SLEEPER UNITS
New Mexico Unit 21
Hunt Planner
Draw Odds
3-D satellite terrain of Unit 21, 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.
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 | 16% | 24% | — | 22% | 27% | 10% | 42% | 32% | 35% | 25% |
| Elk | 32% | 35% | 35% | 46% | 48% | 38% | 37% | 34% | 27% | 32% |
| Pronghorn | — | — | — | — | — | — | 72% | 66% | 39% | 67% |
| Hunt | Weapon | Bag | Season | Who | RES | NR | OUTF | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DER-1-221 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-11-07 to 2026-11-11 | 15.7% 2025: 2,300 / 361 | 11.0% 2025: 236 / 26 | 84.4% 2025: 45 / 38 | 33% 2025 · 2024 58 · 2023 38 · 2022 75 · 2021 0 · 2020 27 | |
| DER-1-222 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-11-14 to 2026-11-18 | 27.8% 2025: 1,363 / 379 | 12.2% 2025: 213 / 26 | 47.6% 2025: 42 / 20 | 30% 2025 · 2024 42 · 2023 35 · 2020 22 | |
| DER-1-223 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-11-21 to 2026-11-29 | Youth only | 31.8% 2025: 283 / 90 | 18.2% 2025: 33 / 6 | 80.0% 2025: 5 / 4 | 25% 2025 · 2024 71 · 2023 75 · 2020 37 |
| DER-1-227 | RIFLE | Fork-antlered white-tailed deer | 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-13 | 10.2% 2025: 205 / 21 | 2.0% 2025: 100 / 2 | 7.4% 2025: 27 / 2 | 43% 2025 · 2022 60 · 2020 27 | |
| DER-2-224 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-24 | 98.4% 2025: 252 / 248 | 92.5% 2025: 53 / 49 | 100.0% 2025: 2 / 3 | 11% 2025 · 2024 10 · 2023 15 · 2022 9 · 2020 26 · 2017 18 · 2016 6 | |
| DER-2-225 | ARCHERY | Fork-antlered deer | 2027-01-01 to 2027-01-15 | 35.5% 2025: 504 / 179 | 9.5% 2025: 126 / 12 | 56.2% 2025: 16 / 9 | 18% 2025 · 2024 15 · 2023 17 · 2022 42 · 2021 10 · 2020 14 · 2019 22 | |
| DER-3-226 | MUZZ | Fork-antlered deer | 2026-10-31 to 2026-11-04 | 97.5% 2025: 316 / 308 | 95.3% 2025: 43 / 41 | 50.0% 2025: 2 / 1 | 15% 2025 · 2024 14 · 2023 15 · 2022 22 · 2021 20 · 2020 33 · 2017 31 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Bag | Season | Who | RES | NR | OUTF | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK-1-316 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-10 to 2026-10-14 | 2.8% 2025: 469 / 13 | 1.1% 2025: 95 / 1 | 0.9% 2025: 116 / 1 | 54% 2025 · 2024 10 · 2018 58 · 2017 54 · 2016 47 | |
| ELK-1-317 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-17 to 2026-10-21 | 11.8% 2025: 255 / 30 | 2.6% 2025: 78 / 2 | 2.5% 2025: 120 / 3 | 28% 2025 · 2024 30 · 2023 23 · 2022 64 · 2021 48 · 2020 64 · 2019 61 | |
| ELK-1-318 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-24 to 2026-10-28 | 19.3% 2025: 244 / 47 | 2.9% 2025: 104 / 3 | 5.0% 2025: 101 / 5 | 22% 2025 · 2024 27 · 2023 21 · 2022 38 · 2021 44 · 2020 57 · 2019 59 | |
| ELK-1-319 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-09 | 14.9% 2025: 195 / 29 | n/a | 100.0% 2025: 1 / 1 | 33% 2025 · 2024 44 · 2023 47 · 2022 42 · 2021 48 · 2020 54 · 2019 50 | |
| ELK-1-323 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-01 to 2026-10-05 | 5.5% 2025: 163 / 9 | n/a | 1.5% 2025: 65 / 1 | 60% 2024 · 2023 44 | |
| ELK-1-324 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-17 to 2026-10-21 | 14.1% 2025: 92 / 13 | 3.7% 2025: 27 / 1 | 20.0% 2025: 5 / 1 | 21% 2025 · 2024 21 · 2023 36 · 2018 17 · 2017 15 · 2016 13 | |
