Drone Rules for Coyote Creek State Park

Authorization Status

• Recreational: ❌ Prohibited without written park manager authorization
• Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Requires EMNRD State Parks permit + FAA Part 107 certification + NMDGF wildlife disturbance compliance
• Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ NMDGF black bear management regulations — spring denning emergence (April–May) and fall hyperphagia (August–October) are high-sensitivity periods
• Riparian Layer: ⚠️ Mora River corridor — Rio Grande cutthroat trout (state-listed sensitive species) present in upper drainage

Geographic Boundaries

Coyote Creek State Park is located in Mora County, New Mexico, administered by the NM EMNRD State Parks Division.

• Total area: ~80 acres (developed park); surrounded by Cibola National Forest — Mora/Kiowa Ranger District lands
• Coordinates: 36.1200° N, 105.1900° W
• Nearest city: Mora, NM (~17 miles south); Guadalupita, NM (~5 miles north)
• Terrain: Mora River canyon, ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest, riparian cottonwood and willow corridor, Sangre de Cristo Mountain foothills at 7,700 ft MSL
• Active wildlife: black bear, Rocky Mountain elk, mule deer, wild turkey, mountain lion, Abert's squirrel
• Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis) — state-listed sensitive species; present in Mora River upper drainage
• Surrounded by Cibola National Forest — USFS regulations apply immediately outside park boundary; drone operations outside park perimeter require separate USFS compliance
• Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

Regulations

• New Mexico Administrative Code (NMAC) 19.6.1 — State Park rules prohibit drone operations without written park manager authorization
• New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — NMAC 19.31 et seq. — prohibits harassment of wildlife including black bear, elk, and deer by any means including drone overflight
• NMDGF Black Bear Management Plan — additional sensitivity protocols during spring denning emergence (April–May) and fall hyperphagia (August–October); drone disturbance during these periods may trigger enhanced enforcement
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — migratory raptors and riparian songbirds present throughout Mora River corridor
• New Mexico Wildlife Conservation Act (NMSA 1978 § 17-2-1 et seq.) — state wildlife protection applies concurrently
• Cibola National Forest 36 CFR § 261.10 — applies immediately outside park boundary; operators must be aware of jurisdiction transition
• FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

Penalties

• EMNRD State Parks fines under NMAC 19.6.1: up to $500 per violation
  • removal from park
• NMDGF wildlife harassment: up to $1,000 per violation under NMAC 19.31
• NM Wildlife Conservation Act: additional state wildlife penalties
• MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
• USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10 for operations outside park boundary on National Forest lands
• FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day (commercial)
• State court misdemeanor charges for repeat or egregious violations

Special Permissions

• Written authorization required from Coyote Creek State Park manager
• NMDGF wildlife disturbance review required; avoid April–May and August–October windows for any operation near riparian corridor
• Commercial operators must hold valid FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate
• USFS Mora/Kiowa Ranger District coordination required for any operation that extends beyond park boundary onto National Forest Submit requests to: Coyote Creek State Park Manager, PO Box 477, Guadalupita, NM 87722 NMDGF regional office: NM Dept of Game and Fish — Northeast Region, 215 York Canyon Road, Cimarron, NM 87714 USFS Mora/Kiowa Ranger District: 1709 N Riverside Drive, Española, NM 87532