent of the legislature to limit the application of this section to state game refuges. 1955 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 55-6155.
State may not have power as to federal game refuges. — Any attempt on the part of the state to control the disposition of game on a federal game refuge contrary to the wishes of the federal government might be beyond the power of the state. 1955 Op. Att'y Gen. No. 55-6155.