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Drone Rules for Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge

Maxwell, New Mexico (nm) • United States
Co Rd A-2, Maxwell, NM 87728, USA
Lat: 36.5729 • Lng: -104.585
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge under U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service regulations, controlled by USFWS. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the refuge manager. Maxwell NWR is one of the most important migratory waterfo

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
  • Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA + BGEPA active — peak 20,000+ waterfowl; wintering bald eagle concentration
  • Airspace Note: ⚠️ Proximity to Cimarron Municipal Airport (~12 miles northwest) — verify Class E surface extension applicability

Geographic Boundaries

Maxwell National Wildlife Refuge is located in Colfax County, New Mexico, administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

  • Total area: ~3,699 acres
  • Coordinates: 36.5400° N, 104.5800° W
  • Nearest city: Maxwell, NM (~2 miles east); Springer, NM (~12 miles south)
  • Terrain: three managed impoundment lakes (Lakes 13, 14, and McCulloch), shortgrass prairie uplands, wetland marshes, Cimarron River floodplain
  • Peak waterfowl: 20,000+ ducks (mallard, pintail, teal, wigeon) and geese during fall migration (September–November)
  • Wintering bald eagle population: 15–30 individuals documented December–February
  • Sandhill crane staging: 5,000–8,000 birds during October–November
  • Lesser prairie chicken (ESA threatened) documented on upland units
  • Cimarron Municipal Airport (~12 miles NW) — verify Class E applicability
  • Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge

Regulations

  • 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within National Wildlife Refuges
  • USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition on all unmanned aircraft within refuge boundaries
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — 20,000+ waterfowl and crane staging; drone harassment constitutes federal offense
  • Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — wintering bald eagle concentration; any disturbance = federal violation
  • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — lesser prairie chicken documented on upland units; ESA Section 9 take prohibition active during March–June lekking season
  • New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — NMAC 19.31 concurrent state wildlife harassment layer
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

Penalties

  • USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
  • MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per migratory bird disturbance incident
  • BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment (second offense) for eagle disturbance
  • ESA Section 9 (lesser prairie chicken): civil penalties up to $25,000; criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • NMDGF harassment: up to $1,000 per violation under NMAC 19.31
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations
  • Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers

Special Permissions

  • USFWS Special Use Permit required; ESA Section 7 biological assessment required for any permit during March–June (lesser prairie chicken season)
  • MBTA scientific banding/research permit required for waterfowl survey operations
  • All permitted operations must be coordinated with refuge biologist to avoid eagle disturbance windows (December–February) Submit requests to: Maxwell NWR Refuge Manager, c/o Las Vegas NWR, Route 1 Box 399, Las Vegas, NM 87701
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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA waterfowl and crane staging protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), BGEPA wintering bald eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668), ESA Section 9 lesser prairie chicken take prohibition (16 U.S.C. § 1531), and NMDGF NMAC 19.31 ban all unauthorized drone operations at Maxwell NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA waterfowl and crane staging protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), BGEPA wintering bald eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668), ESA Section 9 lesser prairie chicken take prohibition (16 U.S.C. § 1531), and NMDGF NMAC 19.31 ban all unauthorized drone operations at Maxwell NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA waterfowl and crane staging protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), BGEPA wintering bald eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668), ESA Section 9 lesser prairie chicken take prohibition (16 U.S.C. § 1531), and NMDGF NMAC 19.31 ban all unauthorized drone operations at Maxwell NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA waterfowl and crane staging protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), BGEPA wintering bald eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668), ESA Section 9 lesser prairie chicken take prohibition (16 U.S.C. § 1531), and NMDGF NMAC 19.31 ban all unauthorized drone operations at Maxwell NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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