New Mexico Mule Deer Elk Elk Javelina

Unit 23 (San Andres Mountains)

New Mexico Hunting Guide — Mule Deer, Elk, Elk, Javelina

Unit 23 covers the San Andres Mountains of south-central 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.

View Draw Odds New Mexico Hunting Guide

🏔️

41%

Public Land

⛰️

3,895–5,923 ft

Sampled elevation

Build your own PDF hunt guide for Unit 23

Answer a few questions about your tag, your season and your rig, and the Field Intelligence Report builds a print-ready New Mexico Unit 23 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.

Mule Deer guide Elk guide Elk guide Javelina guide

Free accounts get one report a year with the top spot unlocked. ProHunt Pro includes unlimited reports, all three spots, the full camp plan, and GPX/KML downloads for onX and Google Earth. Prefer to see one first? Open the builder and pick any unit.

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 23

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 23

Unit 23 mule deer use the San Andres mountain habitat of south-central New Mexico. Use NMDGF GMU maps and land-ownership overlays to identify accessible ground — much of the unit is restricted by White Sands Missile Range.

Unit 23 terrain and land status

Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up

The lay of it

3,895–5,923 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 5,178 ft ; peaks can run higher.
2,927.8 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.

Who owns the ground

National Forest — 60%
BLM — 15%
State Trust — 8%
Private / Other — 17%

Roughly 83% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.

Water on the ground

1,101 tanks
190 springs
2,528 stream segments
18 lakes

Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 23

Tactics depend on the specific hunt code drawn. The NMDGF Big Game Hunt Booklet defines weapon, dates, and any sub-area restrictions.

Getting in and staying out: unit 23

Named routes and what they need

US 180 — 63.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
I 10 — 27.6 mi · Paved (all rigs)
US 70 — 15.7 mi · Paved (all rigs)
NM 464 — 14.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
FR 4040 L — 5.9 mi · High-clearance
FR 4039 Y — 5.2 mi · High-clearance

Ratings come from road data, not from a drive this season. Check current conditions with the managing office before you commit a trailer.

Nearest services

Silver City — 17.9 mi · fuel, groceries, lodging, gear
Pinos Altos — 22.9 mi · no services listed
Virden — 24.7 mi · no services listed
Santa Clara — 25.2 mi · fuel, groceries
Hurley — 26.1 mi · fuel

Developed camps

Head of the Ditch Campground — 12 sites · Free
Bill Evans
Silver City RV Park · Fee · reservable
Bighorn Campground — 6 sites · Free
Cottonwood Campground — 4 sites · Free

Season weather and signal

Jan57° / 23° · 1.1" precip
Aug90° / 60° · 2.3" precip
Sep86° / 53° · 1.8" precip
Oct77° / 40° · 1" precip
Nov65° / 29° · 0.8" precip
Dec56° / 23° · 1.3" precip

Best signal is Verizon at about 21% of the unit. Plan on being out of contact and tell someone your route.

New Mexico rules that decide your day

Summarised from NMDGF regulations. They change — read the current regulations and your permit-tag before you hunt.

Legal shooting hours

Big game may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Motorized retrieval

New Mexico has no general off-road retrieval allowance. Stay on designated routes and plan a pack-out.

Tagging

Tag the animal before moving it and keep the licence and tag on your person.

Leaving meat

Wasting edible meat is illegal.

Where you may not shoot

Occupied structures — No shooting within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling without permission, and no shooting from or across a public road.

Mule Deer: where to put the shot

Broadside or quartering away, on the back edge of the front leg about a third of the way up the body.

Shots to refuse

Nothing behind or overlapping the animal you picked.
Your maximum range is the farthest you have shot a three-shot group into a paper plate from the rest you are carrying.
Pass the shot you are talking yourself into.

Plan the carry: roughly 40– 120 lb of boned-out meat, before head and hide — two large coolers. ProHunt planning estimate, not an agency figure.

Pro Members Only

Unlock detailed hunting tactics for Unit 23 mule deer

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Mule Deer Success Rates

Rifle25%

Archery16%

Muzzleloader20%

Unit 23 mule deer success rates vary by hunt code, weapon, and season. Refer to NMDGF harvest reports for the most recent unit-level figures.

