Unit 19 is the Fra Cristobal Mountains, the Jornada del Muerto basin, and surrounding desert east of Elephant Butte Lake. The name Jornada del Muerto translates to "Journey of the Dead Man," and the Spanish weren't being dramatic—this is stark, rugged desert country. Elevations run 4,300 feet along the Rio Grande to about 7,500 feet in the Fra Cristobals. Creosote-covered flats and low ridges at lower elevations, rocky canyons and sparse juniper on the mountain slopes. Water is extremely scarce outside of the Rio Grande and Elephant Butte Lake. Most of the unit is BLM, state trust, and portions of the Armendaris Ranch—Ted Turner's property, limited access. Bosque del Apache NWR borders the north and is closed to hunting. I-25 provides access on the west; rough BLM and ranch roads are the only way into the interior. T or C and Socorro are the nearest service towns. Cell service ends at the I-25 corridor. Carry excessive water—a gallon per person per day minimum. Watch for rattlesnakes. Be prepared for extreme heat in early-season hunts. Desert bighorn sheep habitat exists in the Fra Cristobals. A satellite communicator is strongly recommended because if something goes wrong out here, nobody is comming to find you by accident. Unit 19 is mostly private land — the Armendaris Ranch (Ted Turner, 362,885 acres) dominates the unit along with the Fra Cristobal Mountains. Public access is extremely limited. Turner Ranch Outfitting sells approximately 50 oryx tags per year for game management and six desert bighorn ram tags at $75,000 each. The Fra Cristobal Mountains hold a successfully reintroduced and delisted desert bighorn sheep population. Other species include bison, pronghorn, desert mule deer, mountain lion, javelina, and oryx. Bosque del Apache NWR borders the north. If you draw a tag in Unit 19, understand that finding huntable public land is very difficult — most of the unit requires landowner permission or a guided hunt through Turner's outfit. BLM parcels exist but are scattered and hard to access without crossing private land.