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Drone Rules for Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge

Bingham, New Mexico (NM) • United States
Bingham, NM 87832, USA
Lat: 33.7956 • Lng: -106.889
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drone launches, landings, and operations on all national wildlife refuges. Bosque del Apache hosts up to 10,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000 snow geese November-February.

Drone Rules - Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico

Drones are prohibited on all national wildlife refuges under USFWS Director's Order 210 (2015).

Airspace / Site Context

  • Peak crane/goose staging: November-February; dawn and dusk fly-outs involve tens of thousands of birds in the air simultaneously
  • Drone disturbance during crane roosting is a documented cause of mass flushing, resulting in bird collisions and habitat abandonment
  • Socorro Municipal (ONM) Class G; Albuquerque International (ABQ) Class C is ~80 NM north

Key Rules

  • USFWS Special Use Permit required for any commercial or research UAS; applications must demonstrate zero disturbance risk
  • Launching from Highway 1 (outside refuge boundary) and overflying refuge land is a federal violation
  • Whooping crane (CR) occasionally winters here; ESA Section 9 take prohibition adds federal criminal exposure

Source

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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache 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 migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.nps.gov/subjects/sound/uaspolicy.htm — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache 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 migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache 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 migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.fws.gov/policy/do210.html — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA mig
  • https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA migratory bird protections (16 U.S.C. § 703), and BGEPA eagle protections (16 U.S.C. § 668) ban all unauthorized drone operations within Bosque del Apache NWR, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA mig
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