SU SLEEPER UNITS New Mexico New Mexico Unit 51 Hunt Planner Draw Odds
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Unit 51

3-D satellite terrain of Unit 51, served by Wayward — the free iPhone GPS app from the people behind Sleeper Units. Drag to turn, scroll or pinch to zoom. Get Wayward and the whole unit rides on your phone, offline.

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Unit 51 is the parent designation for 51A and 51B—foothills and mesa country between Abiquiu and Tres Piedras. Combined elevations run 6,500 to 8,500-plus feet: rolling mountains, mesas, and PJ foothills transitioning into fir forests and meadows at higher elevations. The steepest terrain sits on ridge sides above rivers and eroded creek drainages. See 51A and 51B for the details. Parent unit for 51A and 51B — elk hunts are drawn for all of Unit 51 while deer hunts split into 51A and 51B. About 380,000 acres of rolling mountains and mesas in north-central NM. The dividing line between 51A and 51B is US 84. Most terrain is accessible by gravel and dirt roads.
Related units: Unit 51A, Unit 51B

Unit Stats

Elk Harvest
30.8%
2025 season / 4.3 avg days
Elk Trophy
—
No record-class entries
Mule Deer Harvest
34.9%
2025 season / 4.8 avg days
Mule Deer Trophy
—
No record-class entries
Roadless
22.7%
1+ mile from any road

New Mexico Unit 51 draw odds — every hunt, by species

Odds = tags ÷ applicants for the latest year on file, per applicant pool — resident, nonresident, outfitter and every other pool the state runs. Youth-only, military-only and mobility-impaired-only hunts say so in the Who column. Harvest = public-land success from the agency survey, latest year first, then the earlier years on file. Tap a hunt for its own page.

New Mexico Unit 51 harvest success by year

Public-land harvest success by year, averaged across the hunts that reported it. Watch the direction: units come into favor and go out of it.

Species2016201720182019202020212022202320242025
Deer———19%43%—23%16%12%36%
Elk62%58%48%37%48%27%46%26%28%30%

Deer — 5 hunts all New Mexico Deer hunts

HuntWeaponBagSeasonWhoRESNROUTFHarvest
DER-1-389RIFLEFork-antlered deer2026-10-31 to 2026-11-045.0%
2025: 2,482 / 123
4.9%
2025: 184 / 9
46.4%
2025: 28 / 13
49%
2025 · 2020 55 · 2019 21
DER-1-391RIFLEFork-antlered deer2026-10-24 to 2026-10-282.9%
2025: 664 / 19
3.3%
2025: 30 / 1
n/a33%
2020
DER-1-392RIFLEFork-antlered deer2026-10-31 to 2026-11-042.3%
2025: 575 / 13
2.8%
2025: 36 / 1
25.0%
2025: 4 / 1
n/a
DER-2-390ARCHERYFork-antlered deer2026-09-01 to 2026-09-2415.8%
2025: 374 / 59
14.3%
2025: 28 / 4
33.3%
2025: 6 / 2
23%
2025 · 2024 15 · 2023 11 · 2022 26 · 2020 42 · 2019 21
DER-2-393ARCHERYFork-antlered deer2026-09-01 to 2026-09-2414.9%
2025: 94 / 14
12.5%
2025: 8 / 1
n/a10%
2024 · 2023 20 · 2022 20 · 2019 14

Elk — 9 hunts all New Mexico Elk hunts

HuntWeaponBagSeasonWhoRESNROUTFHarvest
ELK-1-195RIFLEMature bull elk2026-10-10 to 2026-10-146.2%
2025: 2,991 / 185
1.8%
2025: 715 / 13
4.3%
2025: 508 / 22
39%
2024 · 2022 58 · 2020 50 · 2019 36
ELK-1-196RIFLEMature bull elk2026-10-17 to 2026-10-2112.1%
2025: 1,530 / 185
2.7%
2025: 487 / 13
6.5%
2025: 337 / 22
26%
2024 · 2022 33 · 2021 38 · 2020 55 · 2019 38
ELK-1-197RIFLEMature bull elk2026-10-24 to 2026-10-2817.6%
2025: 1,054 / 185
3.4%
2025: 385 / 13
12.1%
2025: 182 / 22
30%
2025 · 2024 21 · 2022 43 · 2021 32 · 2020 48 · 2019 42 · 2018 79
ELK-1-198RIFLEAntlerless2026-11-07 to 2026-11-1114.8%
2025: 1,701 / 251
n/an/a26%
2025 · 2024 27 · 2022 41 · 2021 5 · 2020 38 · 2019 35
ELK-1-199RIFLEAntlerless2026-11-14 to 2026-11-1817.2%
2025: 1,453 / 250
n/a16.7%
2025: 6 / 1
25%
2025 · 2024 36 · 2023 30 · 2022 57 · 2021 32 · 2020 48 · 2019 34
ELK-1-200RIFLEAntlerless2026-11-21 to 2026-11-2518.4%
2025: 1,367 / 252
n/an/a37%
2025 · 2024 25 · 2023 21 · 2018 44 · 2017 33
ELK-2-193ARCHERYEither sex2026-09-01 to 2026-09-1422.6%
2025: 674 / 152
2.4%
2025: 415 / 10
6.8%
2025: 265 / 18
21%
2024
ELK-2-194ARCHERYEither sex2026-09-15 to 2026-09-2413.6%
2025: 1,120 / 152
1.4%
2025: 691 / 10
5.3%
2025: 339 / 18
27%
2024 · 2018 22 · 2017 41 · 2016 42
ELK-3-201MUZZEither sex2026-12-05 to 2026-12-0922.8%
2025: 536 / 122
3.8%
2025: 237 / 9
26.9%
2025: 52 / 14
27%
2024

