About Jicarilla Game and Fish

The Jicarilla Apache Reservation encompasses 850,000 acres of land, situated in northern New Mexico, just south of the San Juan Mountains, and west of the Chama River valley. Elevations range from 6,500-9,000ft, and the topography consists of rugged pine covered mesas, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and sagebrush plains. The Jicarilla is home to healthy populations of Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Mountain Lion, Merriam's Turkey and a variety of small game and non-game species. The reservation was created in 1887 as a homeland for the Jicarilla Apache people, who had roamed extensively across mountains and foothills in New Mexico and Colorado.

Dulce is the reservation's sole community, and home to the Jicarilla Apache Nation's headquarters and the majority of the tribal members. The Jicarilla is rich in natural resources, including oil and gas, timber, rangelands and wildlife, and the economy of the Jicarilla Apache Nation is based on good stewardship of those resources. Big game hunting is a strong tradition among tribal members, and the commercial hunting program began back in the early 1960's. Trophy Mule Deer are the hallmark of Jicarilla hunting, but the program has expanded to include Elk, Black Bear, Mountain Lion and Turkey.

Managing all of the Jicarilla Nation's Fish and Wildlife

The Jicarilla Game and Fish Department (JGFD) was established back in 1957, and the Jicarilla Apache Nation was granted sole jurisdiction over its fish and wildlife resources in 1982. The JGFD currently has a staff of 30 employees, working in four separate divisions; Administration, Biological, Law Enforcement and Parks and Maintenance.

The Biological Division is responsible for managing all of the Nation's fish and wildlife, including monitoring populations, setting hunting seasons, recording harvest and conducting habitat improvement projects. The Law Enforcement Division patrols the reservations boundaries and interior, and is responsible for enforcing the Nation's strict Game and Fish Code (Title 10).The Parks and Maintenance maintains all of the department's facilities, campgrounds, and fishing docks, and oversees the winter feeding program at Horse Lake Mesa.

Spectacular Hunting Opportunities

The Jicarilla represents a unique opportunity for wildlife management, since the Nation has jurisdiction over both habitat and wildlife, an uncommon situation in the west. This allows the Game and Fish Department to coordinate big game habitat and herd management, resulting in spectacular hunting opportunities for sportsman seeking quality hunting experiences and trophy-class animals.