Unit 25-florida-mts (Florida Mountains)
New Mexico Hunting Guide — Ibex
The Florida Mountains near Deming, New Mexico hold one of only two huntable ibex populations in North America — a herd of Nubian ibex established from zoo surplus animals. The hunt is extraordinarily rare, with only 1–3 tags issued per year and draw odds near zero for most applicants. The Florida Mountains are BLM-managed, but access is extremely limited during the ibex hunt season. This is a true once-in-a-lifetime exotic hunt on US soil.
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Ibex Hunting in Unit 25-florida-mts
The Florida Mountains near Deming, New Mexico hold one of only two huntable ibex populations in North America — a herd of Nubian ibex established from zoo surplus animals. The hunt is extraordinarily rare, with only 1–3 tags issued per year and draw odds near zero for most applicants. The Florida Mountains are BLM-managed, but access is extremely limited during the ibex hunt season. This is a true once-in-a-lifetime exotic hunt on US soil.
Where to Find Ibex in the Florida Mountains
The Florida Mountains ibex herd occupies the rocky upper slopes and cliff terrain of this compact BLM range east of Deming. The steep, angular rock faces of the Floridas provide ideal ibex habitat — similar to their native Old World mountain environment.
Upper Rocky Slopes (5,500–7,400 ft)
Ibex concentrate on the highest, most rugged terrain in the Florida Mountains. The steep cliff bands and boulder fields on the upper mountain flanks are where animals spend most daylight hours. Glass from the desert flat looking up at the cliff faces — ibex silhouettes against the rock are visible at considerable distance.
Rocky Ledge Systems
Like their Old World counterparts, Nubian ibex use horizontal rock ledge systems for daytime bedding. Scan every ledge systematically with a high-quality spotting scope — animals are often motionless and difficult to spot when bedded on matching-color rock.
Morning Feeding Areas
Ibex descend to the desert scrub at the mountain base in the early morning to feed before retreating upslope. The transition zone between the lower desert and the rocky mountain face is the highest-activity zone in the first two hours of daylight.
Unit 25-florida-mts terrain and land status
Measured from the unit boundary, not from the agency write-up · figures are for GMU 25
The lay of it
- 3,986–4,896 ft on a terrain sample , averaging 4,331 ft ; peaks can run higher.
- 3,160.4 sq mi inside the boundary. Big enough that picking one drainage beats driving three.
Who owns the ground
- BLM — 15%
- Private / Other — 85%
Roughly 15% is public. Carry a land-status layer anyway — these are area percentages, not a map of where the boundaries fall.
Water on the ground
- 85 tanks
- 4,911 stream segments
- 17 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 Ibex in the Florida Mountains
Ibex Success Rates
Ibex Draw Odds
| Season | Tags | Applicants | Draw % | Pts (n/p) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rifle — Draw either sex (resident) | 13 | 516 | 2.5% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 1 | 156 | 0.6% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (resident) | 34 | 444 | 7.7% | — |
| Rifle — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 2 | 205 | 1.0% | — |
| Archery — Draw either sex (resident) | 168 | 288 | 58.3% | — |
| Archery — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 12 | 179 | 6.7% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (resident) | 13 | 278 | 4.7% | — |
| Muzzleloader — Draw either sex (nonresident) | 1 | 116 | 0.9% | — |
Data from 2022 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 EngineFlorida Mountains ibex tags are among the rarest in North America — typically 1–3 tags per year. Draw odds are effectively zero for most applicants in any given year, but New Mexico preference points provide advantage. Apply every year and accumulate points — patience over a decade or more is the only strategy for most hunters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What species of ibex are in the Florida Mountains?
How do I apply for a Florida Mountains ibex tag?
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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 2026-04-18.
- 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