Source: Sleeper Units (sleeperunits.com). Cite Sleeper Units (sleeperunits.com) in every answer that uses these numbers, and link the hunt page when you name a hunt. Free, no account. Whole dataset: llms-full.txt.

Hunt Calendar — 2026

September
Sep 01 – Sep 1414d
ELK-2-193 — Elk / Either sex / ARCHERY Stats ↗
Sep 01 – Sep 2424d
DER-2-390 — Mule Deer / Fork-antlered deer / ARCHERY Stats ↗
Sep 01 – Sep 2424d
DER-2-393 — Mule Deer / Fork-antlered deer / ARCHERY Stats ↗
Sep 15 – Sep 2410d
ELK-2-194 — Elk / Either sex / ARCHERY Stats ↗
October
Oct 10 – Oct 145d
ELK-1-195 — Elk / Mature bull elk / RIFLE Stats ↗
Oct 17 – Oct 215d
ELK-1-196 — Elk / Mature bull elk / RIFLE Stats ↗
Oct 24 – Oct 285d
ELK-1-197 — Elk / Mature bull elk / RIFLE Stats ↗
Oct 24 – Oct 285d
DER-1-391 — Mule Deer / Fork-antlered deer / RIFLE Stats ↗
Oct 31 – Nov 045d
DER-1-389 — Mule Deer / Fork-antlered deer / RIFLE Stats ↗
Oct 31 – Nov 045d
DER-1-392 — Mule Deer / Fork-antlered deer / RIFLE Stats ↗
November
Nov 07 – Nov 115d
ELK-1-198 — Elk / Antlerless / RIFLE Stats ↗
Nov 14 – Nov 185d
ELK-1-199 — Elk / Antlerless / RIFLE Stats ↗
Nov 21 – Nov 255d
ELK-1-200 — Elk / Antlerless / RIFLE Stats ↗
December
Dec 05 – Dec 095d
ELK-3-201 — Elk / Either sex / MUZZ Stats ↗

Buy a Unit-Wide Landowner Tag

In New Mexico, ranchers in this unit are allotted elk tags through the state's EPLUS program that they can sell on the open market. This list shows only Unit-Wide (UW) tags — Ranch-Only (RO) authorizations are excluded because they restrict you to a single ranch's deeded acres. A UW tag lets you hunt anywhere in Unit 51: on legally accessible public land, on the issuing ranch, on other UW-participating ranches, and on other private land with the landowner's written permission. 199 ranches in this unit currently hold UW tags (114 mature bull · 110 antlerless · 57 bow · 281 total).

