3-D satellite terrain of Unit 23, 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.
Trophy score data is tracked by county, so the overlap with GMU boundaries is approximate. These numbers tell you whether the area is capable of growing big animals — they do not indicate public vs. private land. Big elk can come from anywhere; most elk in the lower 48 trace back to Yellowstone stock that was transplanted west after the species was nearly extirpated in the early 1900s.
| County | Species | Method | Count | Avg Score | Top Score |
| Catron | Elk | Archery | 20 | 321 | 390 |
| Catron | Elk | Rifle | 2 | 382 | 396 |
| Catron | Mule Deer | Rifle | 1 | 189 | 189 |
| Catron | Pronghorn | Rifle | 3 | 82 | 82 |
| Catron | Coues Whitetail | Rifle | 1 | 107 | 107 |
| Grant | Elk | Archery | 1 | 312 | 312 |
| Grant | Mule Deer | Rifle | 1 | 180 | 180 |
| Grant | Pronghorn | Archery | 1 | 79 | 79 |
| Grant | Pronghorn | Rifle | 2 | 85 | 89 |
| Grant | Coues Whitetail | Rifle | 2 | 110 | 111 |
| Hidalgo | Coues Whitetail | Rifle | 1 | 105 | 105 |
| Luna | Pronghorn | Archery | 1 | 79 | 79 |
| Luna | Pronghorn | Rifle | 6 | 87 | 91 |
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.
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.
| Species | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deer | 67% | 46% | 38% | 48% | 47% | 76% | 38% | — | 27% | 41% |
| Elk | 26% | 32% | 37% | 11% | 30% | 14% | 26% | 46% | 28% | 23% |
| Javelina | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 25% |
| Hunt | Weapon | Bag | Season | Who | RES | NR | OUTF | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DER-1-234 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2026-11-07 to 2026-11-11 | 32.0% 2025: 1,267 / 405 | 10.5% 2025: 257 / 27 | 54.5% 2025: 33 / 18 | 71% 2025 · 2024 25 · 2017 50 | |
| DER-1-235 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2026-11-14 to 2026-11-18 | 53.2% 2025: 775 / 412 | 13.3% 2025: 203 / 27 | 64.7% 2025: 17 / 11 | 66% 2025 · 2024 21 | |
| DER-1-236 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-11-21 to 2026-11-25 | 22.2% 2025: 378 / 84 | 3.7% 2025: 163 / 6 | 20.8% 2025: 48 / 10 | 100% 2025 · 2024 37 | |
| DER-1-237 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-13 | 13.1% 2025: 360 / 47 | 1.0% 2025: 298 / 3 | 3.8% 2025: 132 / 5 | 60% 2025 · 2024 37 | |
| DER-1-238 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-11-21 to 2026-11-29 | Youth only | 28.6% 2025: 220 / 63 | 10.6% 2025: 47 / 5 | 28.0% 2025: 25 / 7 | 89% 2025 · 2024 62 · 2020 38 |
| DER-1-245 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2026-11-07 to 2026-11-15 | 3.7% 2025: 816 / 30 | 1.3% 2025: 156 / 2 | 3.0% 2025: 101 / 3 | 26% 2025 · 2024 25 | |
| DER-1-246 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-13 | 5.0% 2025: 676 / 34 | 0.5% 2025: 411 / 2 | 1.6% 2025: 254 / 4 | 35% 2025 · 2024 0 · 2022 53 · 2021 100 · 2020 70 · 2019 70 | |
| DER-1-247 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-11-21 to 2026-11-29 | Youth only | 6.4% 2025: 328 / 21 | 1.7% 2025: 120 / 2 | 3.6% 2025: 56 / 2 | 75% 2025 · 2022 28 · 2021 52 · 2020 34 · 2019 27 · 2018 38 · 2017 43 |
| DER-2-239 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-24 | 96.4% 2025: 165 / 159 | 69.4% 2025: 62 / 43 | 100.0% 2025: 3 / 3 | 20% 2025 | |
| DER-2-240 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2027-01-01 to 2027-01-15 | 15.8% 2025: 266 / 42 | 5.8% 2025: 52 / 3 | 29.4% 2025: 17 / 5 | 39% 2025 · 2024 14 | |
