Elephant Butte Lake is a fisherman’s paradise known for record-breaking black, white, and striped bass, as well as crappie, catfish, walleye and bluegill, with numerous tournaments throughout the year. Fishing boats, pontoon boats and kayak rentals are available year round.
FISHING LICENSES

Take advantage of the expertise of outfitters and guides to get you on the lake with the right gear, bait and boat. Elephant Butte Lake guides are available year round and include the following:

Elephant Butte Lake offers exceptional seasonal opportunities to see American White Pelicans, Sandhill Cranes, Snow Geese, Western & Clark’s Grebes, Terns and more, as do nearby surrounding areas such as Percha Dam, Las Palomas Marsh and Caballo Lake. Further north between Elephant Butte and Socorro, you’ll find Bosque del Apache, abundant with migratory birds in spring and fall.
Birding Trails

Hunterrs from all over the world come for the elk, deer, mountain lion, bear, oryx, antelope, Barbary sheep, javelina, addex, corisican ram, ibex and desert bighorn in the greater Elephant Butte area.
HUNTING LICENSES

Duck hunting continues to be exceptional at Elephant Butte Lake, with gadwalls, wigeons, mallards, shovelers, pintails, canvas backs & teals being the most common.
HUNTING LICENSES

Seasonal bird hunting includes wild turkey, quail and dove. The best opportunities to bag these birds are guided hunting trips.
HUNTING LICENSES

Hundreds of birds frequent the habitats around Elephant Butte Lake, and our surrounding deserts, mesas and mountains are rich with big game, providing great opportunities for sightings and photographs. Buffalo are frequently seen along Highway 51 leading to Spaceport America, and deer, pronghorns, elk, javelina, coyote, lizards, eagles and hawks are commonly seen throughout the greater Elephant Butte area, the Gila Wilderness and along the Geronimo Trail Scenic Byway.
800.831.9487 | geronimotrail.com | map >