Hunting units in North Central New Mexico

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 2B

Game Management Unit 2B in northwestern Rio Arriba County transitions from flat river bottoms and crop fields in the west through rolling hills and short mesas to timbered mountains in the east, with elevations roughly 5,550 to 7,665 feet. The unit is noted for trophy mule deer, with elk, pronghorn, black bear, cougar, and Merriam's turkey also huntable through the NMDGF draw. About 84–85% of the unit is public land with good gravel and dirt road access — some oil-field roads may be gated — with the remainder private and Jicarilla Apache lands. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm seasons in the current NMDGF Rules and Info.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 4

Game Management Unit 4 in Rio Arriba County, north-central New Mexico, ranges from approximately 6,837 to 10,915 feet across farm fields and sagebrush flats with river bottoms along the Rio Chama, San Juan, Animas, and Los Pinos, rising to pinyon-juniper at higher elevations. Mule deer, elk, black bear, and cougar are huntable; public hunting is concentrated on state wildlife areas such as the Rio Chama SWA. Only about 12% of the unit is public land — the remainder is nearly all private including land bordering the northeast of the Jicarilla Apache Reservation, creating significant access challenges. Draw tags are required. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm season dates and draw details with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 49

Taos County unit (~6,900-11,000 ft) of steep forested mountains with several peaks above 10,000 ft, forested below timberline with foothills and flats in the corners.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 50

Game Management Unit 50 is a long, narrow Taos County unit running from Española to the Colorado border at elevations from approximately 5,600 to 9,475 feet, mixing gently rolling mountains and foothills with extensive flats of pinyon-juniper, ponderosa, and oak brush. Huntable species include mule deer, elk, pronghorn, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, black bear, and cougar, with draw tags required for most big game. About 68% of the unit is public land managed by BLM, Carson National Forest, and state agencies; private and tribal lands limit access in portions of the unit. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm seasons and draw deadlines with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 51A

Game Management Unit 51A in Rio Arriba County, north-central New Mexico, spans elevations from approximately 6,000 to 9,000 feet across gently rolling mountains and mesas, with steeper ground above drainages and sandstone cliffs along the Chama River. Elk, mule deer, black bear, and cougar are huntable here; the unit produces good bull elk. About 86% of the land is public — a mix of Carson National Forest, BLM, and state land including the eastern Chama River Wilderness — with some private holdings. Draw tags are required for elk and deer. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm seasons and draw deadlines with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 51B

Game Management Unit 51B in Rio Arriba County, north-central New Mexico, spans elevations from approximately 6,200 to 8,100 feet across rolling mountains and mesas, with the steepest terrain above river drainages, sandstone cliffs along the Chama, and pinyon-juniper grading to ponderosa above roughly 7,500 feet. Elk, mule deer, black bear, and cougar are huntable through the NMDGF draw. About 66% of the unit is public land — a mix of BLM, state, and Forest Service land including the eastern Chama River Wilderness (no vehicle access) — while private land in the northeast limits access. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm seasons and draw deadlines with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 52

Game Management Unit 52 in Rio Arriba County, north-central New Mexico, encompasses high open plains from approximately 8,100 to 9,100 feet rising above 10,900 feet, with prairies and aspen-conifer hillsides surrounding San Antonio Mountain (10,908 ft) and the Cruces Basin Wilderness. Elk, mule deer, pronghorn, black bear, and cougar are huntable through the NMDGF draw. About 92% of the unit is public land — primarily Carson National Forest including the Cruces Basin Wilderness — with good road access; approximately 8% is private in small tracts along rivers and roads. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm seasons and draw deadlines with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 53

Game Management Unit 53 spans an extraordinary elevation range in Taos County — from approximately 6,000 feet of prairie to 13,161 feet at Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest point — including the Latir Mountains, Latir Peak Wilderness, and alpine tundra above roughly 11,700 feet. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, black bear, and cougar; bighorn sheep is a highly limited draw. About 47% of the unit is public land within the Carson National Forest; significant private holdings near Taos, Valdez, and Sunshine Valley limit access, and the southern portion lies within Taos Pueblo and is closed to public hunting. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm all seasons and draw requirements with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 5A

Game Management Unit 5A in Rio Arriba County, north-central New Mexico, ranges from approximately 6,920 to 7,704 feet across desert grasslands and sagebrush flats rising through pinyon-juniper and ponderosa foothills to aspen ridges and mesas with rimrock. Mule deer, elk, black bear, and cougar are huntable here; public access is limited, with only about 16% public land consisting of scattered BLM strips — the majority is private, creating access challenges. Draw tags are required for most species. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Confirm seasons and draw with NMDGF.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 5B

Heavily forested, mountainous Rio Arriba unit (~6,000-9,000 ft) with spruce-fir-aspen high country, ponderosa and oak brush mid-slopes, steep canyons, hogbacks, and the Rio Chama Wilderness.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 6C

Game Management Unit 6C in Los Alamos County, north-central New Mexico, spans steep wooded canyons and foothills in the Jemez Mountains from approximately 6,500 to 8,500 feet, bordered by the Valles Caldera National Preserve on three sides and Bandelier National Monument. Huntable species include elk, mule deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, black bear, and cougar, with most tags through the NMDGF draw. About 64% of the unit is public land — a patchwork of Santa Fe National Forest, BLM, and state lands — while private holdings include tribal land, national monuments, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. A valid New Mexico hunting license is required. Consult NMDGF for current dates and draw requirements.

Hunting unit · North Central NM

Game Management Unit 8

Santa Fe County unit (~7,610-10,678 ft) centered on the steep, rugged Sandia Mountains with the Ortiz and San Pedro ranges, spruce-fir-aspen on upper slopes and pinyon-juniper below.

Hunting units in North Central New Mexico

Weather — Canjilon, NM

12 hunting units

Game Management Unit 2B

Game Management Unit 4

Game Management Unit 49

Game Management Unit 50

Game Management Unit 51A

Game Management Unit 51B

Game Management Unit 52

Game Management Unit 53

Game Management Unit 5A

Game Management Unit 5B

Game Management Unit 6C

Game Management Unit 8

Weather — Canjilon, NM