New Mexico publishes deer harvest in a form FDR could rank for 5 public hunting areas and 59 hunt units. E.S. Barker WMA is highest at 0.4 deer harvested per square mile in 2025. Burro Mountains hunt area (Unit 23) has 0.3 in 2025 and Urraca WMA has 0.1 in 2025. For success rate Valle Vidal (Unit 55A hunt area) leads at 40% in 2025 and E.S. Barker WMA has 38% in 2025. The rankings describe reported harvest and do not measure access or hunting pressure.
KEY FINDINGS
- E.S. Barker WMA has the highest harvest per square mile at 0.4. The agency reported 3 deer on 5,416 acres in 2025.
- Valle Vidal (Unit 55A hunt area) has the best success rate at 40%. Its harvest per square mile ranks 5 of 5.
- 5 public hunting areas are ranked. Ranks compare areas measured between 2021 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
- 59 hunt units are ranked too. GMU 2B has the highest harvest per square mile at 1.1 in 2025.
New Mexico public land rankings
Best public land in New Mexico
Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2021 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Public share includes state trust land that licensed hunters may use with conditions. It is an upper bound where some tracts are landlocked or excluded.
Download all ranked rows (CSV)
Public hunting areas
Top 5 of 5 ranked public hunting areas by deer harvest per square mile. Each row shows its own newest year.
5 of 5 areas shown
| 1 | E.S. Barker WMA | 5,416 | 2025 | 3 | 0.4 | 38% | 2 | 7.0% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Burro Mountains hunt area (Unit 23) | 165,576 | 2025 | 78 | 0.3 | 33% | 3 | 3.9% |
| 3 | Urraca WMA | 13,304 | 2025 | 3 | 0.1 | 25% | 5 | 7.7% |
| 4 | Colin Neblett WMA | 33,116 | 2024 | 5 | 0.1 | 26% | 4 | 9.2% |
| 5 | Valle Vidal (Unit 55A hunt area) | 101,288 | 2025 | 4 | 0.0 | 40% | 1 | 4.3% |
Top 5 by success rate
5 of 5 areas with a success rate shown
| 5 | Valle Vidal (Unit 55A hunt area) | 101,288 | 2025 | 4 | 0.0 | 40% | 1 | 4.3% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | E.S. Barker WMA | 5,416 | 2025 | 3 | 0.4 | 38% | 2 | 7.0% |
| 2 | Burro Mountains hunt area (Unit 23) | 165,576 | 2025 | 78 | 0.3 | 33% | 3 | 3.9% |
| 4 | Colin Neblett WMA | 33,116 | 2024 | 5 | 0.1 | 26% | 4 | 9.2% |
| 3 | Urraca WMA | 13,304 | 2025 | 3 | 0.1 | 25% | 5 | 7.7% |
Hunt units
Top 15 of 59 ranked hunt units by deer harvest per square mile. Hunt units include private land, so the public share column shows how much of each unit is public land open to hunting.
15 of 59 hunt units shown
| 1 | GMU 2B | 464,846 | 2025 | 806 | 1.1 | 50% | 9 | 3.6% | 610.5 | 84.1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | GMU 5A | 146,018 | 2025 | 130 | 0.6 | 40% | 14 | 23.0% | 37.5 | 16.4% |
| 3 | GMU 49 | 271,724 | 2025 | 166 | 0.4 | 44% | 11 | 5.9% | 339.4 | 79.9% |
| 4 | GMU 36 | 634,931 | 2025 | 337 | 0.3 | 31% | 22 | 11.8% | 528.6 | 53.3% |
| 5 | GMU 24 | 965,270 | 2025 | 500 | 0.3 | 30% | 23 | 25.8% | 936.4 | 62.1% |
| 6 | GMU 4 | 435,044 | 2025 | 197 | 0.3 | 44% | 11 | 62.7% | 82.3 | 12.1% |
| 7 | GMU 45 | 975,692 | 2025 | 431 | 0.3 | 43% | 12 | 7.8% | 1,130.4 | 74.1% |
| 8 | GMU 34 | 1,084,590 | 2025 | 470 | 0.3 | 21% | 29 | 15.9% | 1,143.6 | 67.5% |
| 9 | GMU 48 | 240,588 | 2025 | 90 | 0.2 | 51% | 8 | 8.0% | 105.7 | 28.1% |
| 10 | GMU 52 | 268,367 | 2025 | 79 | 0.2 | 31% | 22 | 5.4% | 386.2 | 92.1% |
| 11 | GMU 57 | 273,103 | 2025 | 78 | 0.2 | 39% | 15 | 16.1% | 69.0 | 16.2% |
| 12 | GMU 53 | 437,653 | 2025 | 120 | 0.2 | 41% | 13 | 12.3% | 324.7 | 47.5% |
| 13 | GMU 46 | 801,219 | 2025 | 207 | 0.2 | 60% | 4 | 9.0 | 0.7% | |
