BELEN - The Department of Game and Fish is providing New Mexico youth hunters more opportunities to hunt waterfowl at the Bernardo ponds south of U.S. 60 between Belen and Socorro.

The ponds, which exclude the Quagmire area, are reserved for special Youth-only Waterfowl Hunts Dec. 7, 14 and 21; Dec. 23-24 and Dec. 26-29; Jan. 11 and Jan. 25. The ponds are open to all waterfowl hunters on Christmas Day and all other Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays during open seasons. Leftover Youth-only Waterfowl Hunt permits are still available for late December and January.

To qualify for these hunts, applicants must be a New Mexico resident younger than 18 years of age on opening day of the hunt, and must possess a Hunter Education Course Certificate number or a Mentored-youth Hunting Program registration number.

More information about Bernardo waterfowl hunts is available online in the 2013 Small-Game Hunting Rules and Information book at www.wildlife.state.nm.us.