| 2 |
280–300" bulls. Borders the west side of the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reservation. Mostly scattered to thick pinyon/juniper canyons and breaks. Hunters may hunt subunits 2A, 2B, and 2C. The elk population has been improving over the last few years. Great opportunity-type hunt but limited trophy potential. Plenty of public land with good road access. |
| 6A |
280–300"+ bulls with potential for better. Borders unit 6B (Valles Caldera). Bulls wander in and out during the rut in archery and muzzleloader seasons. Always a good archery or muzzleloader hunt for nice bulls. Heavily timbered, rolling hills to steeper mountains from 8,000’ to 9,000’. Includes the San Pedro Parks Wilderness for a backpack-style hunt. Plenty of roads to access mostly USFS land. |
| 6B (Valles Caldera) |
300–340"+ potential. Great archery hunt for bugling bulls on Valles Caldera National Preserve. Excellent public access and roads throughout. Steep, burnt conifer-covered mountains with grassy parks below. High elk densities and hunter success, plus low permit numbers. Muzzleloader rut is hit-or-miss; rifle hunts see no rut activity. Review preserve rules carefully before applying. |
| 6C |
260–300"+ bulls with potential for better. Not as strong as 6A. Borders 6B on three sides. Bulls wander during rut; expect crowding in easy-access areas. Heavily timbered rolling to steep mountains. Public land with decent road access. |
| 10 |
260–300"+ bulls with giant potential in wet years. Very tough hunt with low success rates. Flat, thick country tough without rut or bugling bulls. Early archery can be good near water. Mix of public, private, and reservation lands—onXmaps recommended. |
| 12 |
290–320"+ potential with giant bulls on private land. Huge unit, mostly private but sufficient public ground. onXmaps a must. Thick, flat terrain—great archery bugle hunts. First rifle hunt may catch rut end. Physically easy; use Eagle Peak Wilderness to avoid others. |
| 13 |
280–320"+ bulls with a few giants yearly. Flat high-desert pinyon/juniper with rugged pockets. Large unit with private/tribal access issues—onXmaps essential. Best access in south on USFS/state land. Second archery sees bugling; first muzzleloader low rut; third muzzleloader bulls in winter range. Never rifle hunted; improving with muleloaders. |
| 14 |
Rifle only. Small elk population in rough country. Mix of public and private land. Tough hunt, but October 1–5 provides rut activity to locate bulls. Potential for a big bull but requires hard hunting. |
| 15 |
300–330"+ bulls with a few giants yearly. High elk density, public land, good roads. Low-elevation yellow pine mountains. Heavy pressure except youth hunt. Second/third muzzleloader tough in cover; youth hunt yields 300–340"+ bulls. Never rifle hunted. Excellent all-around unit rising with muzzleloader changes. |
| 16A |
Mostly 300–340"+ bulls and occasional giants. Arguably best for big bulls. Great roads but top bulls in rugged roadless areas. Yellow pine ridges and open country. Rut winding down first rifle; none second. Excellent glassing. Outfitters useful. 2023 Pasture and Divide fires greened east side, drawing elk. |
| 16B/22 |
300–340"+ bulls. Encompasses roughest Gila NF. Scattered elk. Second archery or first rifle catches rut end. Steep mountains, burnt timber canyons—excellent glassing. Good access but few interior roads. Mostly horseback/backpack. 2022 Aldo Leopold fire southeast corner; hunt hard for top bulls. |
| 16C |
Mostly 260–300" bulls with upswing in trophy potential. Rough/steep and pinyon/juniper terrain; best bulls in rugged areas. Physically tough—horses recommended. Few roads. Youth rifle sees better rut; trophy potential rising. |
| 16D |
Mostly 300–340"+ bulls; some giants. Slight recent decline. Great roads; best bulls in roadless canyons. Yellow pine ridges and open/burnt areas. First rifle rut winding down; none second. Post-rut bulls in nasty canyons. |
| 16E |
260–300"+ bulls. Rising trophy potential. Low-elevation desert of pinyon/juniper ridges and grass flats. Public BLM/state land access; onXmaps needed. Few roads—foot/horse hunting. Divide Wilderness escapes crowds. Limited water; elk push to adjacent units in first rifle; youth rifle sees rut bulls. |
| 17 |
Mostly 290–320"+ bulls and occasional giants. Terrain varies low pinyon/juniper ridges to steep conifer mountains. Some private but mostly public. Water holes useful in first archery. Rut winding down first muzzleloader; second in rough country; third best for wintering bulls. Youth muzzleloader sees rut bulls. Never rifle hunted; rising with muzzleloader changes. Great glassing unit. |
| 18 |
300–330"+ bulls; occasional giants. One rifle hunt October 1–5 with good rut. Low densities—hire outfitter or extensive scouting/trailcams. Broken desert pinyon/juniper; mixed land ownership—onXmaps helpful. Second archery also good at water holes. |
| 23 |
300–330"+ bulls with giant potential. Low elk densities along AZ unit 27 border. High desert—mixed public/private land. Good access; onXmaps recommended. Steep timbered ridges—few roads. Tough hunt but a giant emerges yearly. |
| 29/30 |
300–330"+ bulls with giant potential. Flat pinyon/juniper; low densities but older bulls. Core along unit 34 border; southern Texas line hosts elk. Rifle October 1–5 best rut. Outfitter or heavy scouting needed; private land issues—onXmaps essential. |
| 34 |
290–320"+ potential with better bulls yearly. High elk numbers, public land, good roads. Thick conifers with aspen pockets. Borders Mescalero Apache Reservation. Excellent archery bugle unit; muzzleloader catches rut end; rifle sees no rut. Youth rifle high success on 6-points. |
| 36 |
260–310"+ bulls; better in wet years but steady decline. High elk; low-elevation pinyon/juniper with conifer ridges. Great archery bugle hunts; muzzleloader sees no rut; foot/horse hunting—onXmaps advised. Borders Mescalero Reservation; excellent glassing burns. |
| 37 |
300–330"+ bulls with some larger yearly. Small elk population with older bulls. Much private land—onXmaps needed. Captain Mountains public land; rough terrain. Outfitters recommended. First rifle October 1–5 best rut; later rifle sees none. |
| 38 |
Two rifle hunts: October 1–5 sees rut. Low densities but past giants. Mixed public/private—onXmaps helpful. Some glassable, some thick flats. Heavy scouting or outfitter advised. |
| 45 |
260–320"+ potential in wilderness. Require strong backpack or horses; packers available. Thick timbered, steep ridges—some burns hold elk. Good public access and trails. Second archery best; muzzleloader rut slowing. |
| 49 |
260–300"+ bulls. Lots of public land, good access, but close to Taos traffic—get off roads. Timber/aspen country, very steep. Backpack hunts excel. First rifle rut slowing but still productive. |
| 51 |
260–300"+ bulls. Large high-elevation unit, mixed conifer/aspen. Good public roads. Remote horseback/backpack for best bulls. First rifle may see rut. |
| 52 |
260–300"+ bulls. High elk numbers. Muzzleloader hunt may catch rut. Public land and good roads, but small unit and many tags—crowding likely. First rifle has little rut. |
| 53 |
260–300"+ bulls. High-elevation rough country—backpack or horses. Limited water, scattered elk—plan to cover ground. Muzzleloader may see rut. |
| 55 (Valle Vidal) |
Mostly 300–330"+ bulls with some 350"+ yearly. Great public access, limited roads. Timbered ridges and open meadows. High elk densities. Muzzleloader rut hit-or-miss; rifle sees none. High success across hunts. Youth rifle sees 280–320"+ bulls. |