| ELK-1-325 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-24 to 2026-10-28 | 27.3% 2025: 77 / 21 | 3.6% 2025: 56 / 2 | 20.0% 2025: 10 / 2 | 37% 2025 · 2024 35 · 2023 28 · 2020 47 · 2019 46 | |
| ELK-1-326 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-11-21 to 2026-11-25 | 23.4% 2025: 64 / 15 | n/a | n/a | 36% 2025 · 2024 50 · 2023 22 · 2020 49 · 2019 55 | |
| ELK-1-327 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-11-28 to 2026-12-02 | 26.8% 2025: 56 / 15 | n/a | n/a | 36% 2025 · 2024 18 · 2023 33 · 2020 58 · 2019 37 | |
| ELK-1-328 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-12-05 to 2026-12-09 | 23.8% 2025: 63 / 15 | n/a | n/a | 33% 2025 · 2024 25 · 2023 50 · 2020 58 · 2019 58 | |
| ELK-1-329 | RIFLE | Antlerless | 2026-12-12 to 2026-12-16 | 23.3% 2025: 86 / 20 | n/a | n/a | 16% 2025 · 2024 43 · 2023 50 · 2018 35 · 2017 35 · 2016 25 | |
| ELK-2-314 | ARCHERY | Either sex | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-14 | 17.9% 2025: 235 / 42 | 2.0% 2025: 153 / 3 | 5.5% 2025: 91 / 5 | 31% 2024 · 2018 33 · 2017 40 · 2016 42 | |
| ELK-2-315 | ARCHERY | Either sex | 2026-09-15 to 2026-09-24 | 16.7% 2025: 252 / 42 | 1.8% 2025: 163 / 3 | 5.0% 2025: 100 / 5 | 24% 2024 | |
| ELK-2-320 | ARCHERY | Mature bull elk | 2026-12-19 to 2026-12-23 | 36.8% 2025: 38 / 14 | 3.3% 2025: 30 / 1 | n/a | 8% 2024 · 2018 25 · 2017 27 · 2016 27 | |
| ELK-2-321 | ARCHERY | Either sex | 2026-09-01 to 2026-09-14 | 45.7% 2025: 46 / 21 | 3.8% 2025: 52 / 2 | 5.9% 2025: 34 / 2 | 16% 2024 · 2023 41 · 2022 13 · 2021 17 · 2020 17 · 2019 16 · 2018 31 | |
| ELK-2-322 | ARCHERY | Either sex | 2026-09-15 to 2026-09-24 | 33.9% 2025: 62 / 21 | 4.5% 2025: 44 / 2 | 6.1% 2025: 33 / 2 | 0% 2024 · 2023 10 · 2020 39 · 2019 43 | |
| ELK-2-330 | ARCHERY | Mature bull elk | 2026-12-19 to 2026-12-23 | 52.6% 2025: 19 / 10 | 38.5% 2025: 13 / 5 | n/a | 22% 2024 · 2023 33 · 2022 30 · 2021 31 · 2020 34 · 2019 36 |
| Hunt | Weapon | Bag | Season | Who | RES | NR | OUTF | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANT-1-139 | RIFLE | Either sex | 2026-08-29 to 2026-08-31 | Youth only | 3.6% 2025: 253 / 9 | n/a | 1.2% 2025: 80 / 1 | 100% 2025 · 2024 0 · 2023 100 · 2022 100 |
| ANT-1-140 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-08-29 to 2026-08-31 | 0.6% 2025: 779 / 5 | n/a | n/a | 100% 2025 · 2022 100 | |
| ANT-1-141 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-09-26 to 2026-09-28 | 1.2% 2025: 750 / 9 | n/a | 0.9% 2025: 117 / 1 | 100% 2025 | |
| ANT-1-142 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-09-26 to 2026-09-28 | Mobility-impaired only | 9.7% 2025: 72 / 7 | n/a | 33.3% 2025: 3 / 1 | 40% 2025 · 2024 57 · 2023 86 · 2022 67 |
| ANT-1-143 | RIFLE | Mature bull elk | 2026-10-03 to 2026-10-05 | 2.7% 2025: 474 / 13 | 0.7% 2025: 142 / 1 | 4.0% 2025: 25 / 1 | 59% 2025 · 2024 57 · 2023 42 · 2022 69 | |
| ANT-2-138 | ARCHERY | Mature bull elk | 2026-08-15 to 2026-08-23 | 9.5% 2025: 222 / 21 | 2.8% 2025: 71 / 2 | 14.3% 2025: 14 / 2 | 5% 2025 · 2024 43 · 2023 35 · 2022 26 |
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.