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts (n/p)
Rifle — Draw either sex (resident)	1012	1,384	73.1%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident)	67	568	11.8%	—
Rifle — Draw buck only (resident)	84	180	46.7%	—
Rifle — Draw buck only (nonresident)	7	49	14.3%	—
Archery — Draw buck only (resident)	169	61	100.0%	—
Archery — Draw buck only (nonresident)	36	19	100.0%	—
Archery — Draw either sex (resident)	416	341	100.0%	—
Archery — Draw either sex (nonresident)	79	90	87.8%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw buck only (resident)	133	61	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw buck only (nonresident)	47	27	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (resident)	258	153	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (nonresident)	72	41	100.0%	—

Data from 2025 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 Engine

New Mexico uses a pure random draw with no preference or bonus points. Unit 23 mule deer tags are drawn on chance alone each year.

Elk Hunting in Unit 23

Unit 23 in south-central New Mexico covers the San Mateo Mountains and adjacent terrain of the Cibola National Forest. Elk in this unit inhabit ponderosa pine and mixed-conifer slopes from 7,000 to 10,000 feet, offering quality bull hunting in one of southern New Mexico's most productive elk units.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 23

Unit 23 elk are concentrated in San Mateo Mountains ponderosa and mixed-conifer habitat.

San Mateo Crest Timber

Mixed conifer and spruce-fir along the San Mateo crest provide primary summer and early fall elk habitat. Bulls use this high-country timber during the rut, bugling from ridge tops in September.

Ponderosa Parks and Meadows

Mid-elevation ponderosa parks are key feeding areas. Glass these openings from surrounding ridgelines at dawn and dusk.

Water Tanks and Springs

Cibola NF manages stock tanks in Unit 23 that attract elk during dry periods. Scout tank locations pre-season for ambush site selection.

Unit 23 terrain and land status

Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up

The lay of it

3,895–5,923 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 5,178 ft ; peaks can run higher.
2,927.8 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.

Who owns the ground

National Forest — 60%
BLM — 15%
State Trust — 8%
Private / Other — 17%

Roughly 83% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.

Water on the ground

1,101 tanks
190 springs
2,528 stream segments
18 lakes

Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 23

Unit 23 elk hunting in the San Mateo Mountains rewards callers and patient glassers.

Rut Calling on the Crest

Mid-September rut action is most productive along the San Mateo crest. Set up downwind of active bugling and use aggressive cow calls or challenge bugles to bring bulls into range.

Ponderosa Park Glassing

Rifle season success comes from systematic glassing of ponderosa parks at first and last light. Use elevated ridge positions to maximize your view angle into parks and adjacent timber edges.

Getting in and staying out: unit 23

Named routes and what they need

US 180 — 63.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
I 10 — 27.6 mi · Paved (all rigs)
US 70 — 15.7 mi · Paved (all rigs)
NM 464 — 14.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
FR 4040 L — 5.9 mi · High-clearance
FR 4039 Y — 5.2 mi · High-clearance

Ratings come from road data, not from a drive this season. Check current conditions with the managing office before you commit a trailer.

Nearest services

Silver City — 17.9 mi · fuel, groceries, lodging, gear
Pinos Altos — 22.9 mi · no services listed
Virden — 24.7 mi · no services listed
Santa Clara — 25.2 mi · fuel, groceries
Hurley — 26.1 mi · fuel

Developed camps

Head of the Ditch Campground — 12 sites · Free
Bill Evans
Silver City RV Park · Fee · reservable
Bighorn Campground — 6 sites · Free
Cottonwood Campground — 4 sites · Free

Season weather and signal

Jan57° / 23° · 1.1" precip
Aug90° / 60° · 2.3" precip
Sep86° / 53° · 1.8" precip
Oct77° / 40° · 1" precip
Nov65° / 29° · 0.8" precip
Dec56° / 23° · 1.3" precip

Best signal is Verizon at about 21% of the unit. Plan on being out of contact and tell someone your route.

New Mexico rules that decide your day

Summarised from NMDGF regulations. They change — read the current regulations and your permit-tag before you hunt.

Legal shooting hours

Big game may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Motorized retrieval

New Mexico has no general off-road retrieval allowance. Stay on designated routes and plan a pack-out.

Tagging

Tag the animal before moving it and keep the licence and tag on your person.