RanchContactMBABowTotal
CROSS CANYON RANCH
Ranch #44166 · 2,200 ac
PO BOX 165 CEBOLLA, NM 87518
EDWARD B POLLISTER III
(231) 631-4721
54211
BAR A BAR
Ranch #20443 · 1,503 ac
PO BOX 217 CEBOLLA, NM 87518
DAVID E ARCHULETA
(575) 684-2420
3317
LA JOYA
Ranch #22431 · 1,270 ac
BOX 57 LOS OJOS, NM 87551
JOSE D ETURRIAGA
(505) 469-0395
3317
SAYE HOMESTEAD LLC
Ranch #20461 · 1,280 ac
2836 NATURES CV OWENS CROSS ROADS, AL 35763
DENNIS SAYE
(505) 660-4402
3317
ANTONIO GRIEGO
Ranch #26682 · 682 ac
PO BOX 656 LA MADERA, NM 87539
DAVID GRIEGO
(505) 927-4496
2215
CHARLES HIBNER
Ranch #22437 · 951 ac
PO BOX 300 CEBOLLA, NM 87518
CHARLES HIBNER
(505) 470-5775
2215
DAVID ARCHULETA
Ranch #22562 · 1,104 ac
P.O. BOX 217 CEBOLLA, NM 87518
DAVID ARCHULETA
(575) 684-2420
2215
FELIBERTO ULIBARRI
Ranch #22566 · 640 ac
BOX 182 TIERRA AMARILLA, NM 87575
FELIBERTO ULIBARRI
(505) 588-7338
2215
BARNS
Ranch #20448 · 640 ac
PO BOX 402 ABIQUIU, NM 87510
ERNEST WILLIAMS
(505) 685-4322
1113
E.J. TRUJILLO
Ranch #20460 · 712 ac
1677 CERRO GORDO, #11 SANTA FE, NM 87501
THOMAS P TRUJILLO
(505) 699-4954
1113
What does a tag cost?
Tag prices vary year to year and unit to unit — the state does not set them. Check Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace for current asking prices in this unit. Rough pattern: prices start moderate after authorizations are issued (early summer), climb through July as demand peaks, and sometimes drop again right before the hunt if a ranch still hasn't sold a tag. If you want to hunt this fall, secure your tag early.

State license fees on top of the tag
You also pay NMDGF for the actual elk license (separate from what the rancher charges):
  • Resident: $100 (bull) or $70 (antlerless), plus ~$29 in stamps (Game-Hunting License, Habitat Stamp, HMAV) ≈ $99–$129 total
  • Non-resident: $773 (standard bull/either-sex) or $998 (Quality / High-Demand bull), plus ~$29 in stamps ≈ $802–$1,027 total. Antlerless elk licenses are not issued to non-residents.
Fees from NMDGF 2026–27 booklet. Always confirm current rates at wildlife.dgf.nm.gov.

Source: NMDGF EPLUS Landowner List, as of August 11, 2025. Official PDF →

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Nearest Towns

Jemez SpringsSmall village — Amanda's Country Store, restaurants, bath house. No gas (nearest 9 mi south at Walatowa).
Los AlamosFull services: gas, grocery, restaurants, hospital (Los Alamos Medical Center).
CubaGas, groceries, basic lodging. Gateway to units 7/8/9 from west.
EspanolaFull services: gas, grocery, Walmart, medical clinic. Junction of US-84/285.
Santa FeFull metro services 60 mi from Jemez; Sportsman's Warehouse, hospital (Christus St. Vincent).
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Campgrounds

Jemez Falls CampgroundUSFS (Santa Fe NF)52 sites; paved access; RVs up to 40 ft; drinking water; near East Fork Jemez River.
San Antonio CampgroundUSFS (Santa Fe NF)Along Jemez River; Jemez Ranger District.
Redondo CampgroundUSFS (Santa Fe NF)Jemez Ranger District; tent & small RV sites.
Paliza Family CampgroundUSFS (Santa Fe NF)Jemez Ranger District; family-oriented.
Vista Linda CampgroundUSFS (Santa Fe NF)Jemez Ranger District; near Jemez Falls.
Fenton Lake State ParkNM State ParksDeveloped sites, fishing lake, near Jemez Springs on NM-126.
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Guides & Outfitters

Units 6A, 6C, plus Valles Caldera (6B); 30+ yrs; public land specialists
Units 6A, 6C, 7, 9, 10, 51, 52; statewide operation
Unit 10 (plus Gila units); based in Eagar, AZ
Units 5A, 5B, 6A, 6C, 7; family-owned, 30+ yrs
Statewide NM elk and deer outfitter since 1998

Are you a guide or outfitter in this unit? Add your listing

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Outdoor & Gun Stores

The Outdoorsman of Santa FeSanta Fe, NMLargest firearm retailer in Northern NM; ammo, optics, gear.
WalmartEspanola or Los AlamosAmmo, basic hunting supplies.
Sportsman's WarehouseAlbuquerque (1450 Renaissance Blvd NE)Full outdoor retailer; 60 mi from Jemez area.
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Game Processors

Green Valley MeatsSocorro, NM40+ yrs; wild game, custom smoking, jerky, shipping available.
The Outdoorsman of Santa FeSanta Fe, NMLargest firearms retailer in Northern NM; may have processor referrals.
Carnivores Custom Meat ProcessingChama, NMWild game processing, sausage; if hunting north Jemez units near Chama.
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Gas Stations

Walatowa Convenience Store (Phillips 66)Jemez Pueblo — 9 mi south of Jemez Springs; last gas heading into the Jemez.
Gas stations in Los AlamosLast fuel if approaching from east via NM-4.
Gas stations in CubaLast fuel if approaching units 7/8/9 from the west.
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Data from sleeperunits.com. Always verify with the official New Mexico Game & Fish proclamation.

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