At a Glance
2,928Square Miles
63.2%Public Land
4,500 - 8,800Elevation Range
Quick Tips
- Remember to buy a habitat stamp and an access validation
- Use a good GPS unit with a land ownership memory card
Hunters discussing Unit 23 in New Mexico highlight its challenging terrain, with a mix of mountainous areas and dense vegetation that can make navigation and spotting game difficult. Draw odds are considered competitive, but those who have successfully hunted in the area emphasize the importance of pre-season scouting and familiarity with the landscape. The unit is praised for having a healthy population of elk, though success often requires patience and persistence due to the elusive nature of the game. Overall, the advice is to prepare thoroughly, remain adaptable to varying conditions, and leverage knowledge of animal behavior to increase chances of a successful hunt.
Bordering Arizona, this unit is known for the Blue Range Wilderness and the Burro Mountain hunting area, which the state has long labeled and managed as a quality deer hunting site. Coues deer, desert mule deer, pronghorn antelope, javelina and elk are hunted in Unit 23.
Deer tags in the Burro Mountain hunting area are hard to draw because hunters take many big Coues deer. Some bigger elk have come from the Blue Range area. Heavy hunting pressure on public land.