Leaving meat

Wasting edible meat is illegal.

Where you may not shoot

Occupied structures — No shooting within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling without permission, and no shooting from or across a public road.

Elk: where to put the shot

Broadside or quartering away, on the back edge of the front leg about a third of the way up the body. That is lungs, and on a quartering-away angle it picks up the far shoulder.

Shots to refuse

No straight-on and no straight-away shots. An elk's chest is deep and the margin is small.
Nothing standing behind or overlapping the animal you picked. A pass-through kills the elk behind it too.
Your maximum range is the farthest you have put three shots in a paper plate off the sticks you are actually carrying. Not the farthest you have ever hit anything.
Scope on 3–4x. A herd fills a 12x field of view and you lose the animal you picked.

Identification:On an antlerless tag, legal means no antler of any kind through the skin. A spike looks exactly like a cow until it turns its head. If you can't see the head, don't shoot.

Plan the carry: roughly 150– 220 lb of boned-out meat, before head and hide — two to four large coolers, plus bagged ice from town. ProHunt planning estimate, not an agency figure.

Pro Members Only

Unlock full tactics for Unit 23 elk

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle20%

Archery15%

Muzzleloader18%

Unit 23 elk rifle success typically runs 18-25%. Archery success is lower at 8-12%. The San Mateo Mountains produce consistent quality bulls. Verify current data in the NMDGF harvest report.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts (n/p)
Rifle — Draw either sex (resident)	83	221	37.6%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident)	5	46	10.9%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (resident)	21	106	19.8%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident)	2	26	7.7%	—
Archery — Draw either sex (resident)	168	172	97.7%	—
Archery — Draw either sex (nonresident)	13	123	10.6%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (resident)	63	33	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (nonresident)	5	33	15.2%	—
Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (resident)	63	184	34.2%	—
Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident)	5	91	5.5%	—
Rifle — Draw antlerless (resident)	40	91	44.0%	—
Archery — Draw bull/buck only (resident)	13	5	100.0%	—
Archery — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident)	1	2	50.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw bull/buck only (resident)	63	35	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident)	5	20	25.0%	—

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 Engine

New Mexico uses a pure random draw with no preference or bonus points. Every applicant has equal odds each year regardless of past applications. Check the NMDGF Drawing Odds Summary Report for current applicant-to-tag ratios for Unit 23 elk.

Elk Hunting in Unit 23

Unit 23 covers the San Mateo Mountains of west-central New Mexico. We see roughly 1,982 applicants for 1,093 tags over three years, making it one of the more drawable NM elk units. Ponderosa and oak-mahogany habitat in the Cibola NF produces solid bull opportunity with reasonable access.

Where to Find Elk in Unit 23

San Mateo elk use ponderosa benches, oak-mahogany brush, and aspen pockets.

Ponderosa Benches

Open pine parks hold feeding elk — glass at first and last light.

Oak-Mahogany Brush

Thick browse provides bedding and late-season feed.

Aspen Pockets

Scattered aspen stands above 8,500 ft produce September rut action.

Unit 23 terrain and land status

Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up

The lay of it

3,895–5,923 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 5,178 ft ; peaks can run higher.
2,927.8 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.

Who owns the ground

National Forest — 60%
BLM — 15%
State Trust — 8%
Private / Other — 17%

Roughly 83% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.

Water on the ground

1,101 tanks
190 springs
2,528 stream segments
18 lakes

Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 23

We hunt 23 like we hunt the adjacent Datils — calling and glassing.

Timber-Edge Calling

Set up on meadow-timber transitions in darkness for rut vocalization.

Glassing Ridgelines

Rim-glass opposite slopes of major drainages from high ridges.

Water Ambush

Dry-year sits over active water produce consistent encounters.

Getting in and staying out: unit 23

Named routes and what they need

US 180 — 63.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
I 10 — 27.6 mi · Paved (all rigs)
US 70 — 15.7 mi · Paved (all rigs)
NM 464 — 14.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
FR 4040 L — 5.9 mi · High-clearance
FR 4039 Y — 5.2 mi · High-clearance

Ratings come from road data, not from a drive this season. Check current conditions with the managing office before you commit a trailer.