| Silver City | Full services: gas, grocery, Walmart, lodging, hospital (Gila Regional Medical Center). Main staging town for Gila. |
| Reserve | Small town — gas, basic groceries, motel. USFS Ranger District office. |
| Glenwood | Very small — Glenwood Trading Post (gas, basic supplies). Gateway to Catwalk & Gila from south. |
| Mimbres / San Lorenzo | Gas, basic services. Access to Gila from southeast. |
| Truth or Consequences | Full services: gas, lodging, hospital (Sierra Vista). Southern approach to Gila. |
| Quemado | Small — gas, general store. West side access to Gila units. |
| Cherry Creek Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | On NM-15 (Trail of Mountain Spirits Scenic Byway); near Silver City. |
| McMillan Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | On NM-15 Scenic Byway; near Cherry Creek. |
| Scorpion Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | Near Gila Cliff Dwellings; access to Gila Wilderness. |
| Upper/Lower Gila CG | USFS (Gila NF) | Near Gila Hot Springs; Gila River access. |
| Mesa Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | Near Lake Roberts; 12 sites with electric/water; RVs up to 32 ft. |
| Lake Roberts / Sapillo CG | USFS (Gila NF) | Lake access; fishing; near Mimbres. |
| Snow Lake Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | Near Reserve; primitive; Gila Wilderness access. |
| Pueblo Park Campground | USFS (Gila NF) | Near Glenwood; small; forest setting. |
Are you a guide or outfitter in this unit? Add your listing
| Rough Country Outdoor Gear | Silver City, NM (1874 Hwy 180 E) | Since 1996; archery, guns, ammo, optics, camping. Mon-Sat 9-5. |
| DK Guns and Pawn | Silver City, NM (1800 Hwy 180 Ste C) | Firearms, transfers. |
| Walmart | Silver City, NM (2501 Hwy 180 E) | Ammo, basic hunting & camping supplies. |
| South Mountain Meat Processing & Cooling | Luna, NM | Russell Laney; new, clean facility; (575) 313-2019 |
| David Stone (Apache Creek) | Apache Creek, NM (unit 15 area) | Small operation; quality work — call for current status. |
| Head's & Tails Taxidermy & Game Processing | Magdalena, NM (~1.5 hr from Reserve) | Hub of units 17, 13, 16E. |
| Green Valley Meats | Socorro, NM | 40+ yrs; wild game, smoking, jerky, shipping. |
| Alpine Meat Processors | Alpine, AZ (~45 min from Reserve) | Arizona side; popular with west-side Gila hunters. |
| Gas stations in Silver City | Multiple; last full-service town before Gila Wilderness via NM-15. |
| Reserve gas stations | Henry's Corner, Circle K, Conoco — last fuel before entering Gila from north/east. |
| Glenwood Trading Post | Glenwood, NM — last fuel southbound on US-180 before Gila. |
| Quemado gas station | Quemado, NM — last fuel from the west side. |
| Alma Store | Alma, NM — small fuel stop between Glenwood & Reserve. |
Data from sleeperunits.com. Always verify with the official New Mexico Game & Fish proclamation.