Unit 16 (Gila East / Black Range)
New Mexico Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Pronghorn
Unit 16 covers the Gila East and Black Range country of southwestern New Mexico. Mule deer tags are allocated through the NMDGF pure random draw with no preference or bonus points. Consult the NMDGF big-game hunt booklet for current hunt codes.
Build your own PDF hunt guide for Unit 16
Answer a few questions about your tag, your season and your rig, and the Field Intelligence Report builds a print-ready New Mexico Unit 16 guide around your hunt: three ranked spots with morning, afternoon and evening plays, a day-by-day plan, topo maps with every pin numbered, a camp and access plan, the legal and retrieval rules for this unit, shot discipline, a meat-care and pack-out plan, and a pre-trip checklist. Every coordinate sits on land recorded as public.
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Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 16
Unit 16 covers the Gila East and Black Range country of southwestern New Mexico. Mule deer tags are allocated through the NMDGF pure random draw with no preference or bonus points. Consult the NMDGF big-game hunt booklet for current hunt codes.
Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 16
Unit 16 mule deer use the mountain and foothill habitat of southwestern New Mexico. Use NMDGF GMU maps and land-ownership overlays to identify accessible public ground.
How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 16
Mule Deer Success Rates
Mule Deer Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Draw either sex (resident) | 505 | 1,795 | 28.1% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 36 | 197 | 18.3% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (resident) | 23 | 49 | 46.9% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (resident) | 21 | 48 | 43.8% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 2 | 2 | 100.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (resident) | 90 | 121 | 74.4% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 6 | 4 | 100.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (resident) | 84 | 112 | 75.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 6 | 8 | 75.0% | — |
| Archery — Draw either sex (resident) | 352 | 526 | 66.9% | — |
| Archery — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 24 | 66 | 36.4% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (resident) | 272 | 359 | 75.8% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 18 | 41 | 43.9% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (resident) | 504 | 1,825 | 27.6% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 36 | 283 | 12.7% | — |
| Archery — Draw buck only (resident) | 341 | 638 | 53.4% | — |
| Archery — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 24 | 93 | 25.8% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Draw buck only (resident) | 275 | 248 | 100.0% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 18 | 31 | 58.1% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (resident) | 22 | 66 | 33.3% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 2 | 1 | 100.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (resident) | 84 | 155 | 54.2% | — |
| Rifle — Draw buck only (nonresident) | 6 | 8 | 75.0% | — |
Data from 2021 draw results. Each row is one residency pool — read the label before the number. This agency publishes no point thresholds, so the Pts column stays blank and these are pool odds, not what a point total draws.
Open in Draw Odds EngineUnit Logistics & Expectations
Frequently Asked Questions
How are Unit 16 mule deer tags allocated?
Where do I find official Unit 16 hunt codes?
How are Unit 16 pronghorn tags allocated?
Where do I find Unit 16 season dates?
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Upgrade to Pro — $49/yrSources & Verification
Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-17.
- NMDGF Hunting — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Overview of New Mexico hunting programs, Agency hub for licenses and seasons · accessed 2026-04-17
- NMDGF Hunting by Species — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Species-specific management info, Season framework by animal · accessed 2026-04-17
- NMDGF Big Game Hunt Booklet — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Hunt codes and GMU boundaries, Tag quotas and season dates · accessed 2026-04-17