Nearest services

Silver City — 17.9 mi · fuel, groceries, lodging, gear
Pinos Altos — 22.9 mi · no services listed
Virden — 24.7 mi · no services listed
Santa Clara — 25.2 mi · fuel, groceries
Hurley — 26.1 mi · fuel

Developed camps

Head of the Ditch Campground — 12 sites · Free
Bill Evans
Silver City RV Park · Fee · reservable
Bighorn Campground — 6 sites · Free
Cottonwood Campground — 4 sites · Free

Season weather and signal

Jan57° / 23° · 1.1" precip
Aug90° / 60° · 2.3" precip
Sep86° / 53° · 1.8" precip
Oct77° / 40° · 1" precip
Nov65° / 29° · 0.8" precip
Dec56° / 23° · 1.3" precip

Best signal is Verizon at about 21% of the unit. Plan on being out of contact and tell someone your route.

New Mexico rules that decide your day

Summarised from NMDGF regulations. They change — read the current regulations and your permit-tag before you hunt.

Legal shooting hours

Big game may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Motorized retrieval

New Mexico has no general off-road retrieval allowance. Stay on designated routes and plan a pack-out.

Tagging

Tag the animal before moving it and keep the licence and tag on your person.

Leaving meat

Wasting edible meat is illegal.

Where you may not shoot

Occupied structures — No shooting within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling without permission, and no shooting from or across a public road.

Elk: where to put the shot

Broadside or quartering away, on the back edge of the front leg about a third of the way up the body. That is lungs, and on a quartering-away angle it picks up the far shoulder.

Shots to refuse

No straight-on and no straight-away shots. An elk's chest is deep and the margin is small.
Nothing standing behind or overlapping the animal you picked. A pass-through kills the elk behind it too.
Your maximum range is the farthest you have put three shots in a paper plate off the sticks you are actually carrying. Not the farthest you have ever hit anything.
Scope on 3–4x. A herd fills a 12x field of view and you lose the animal you picked.

Identification:On an antlerless tag, legal means no antler of any kind through the skin. A spike looks exactly like a cow until it turns its head. If you can't see the head, don't shoot.

Plan the carry: roughly 150– 220 lb of boned-out meat, before head and hide — two to four large coolers, plus bagged ice from town. ProHunt planning estimate, not an agency figure.

Pro Members Only

Unlock tactical details for Unit 23 elk

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Elk Success Rates

Rifle20%

Archery15%

Muzzleloader18%

1,982 applicants vs 1,093 tags — about 55% overall odds. Rifle success typically runs 20–30%.

Elk Draw Odds

Season	Tags	Applicants	Draw %	Pts (n/p)
Rifle — Draw either sex (resident)	83	221	37.6%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident)	5	46	10.9%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (resident)	21	106	19.8%	—
Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident)	2	26	7.7%	—
Archery — Draw either sex (resident)	168	172	97.7%	—
Archery — Draw either sex (nonresident)	13	123	10.6%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (resident)	63	33	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (nonresident)	5	33	15.2%	—
Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (resident)	63	184	34.2%	—
Rifle — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident)	5	91	5.5%	—
Rifle — Draw antlerless (resident)	40	91	44.0%	—
Archery — Draw bull/buck only (resident)	13	5	100.0%	—
Archery — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident)	1	2	50.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw bull/buck only (resident)	63	35	100.0%	—
Muzzleloader — Draw bull/buck only (nonresident)	5	20	25.0%	—

Open in Draw Odds Engine

Pure random. Nonresident 6% plus 10% outfitter-guided pools. Unit 23 is among the easier NM elk draws.

Javelina Hunting in Unit 23

Unit 23 covers the Pyramid Mountains and surrounding Chihuahuan Desert terrain in Hidalgo County — New Mexico's southwest corner near the Arizona and Mexico borders. Javelina (collared peccary) are well-established here in classic desert scrub, prickly pear flats, and rocky canyon habitat. Draw odds are relatively good compared to big game sheep and oryx tags — typically 15–30% for residents.

Where to Find Javelina in Unit 23

Unit 23 javelina are found throughout the desert scrub and rocky terrain of the Pyramid Mountains and surrounding Chihuahuan Desert. Key habitat features include prickly pear and cholla cactus patches, rocky desert hillsides, and brushy desert washes.