| DER-2-241 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-24 | 100.0% 2025: 32 / 86 | 77.8% 2025: 18 / 14 | n/a | 14% 2025 · 2024 22 · 2020 61 | |
| DER-2-242 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2027-01-16 to 2027-01-31 | 48.0% 2025: 75 / 36 | 36.1% 2025: 36 / 13 | 25.0% 2025: 4 / 1 | 13% 2025 · 2024 9 · 2022 33 · 2020 33 | |
| DER-2-248 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2027-01-01 to 2027-01-15 | 10.6% 2025: 322 / 34 | 5.4% 2025: 37 / 2 | 12.5% 2025: 32 / 4 | 43% 2025 | |
| DER-2-249 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-24 | 40.5% 2025: 42 / 17 | 11.1% 2025: 9 / 1 | 66.7% 2025: 3 / 2 | 23% 2025 | |
| DER-2-250 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2027-01-16 to 2027-01-31 | 37.8% 2025: 111 / 42 | 6.5% 2025: 46 / 3 | 50.0% 2025: 10 / 5 | 21% 2025 · 2024 29 | |
| DER-3-243 | MUZZ | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2026-10-31 to 2026-11-04 | 67.3% 2025: 223 / 150 | 73.9% 2025: 69 / 51 | 50.0% 2025: 2 / 1 | 15% 2025 · 2024 25 | |
| DER-3-244 | MUZZ | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-10-31 to 2026-11-04 | 55.6% 2025: 72 / 40 | 42.5% 2025: 40 / 17 | 100.0% 2025: 3 / 3 | 13% 2025 · 2024 22 · 2020 47 | |
| DER-3-251 | MUZZ | Fork-antlered mule deer | 2026-10-31 to 2026-11-04 | 19.3% 2025: 176 / 34 | 7.7% 2025: 26 / 2 | 40.0% 2025: 10 / 4 | 43% 2025 · 2024 53 | |
| DER-3-252 | MUZZ | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-10-31 to 2026-11-04 | 41.0% 2025: 83 / 34 | 11.8% 2025: 17 / 2 | 50.0% 2025: 8 / 4 | 9% 2025 · 2024 24 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Bag | Season | Who | RES | NR | OUTF | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK-1-333 | RIFLE | Either sex | 2026-10-10 to 2026-10-14 | Youth only | 4.9% 2025: 429 / 21 | 0.9% 2025: 229 / 2 | 1.2% 2025: 170 / 2 | 60% 2025 · 2024 50 · 2022 13 · 2021 11 · 2020 41 · 2019 10 |
| ELK-1-335 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-24 to 2026-10-28 | 9.6% 2025: 653 / 63 | 1.8% 2025: 272 / 5 | 4.2% 2025: 168 / 7 | 14% 2025 · 2024 31 · 2023 27 · 2018 34 · 2017 37 · 2016 28 | |
| ELK-1-336 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-09 | 7.5% 2025: 265 / 20 | n/a | n/a | 22% 2025 · 2024 50 · 2023 67 · 2018 40 · 2017 28 · 2016 23 | |
| ELK-1-338 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-12-19 to 2026-12-27 | 20.4% 2025: 98 / 20 | n/a | n/a | 6% 2025 · 2024 20 · 2023 44 · 2022 40 · 2020 31 · 2019 9 | |
| ELK-2-331 | ARCHERY | Either sex | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-14 | 29.2% 2025: 360 / 105 | 3.3% 2025: 245 / 8 | 7.8% 2025: 153 / 12 | 31% 2024 | |
| ELK-2-332 | ARCHERY | Either sex | 2026-09-15 to 2026-09-24 | 15.4% 2025: 410 / 63 | 1.7% 2025: 292 / 5 | 5.6% 2025: 125 / 7 | 18% 2024 | |
| ELK-2-337 | ARCHERY | Mature bull elk | 2026-12-19 to 2026-12-23 | 34.2% 2025: 38 / 13 | 2.4% 2025: 41 / 1 | 20.0% 2025: 5 / 1 | 9% 2024 | |
| ELK-3-334 | MUZZ | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-17 to 2026-10-21 | 27.9% 2025: 226 / 63 | 4.1% 2025: 122 / 5 | 12.3% 2025: 57 / 7 | 14% 2025 · 2024 14 · 2022 26 · 2021 17 · 2020 18 · 2019 15 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Bag | Season | Who | RES | NR | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JAV-1-102 | RIFLE | Javelina (Any) | 2027-02-01 to 2027-03-31 | 47.2% 2025: 2,329 / 1,100 | 19.2% 2025: 343 / 66 | 27% 2025 | |
| JAV-2-101 | ARCHERY | Javelina (Any) | 2027-01-01 to 2027-01-31 | 34.7% 2025: 950 / 330 | 12.6% 2025: 151 / 19 | 23% 2025 |
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.