| 14 | GMU 22 | 251,118 | 2025 | 64 | 0.2 | 27% | 25 | 15.7% | 271.8 | 69.3% |
| 15 | GMU 2A | 497,297 | 2025 | 119 | 0.2 | 34% | 19 | 9.6% | 512.2 | 65.9% |
Top 10 by success rate
10 of 59 hunt units with a success rate shown
| 42 | GMU 54 | 218,391 | 2025 | 12 | 0.0 | 89% | 1 | 33.8 | 9.9% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | GMU 55B | 236,658 | 2022 | 15 | 0.0 | 81% | 2 | 5.4 | 1.5% | |
| 43 | GMU 55 | 1,242,528 | 2025 | 68 | 0.0 | 64% | 3 | 207.0 | 10.7% | |
| 13 | GMU 46 | 801,219 | 2025 | 207 | 0.2 | 60% | 4 | 9.0 | 0.7% | |
| 16 | GMU 5B | 262,242 | 2025 | 60 | 0.1 | 60% | 4 | 0.6% | 334.3 | 81.6% |
| 59 | GMU 19 | 2,707,711 | 2025 | 12 | 0.0 | 58% | 5 | 3.3% | 3,925.7 | 92.8% |
| 23 | GMU 14 | 1,057,874 | 2025 | 186 | 0.1 | 57% | 6 | 2.4% | 337.7 | 20.4% |
| 28 | GMU 41 | 1,172,714 | 2025 | 128 | 0.1 | 52% | 7 | 14.4% | 372.9 | 20.3% |
| 9 | GMU 48 | 240,588 | 2025 | 90 | 0.2 | 51% | 8 | 8.0% | 105.7 | 28.1% |
| 38 | GMU 55A/55B | 1,242,528 | 2021 | 89 | 0.0 | 51% | 8 | 207.0 | 10.7% |
01Public hunting areas
5 areas ranked on harvest per square mile
E.S. Barker WMA has the most deer harvested per square mile at 0.4 in 2025. Burro Mountains hunt area (Unit 23) has 0.3 in 2025 and Urraca WMA has 0.1 in 2025.
The top 5 run from 0.4 down to 0.0 deer harvested per square mile.
02Success rate
Top 5 public hunting areas by success rate
Valle Vidal (Unit 55A hunt area) has the best success rate at 40% in 2025. E.S. Barker WMA has 38% in 2025 and Burro Mountains hunt area (Unit 23) has 33% in 2025.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Every ranked area has one.
03Hunt units
59 hunt units ranked on harvest per square mile
GMU 2B has the most deer harvested per square mile at 1.1 in 2025. GMU 5A has 0.6 in 2025 and GMU 49 has 0.4 in 2025.
Harvest in a hunt unit includes private land, so the public share is shown next to each unit. The public share is the part of each unit that is public land open to hunting. Public share includes state trust land that licensed hunters may use with conditions. It is an upper bound where some tracts are landlocked or excluded.
GMU 54 has the best success rate at 89% in 2025. GMU 55B has 81% in 2022 and GMU 55 has 64% in 2025.
04Basis of this report
Sources and method
FDR divided the agency's deer harvest by the area's size to get harvest per square mile. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Ranks compare areas measured between 2021 and 2025 and each row shows its own newest year.
Success rate is the agency's published figure or harvest divided by hunters. Tied values share a rank and the order uses the unrounded values.
A ranking does not evaluate an individual property and does not confirm that it is open to hunting for you.
Sources
NOTES AND SOURCES
- Derived FDR figures from state agency numbers. Seasons measured 2021 through 2025. Captured October 18, 2026. Harvest per square mile is the agency's deer harvest divided by the area's size. Success rate is the agency's published rate or harvest divided by hunters. Areas smaller than one square mile are left out of the rankings. Order uses the unrounded values and tied values share a rank. Blank cells mean the agency did not publish the figure.
Fully Drawn Research is an independent data analysis desk, not affiliated with any state wildlife agency, transportation agency, mapping provider or outfitter. FDR rankings are independent analysis of state agency numbers. A ranking does not evaluate an individual property.
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