Plan your New Mexico adventure

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 13

Game Management Unit 13 in Socorro County, central New Mexico, ranges from approximately 4,700 feet on high-desert grasslands to 9,560 feet near Madre Mountain, with steep, rugged country and flat desert supporting pinyon/juniper, ponderosa, and aspen at elevation. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, cougar, and desert bighorn sheep, with tags through the NMDGF draw. Land ownership is mixed — Cibola National Forest, large BLM tracts, and substantial tribal and private holdings — with much of the unit landlocked by private land and access mainly via unimproved dirt roads. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates and draw with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 14

Game Management Unit 14 is dominated by the Manzano Mountains and a southern extension of the Sandia Mountains in Torrance County, with peaks including Manzano Peak at 10,098 feet and Gallo Peak at 10,003 feet, transitioning from pinyon/juniper foothills to aspen, spruce, and fir up high. Elk, mule deer, black bear, cougar, and Merriam's turkey are huntable, with big-game tags through the NMDGF draw. About 21% of the unit is public land via the Cibola National Forest, with dirt-road and trail access into the Manzano Wilderness; the remainder is largely private. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Check NMDGF for current season dates and limits.

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 17

Game Management Unit 17 in Socorro County encompasses the San Mateo and Magdalena Mountains in central New Mexico, with elevations from 6,000 to 10,000 feet ranging from desert flats to rocky, cliff-laden peaks with ponderosa and Douglas fir. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, cougar, and desert bighorn sheep, with tags through the NMDGF draw. About 74% of the unit is public land, much of it Cibola National Forest including the Apache Kid, Withington, and Chupadera wilderness areas; access is mostly via dirt roads, with some canyons reachable only on foot or horseback. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates and draw with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 18

Game Management Unit 18 covers mostly flat to rolling desert east and west of the Rio Grande near Socorro in central New Mexico, with steep mesa edges and canyon sections; elevations range from about 5,500 to 7,500 feet, grading from desert grassland to juniper and scrub oak. Pronghorn is the primary draw species, with elk and limited mule deer also available, plus bear and cougar in their zones. About two-thirds of the unit is public land in a BLM/state trust checkerboard; no big-game hunting is allowed on the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge within the unit. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, draw requirements, and limits with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 38

Game Management Unit 38 sits near the geographic center of New Mexico in Torrance County, with mostly flat to gently rising terrain cut by arroyos and mountains, mesas, and canyons around Corona; the Cibola National Forest provides forested high ground at elevations roughly 6,500 to 8,500 feet. Huntable species include pronghorn, mule deer, elk, black bear, cougar, oryx, and Barbary sheep. About two-thirds of the unit is private land; public land includes BLM, state trust, and Cibola NF parcels near Corona and Gallinas Peak, though many public tracts are landlocked. Tags go through the NMDGF draw. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates and limits with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 6A

Game Management Unit 6A in Sandoval County covers the western Jemez Mountains, San Pedro Mountains, and Sierra Nacimiento foothills in central New Mexico, from approximately 5,050 to 10,601 feet elevation; the unit is heavily forested above 7,500 feet with sage and pinyon/juniper in the lower foothills. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, black bear, cougar, Merriam's turkey, and Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, with most big-game tags through the NMDGF draw. About 48% is public land via the Santa Fe National Forest; private land on the western edge and Jemez Pueblo lands in the south restrict access in some areas. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Consult NMDGF for current season dates and deadlines.

Hunting unit · Central NM

Game Management Unit 6B

Game Management Unit 6B is the Valles Caldera National Preserve in Sandoval County — a volcanic caldera roughly 13.7 miles wide with valley floors between 8,400 and 9,000 feet and domes rising approximately 1,000 feet higher, covered by spruce, fir, aspen, and ponderosa pine. Only elk and Merriam's turkey may be hunted here through the NMDGF draw; a Hunting Special Use Permit, an entrance fee, and a mandatory hunter orientation are all required before hunting. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Check NMDGF for current dates and draw details.

7 results

Game Management Unit 13

Game Management Unit 14

Game Management Unit 17

Game Management Unit 18

Game Management Unit 38

Game Management Unit 6A

Game Management Unit 6B