Unit 16B,22
New Mexico Hunting Guide — Elk
The combined Unit 16B,22 hunt area covers the Black Range and adjacent canyons of the Gila National Forest in south-central New Mexico. This compound unit is managed with joint elk hunt codes in forested terrain ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 feet, producing quality bull hunting with moderate access and diverse habitat.
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Answer a few questions about your tag, your season and your rig, and the Field Intelligence Report builds a print-ready New Mexico Unit 16B,22 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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Elk Hunting in Unit 16B,22
The combined Unit 16B,22 hunt area covers the Black Range and adjacent canyons of the Gila National Forest in south-central New Mexico. This compound unit is managed with joint elk hunt codes in forested terrain ranging from 6,000 to 10,000 feet, producing quality bull hunting with moderate access and diverse habitat.
Where to Find Elk in Units 16B,22
Units 16B and 22 elk inhabit the Black Range mountains and Gila National Forest terrain in south-central New Mexico.
Black Range Timber (8,000-10,000 ft)
Dense mixed conifer and spruce-fir on the Black Range crest holds elk through summer and into archery season. Bulls bugle from ridge tops in September and move through saddles connecting drainages.
Ponderosa Pine Parks
Mid-elevation ponderosa parks at 7,000-8,500 feet are active feeding areas. Glass large parks from adjacent ridgelines at first and last light.
Lower Canyon Drainages
Canyon bottoms with permanent water hold elk during summer heat and drought years. Scout for active wallows and water sources in these drainages during pre-season.
How to Hunt Elk in Units 16B,22
Elk Success Rates
Elk Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Draw either sex (resident) | 270 | 828 | 32.6% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 19 | 340 | 5.6% | — |
| Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (resident) | 190 | 760 | 25.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident) | 13 | 402 | 3.2% | — |
| Archery — Draw either sex (resident) | 328 | 361 | 90.9% | — |
| Archery — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 24 | 475 | 5.1% | — |
| Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (resident) | 270 | 749 | 36.0% | — |
| Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident) | 19 | 366 | 5.2% | — |
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
Is the Black Range in Units 16B and 22?
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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 2026-04-16.
- NMDGF Hunting — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Hunt unit overview, Season structure, License requirements · accessed 2026-04-16
- NMDGF Hunting by Species — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Species management, GMU eligibility, Season summary · accessed 2026-04-16
- 2024 Big Game Hunt Booklet — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Hunt codes, Tag quotas, Season dates · accessed 2026-04-16