The best I can get from the NM dnr website is you can't hunt big game there unless you have all your tags applied for and paid in full by April. The tags there are high just to apply for them. If you don't get drawn are you just out the hundreds of dollars and better luck next year or do you get your money back or what? From what I read you would have close to a grand in tag applications just to hope you get drawn for something. The way it looks in the book you would have to have plenty of cash just to get a chance to hunt or mabey I just don't understand the way it works. I also read about a non refundable $9 application fee. Do you pay that fee to get in the draw then pay for the tag if your drawn?