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 23: 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. 13 ranches in this unit currently hold UW tags (5 mature bull · 1 antlerless · 7 bow · 13 total).
| Ranch | Contact | MB | A | Bow | Total |
| DELLA FAE MCKINNEY Ranch #26683 · 119 ac 16230 WOODLAKE DR. COLLEGE STATION, TX 77845 | JAMES W RICHARDSON (979) 777-5228 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| JANICE KIEHNE Ranch #28099 · 46 ac PO BOX 1 LUNA, NM 87824 | JANICE KIEHNE (575) 547-2711 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| LEGGETT RANCH Ranch #41242 · 40 ac HC 62 BOX 220 RESERVE, NM 87830 | BRIAN KLUMKER (575) 539-6965 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| MULE CREEK PROPERTIES, LLC Ranch #40718 · 162 ac 2722 EDGEMONT AVE. PHOENIX, AZ 85008 | MARK HOUSEAL (602) 672-0118 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| UPPER DOUBLE J2/ THE PATRUFF PLACE Ranch #41732 · 80 ac 433 ELM AVENUE TERRACE PARK, OH 45174 | JULIA HAMILTON TRANT COATES (513) 519-7999 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| BEN CHAPEL Ranch #43701 · 155 ac PO BOX 291 QUEMADO, NM 87829 | BEN CHAPEL (575) 773-4599 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| CHERRY CANYON FARMS Ranch #40806 · 155 ac BOX 97 GLENWOOD, NM 88039 | YOLONDA S O'CONNELL (575) 538-1973 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FAUST CATTLE CO. Ranch #28772 · 90 ac 54 HUGH BAR MESA GLENWOOD, NM 88039 | JOSEPH FAUST (575) 539-2375 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FAUST RANCH Ranch #28905 · 153 ac 4431 RIVERHILL DR. NW ALBUQUERQUE, NM 87120 | WILLIAM A FAUST (505) 280-7211 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FS RANCH Ranch #41192 · 323 ac 6375 W PICACHO AVE LAS CRUCES, NM 88007 | NICK FAUST (575) 649-7971 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| HUGH B MCKEEN RANCH Ranch #27842 · 710 ac 7 BRUNSON RD GLENWOOD, NM 88039 | HUGH MCKEEN JR (575) 539-2733 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| RS PLEASANTON Ranch #42448 · 50 ac 12 FERGISON ROAD GLENWOOD, NM 88039 | RUSSELL SLAUGHTER (432) 940-3892 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| WS LAND & CATTLE Ranch #28284 · 279 ac 33 WS RANCH ROAD GLENWOOD, NM 88039 | PHYLLIS MCKEEN (575) 539-2513 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Source: NMDGF EPLUS Landowner List, as of August 11, 2025. Official PDF →
| Magdalena | Small town — gas, general store, lodging. Hub for units 17, 13, 18. LOH & Radiant R lodges. |
| Datil | Very small — limited services. LOH Datil lodge. Datil Well CG nearby. |
| Socorro | Full services: gas, grocery, lodging, hospital (Socorro General). 27 mi east of Magdalena on US-60. |
| Quemado | Small town — gas (Carlton Armstrong store), basic supplies. Gateway to unit 23 from west. |
| Reserve | Small town — gas, basic groceries. Closest town to unit 15 from south. |
| Datil Well Campground | BLM | 2 mi west of Datil on US-60; campground host year-round; popular with elk hunters in fall. |
| Hughes Mill Campground | USFS (Cibola NF) | Magdalena Ranger District; dispersed feel; primitive. |
| Water Canyon Campground | USFS (Cibola NF) | Magdalena Mtns; scenic canyon; small sites. |
| Bear Trap Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | Near Reserve; developed sites for unit 15 access. |
Are you a guide or outfitter in this unit? Add your listing
| Walmart | Socorro, NM | Ammo, basic hunting supplies. |
| Sportsman's Warehouse | Albuquerque (60 mi north) | Full outdoor retailer for major gear runs. |
| Head's & Tails Taxidermy & Game Processing | Magdalena, NM | Hub of units 17, 13, 16E; taxidermy + processing. |
| Green Valley Meats | Socorro, NM | 40+ yrs; wild game, custom smoking, jerky, shipping. |
| D&H Meats | Socorro, NM | Full-service slaughter and processing facility. |
| Gas stations in Magdalena | Last reliable fuel before units 17/18 backcountry. |
| Gas stations in Datil | Very limited; last fuel before unit 15/23 via US-12. |
| Gas stations in Quemado | Last fuel before western access to unit 23 / Gila. |
| Gas stations in Socorro | Stock up on I-25 before heading west on US-60. |
Data from sleeperunits.com. Always verify with the official New Mexico Game & Fish proclamation.