Hunting unit · Southwest NM
Game Management Unit 15
Gila National Forest terrain ranging roughly 7,400-9,000 ft: ponderosa pine and Gambel oak ridges and canyons in the south, flatter sagebrush basins with scattered junipers in the north.
Search hiking, mountain-bike and equestrian trails, campsites, fishing and water access, hunting units, farmers markets, and hidden gems across New Mexico — with fees, access rules, and cultural-protocol guidance.
Showing 1–13 of 13
Gila National Forest terrain ranging roughly 7,400-9,000 ft: ponderosa pine and Gambel oak ridges and canyons in the south, flatter sagebrush basins with scattered junipers in the north.
Game Management Unit 16 is a large, rugged forest and canyon unit in the Gila region of southwestern New Mexico — a premier destination for elk and mule deer. Black bear and Merriam's turkey are also huntable here. Archery, muzzleloader, and rifle seasons run roughly September through January depending on species and weapon; most quality hunts are allocated through the state draw. The unit is largely within the Gila National Forest — check for private inholdings and current access conditions before hunting. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Consult the current NMDGF Rules & Info booklet for dates and draw codes.
Game Management Unit 16A is a premier Gila National Forest hunting unit in Catron County, southwestern New Mexico, spanning terrain from roughly 7,000 to 9,000 feet with rugged canyons, wide-open grasslands, and burn areas. Elk, mule deer, cougar, and black bear are huntable here; elk and deer are limited-entry draw hunts while cougar runs on a longer statewide season. The unit is largely USFS land with trailhead and forest-road access, plus scattered private parcels. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF before hunting.
Game Management Unit 16B in Catron County, southwestern New Mexico, covers rough mountain terrain with rocky canyons and flat ridges and mesas at elevations ranging from roughly 5,000 to 10,895 feet. Elk, mule deer, cougar, and black bear are huntable; elk and deer are limited-entry draw hunts and cougar runs on a longer statewide season. About 99.5% of the unit is public land — mostly the Gila and Aldo Leopold wilderness areas — with all access by foot or pack stock from marked trailheads and no vehicle access within wilderness boundaries. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF.
Game Management Unit 16C in Catron County, southwestern New Mexico, spans wide-open country dropping into steep rocky canyons, with elevations ranging roughly 6,000 to 8,000 feet. Elk, mule deer, cougar, and black bear are huntable; elk and deer are limited-entry draw hunts and cougar runs on a longer statewide season. The unit is predominantly USFS land within the Gila National Forest, with forest-road access and scattered private parcels. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF.
Gila NF terrain with large open meadows interspersed with tracts of ponderosa pine.
Gila National Forest terrain of forested ridges, canyons, and mesas typical of the Gila high country.
Game Management Unit 20 covers the rugged desert mountains of Sierra County, southwestern New Mexico — including the San Andres, Caballo, and Fra Cristobal ranges — at elevations roughly 4,100 to 7,000 feet, transitioning from creosote hills to ocotillo and scattered junipers. Huntable species include mule deer, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, cougar, and black bear; desert bighorn is a highly limited once-in-a-lifetime draw. About 65% of the unit is public land; hunters commonly access BLM and state trust lands, with additional options near Elephant Butte and Caballo Lake state parks. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF.
Game Management Unit 21B spans the Black Range mountains and valleys to the desert floor in Sierra County, southwestern New Mexico, from roughly 4,000 to 7,800 feet; flat creosote hills rise to mesquite and juniper, with ponderosa pine in the canyon bottoms and at the high peaks. Huntable species include mule deer, Coues deer, elk, pronghorn, javelina, cougar, and black bear under NMDGF zone- and species-specific seasons. About 62% of the unit is public land, with BLM and state trust parcels reached via Black Range Highway 152 and connected dirt roads and trailheads. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF.
Game Management Unit 22 in Grant County, southwestern New Mexico, spans contrasting terrain: the northern portion encompasses high Gila Wilderness mountains from 9,000 to 10,658 feet with spruce, fir, and ponderosa pine grading to grassy flats, while the southern portion is flat, barren desert with oak brush and pinyon-juniper. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, pronghorn, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, cougar, and black bear; bighorn is a highly limited draw, and elk and deer are limited-entry draw hunts. The northern half is mostly public with the eastern two-thirds within the Gila Wilderness; the southern half is largely private. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF.
Game Management Unit 23 in Grant County, southwestern New Mexico, ranges from approximately 4,250 feet of desert near Lordsburg to 8,827 feet on Whiterocks Mountain, with desert grasslands rising through mountain mahogany and scrub oak to ponderosa pine and Gambel oak; the unit includes part of the Blue Range Wilderness. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, Coues deer, pronghorn, javelina, cougar, and black bear; GMU 23 is noted for Coues deer, and javelina here is a draw hunt. About 63% of the unit is public land, including Gila National Forest, BLM, and state trust, reached via Highways 90, 78, and dirt roads off Highway 180. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates and draw status with NMDGF.
Game Management Unit 25 encompasses the rugged Florida Mountains in Luna County, an isolated desert range approximately 15 miles southeast of Deming where Persian ibex were introduced in 1970; the surrounding terrain is open Chihuahuan Desert grassland. Huntable species include Persian ibex, mule deer, javelina, and cougar, with ibex allocated through the NMDGF draw. The ibex hunt area falls within the GMU 25 portion bounded by I-10, the US-Mexico border, NM 11, and the Doña Ana-Luna county line; land is a mix of BLM, state trust, and private. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates and draw status with NMDGF.
Game Management Unit 27 in Hidalgo County encompasses the Peloncillo Mountains along the Arizona state line, Guadalupe Canyon, and the small Guadalupe range near the Mexican border, with elevations from approximately 4,000 to 6,928 feet. Huntable species include Coues deer, desert mule deer, elk, pronghorn, desert bighorn sheep, javelina, cougar, and black bear; desert bighorn is a very limited draw, and javelina here is a draw hunt. Land is a mix of BLM, state trust, and private holdings in challenging bootheel terrain, with access complicated by the Arizona and Mexico borders and surrounding private ranches. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm current dates, hunt codes, and draw status with NMDGF.