Prickly Pear Flats

Javelina are heavily dependent on prickly pear cactus as a primary food and water source. Locate dense prickly pear stands on rocky flats and gentle slopes — these are the core feeding areas. Fresh chewed pads and droppings confirm active use.

Rocky Desert Washes

Desert wash corridors are travel routes for javelina moving between feeding and bedding areas. Look for fresh tracks in the sandy wash bottoms and listen for the distinctive musky odor that marks javelina territories.

Morning Water Sources

In the January–March season, javelina rely on cactus moisture but will visit water sources during warm spells. Locating any active water in the unit gives you another anchor point for javelina activity.

Unit 23 terrain and land status

Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up

The lay of it

3,895–5,923 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 5,178 ft ; peaks can run higher.
2,927.8 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.

Who owns the ground

National Forest — 60%
BLM — 15%
State Trust — 8%
Private / Other — 17%

Roughly 83% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.

Water on the ground

1,101 tanks
190 springs
2,528 stream segments
18 lakes

Counts from mapping data, so this is how many exist, not how many hold water in a dry year. Sitting water only pays where you find fresh tracks.

How to Hunt Javelina in Unit 23

Javelina hunting in the Pyramid Mountains is a spot-and-stalk and calling game in classic Chihuahuan Desert terrain. Herds of 5–15 animals are common — locating a herd early in the morning sets up the day's hunt.

Morning Glassing

Set up on a rocky ridge or elevated desert bench before sunrise. As the sun rises, glass the prickly pear flats and brush below for feeding javelina. Herds move 1–2 miles from bedding areas to feed and are most visible in the first two hours of daylight.

Calling

Javelina respond well to distress calls and peccary vocalizations. Use a hand call or electronic caller from a downwind position. Javelina have poor eyesight but exceptional hearing and a strong sense of smell — stay downwind and call from behind cover.

Wind Awareness

Scent control is critical with javelina. They will detect human odor at 50–100 yards and immediately flee. Keep the wind in your face at all times and approach bedded or feeding herds from a downwind angle, using brush and terrain for cover.

Getting in and staying out: unit 23

Named routes and what they need

US 180 — 63.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
I 10 — 27.6 mi · Paved (all rigs)
US 70 — 15.7 mi · Paved (all rigs)
NM 464 — 14.2 mi · Paved (all rigs)
FR 4040 L — 5.9 mi · High-clearance
FR 4039 Y — 5.2 mi · High-clearance

Ratings come from road data, not from a drive this season. Check current conditions with the managing office before you commit a trailer.

Nearest services

Silver City — 17.9 mi · fuel, groceries, lodging, gear
Pinos Altos — 22.9 mi · no services listed
Virden — 24.7 mi · no services listed
Santa Clara — 25.2 mi · fuel, groceries
Hurley — 26.1 mi · fuel

Developed camps

Head of the Ditch Campground — 12 sites · Free
Bill Evans
Silver City RV Park · Fee · reservable
Bighorn Campground — 6 sites · Free
Cottonwood Campground — 4 sites · Free

Season weather and signal

Jan57° / 23° · 1.1" precip
Aug90° / 60° · 2.3" precip
Sep86° / 53° · 1.8" precip
Oct77° / 40° · 1" precip
Nov65° / 29° · 0.8" precip
Dec56° / 23° · 1.3" precip

Best signal is Verizon at about 21% of the unit. Plan on being out of contact and tell someone your route.

New Mexico rules that decide your day

Summarised from NMDGF regulations. They change — read the current regulations and your permit-tag before you hunt.

Legal shooting hours

Big game may be taken from half an hour before sunrise to half an hour after sunset.

Motorized retrieval

New Mexico has no general off-road retrieval allowance. Stay on designated routes and plan a pack-out.

Tagging

Tag the animal before moving it and keep the licence and tag on your person.

Leaving meat

Wasting edible meat is illegal.

Where you may not shoot

Occupied structures — No shooting within 150 yards of an occupied dwelling without permission, and no shooting from or across a public road.

Javelina: where to put the shot

Broadside behind the shoulder, low and tight. Javelina are small and the vitals sit forward.

Shots to refuse

Pick one animal out of the herd and stay on it. Herds mill, and a shot into the group wounds two.
Watch your backstop — javelina country is low and open and shots run long.

Plan the carry: roughly 15– 25 lb of boned-out meat, before head and hide — a small cooler. ProHunt planning estimate, not an agency figure.

Pro Members Only

Unlock Javelina tactics for Unit 23

Upgrade to Pro — $49/yr

Javelina Success Rates

See the Draw Odds chart for Unit 23 javelina tag quota and harvest data. New Mexico javelina hunts see good success rates of 50–70% for prepared hunters — the key challenge is drawing the tag and locating herds, not the harvest itself.

Javelina Draw Odds

Draw odds data not available for this specific unit/species combination in our database.

Search New-mexico Draw Odds

Unit 23 javelina tags are among the more accessible draws in New Mexico. Residents typically draw within 1–3 years of preference points; nonresidents within 3–5 years. The season runs January–March. See the live Draw Odds chart for current tag numbers and applicant data by hunt code.

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Frequently Asked Questions

How are Unit 23 mule deer tags allocated?

Through the NMDGF pure random draw. Every applicant has equal odds each year with no preference or bonus points.

Where do I find Unit 23 season dates?

The NMDGF Big Game Hunt Booklet lists all Unit 23 mule deer hunt codes, season dates, and tag quotas.

What mountains are in Unit 23?

Unit 23 includes the San Mateo Mountains within the Cibola National Forest, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 10,000 feet in south-central New Mexico.

Is Unit 23 a good first-time NM elk unit?

Yes. The better-than-average draw odds and solid public access make it a practical choice for a first NM elk tag.

How does Unit 23 compare to adjacent 16B/22?

Similar habitat and tactics, slightly better drawability, and marginally easier access. Bull quality is comparable.

What is the best time of day to hunt javelina in Unit 23?

Early morning is the most productive time — javelina are most active in the first 2–3 hours after sunrise, feeding on prickly pear and moving between bedding and feeding areas. They often bed in thick brush or under rock overhangs during midday and resume activity in the late afternoon.

Free Hunt Planning Tools

🎰 New Mexico Draw Odds Unit-level tag success rates 📅 Application Timeline Deadlines for all 9 states 🦌 Rut Forecast Peak rut timing by species 💰 Hunt Cost Calculator Budget your entire hunt

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Sources & Verification

Every fact on this page is tied to a primary source below. Last fact-checked 2026-04-18.

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
2026-2027 New Mexico Hunting Rules and Info (RIB) — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Unit 23 elk boundary, Season dates, Tag quotas · accessed 2026-04-17
NMDGF Elk Species Info — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Elk management overview, Season structure · accessed 2026-04-17
Cibola National Forest — USDA Forest Service · supports: Forest access, Magdalena Ranger District info · accessed 2026-04-17
NMDGF Big Game Hunting — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Unit boundaries, Season dates, License quotas · accessed 2026-04-18
NMDGF Big Game Draw — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish · supports: Draw odds, Application process · accessed 2026-04-18

Unit 23 (San Andres Mountains)

Build your own PDF hunt guide for Unit 23

Mule Deer Hunting in Unit 23

Where to Find Mule Deer in Unit 23

Unit 23 terrain and land status

The lay of it

Who owns the ground

Water on the ground

How to Hunt Mule Deer in Unit 23

Mule Deer Success Rates

Mule Deer Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 23

Where to Find Elk in Unit 23

San Mateo Crest Timber

Ponderosa Parks and Meadows

Water Tanks and Springs

Unit 23 terrain and land status

The lay of it

Who owns the ground

Water on the ground

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 23

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Elk Hunting in Unit 23

Where to Find Elk in Unit 23

Ponderosa Benches

Oak-Mahogany Brush

Aspen Pockets

Unit 23 terrain and land status

The lay of it

Who owns the ground

Water on the ground

How to Hunt Elk in Unit 23

Elk Success Rates

Elk Draw Odds

Javelina Hunting in Unit 23

Where to Find Javelina in Unit 23

Prickly Pear Flats

Rocky Desert Washes

Morning Water Sources

Unit 23 terrain and land status

The lay of it

Who owns the ground

Water on the ground

How to Hunt Javelina in Unit 23

Javelina Success Rates

Javelina Draw Odds

Unit Logistics & Expectations

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Unit 23 — Mule Deer

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