Bighorn sheep hunting in New Mexico Unit 45: hunts, draw and harvest
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 2 bighorn sheep hunt codes in Unit 45, 2 of them drawn with 30 licenses, from September 4 to October 7, 2026 (pages 107 and 108). In the 2026 draw, 299 applicants chose one of these hunts first, for 30 licenses (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, the 2 codes NMDGF reported here sold 29 licenses and took 0 rams and 12 ewes.
Data updated October 2026. Hunts: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 drawing report. Harvest: NMDGF reports to 2025-26.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landState parkNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 45Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Unit | Unit 45 |
|---|---|
| Hunt codes, 2026-27 | 2 (2 drawn) |
| Draw licenses | 30 |
| Season span | September 4 to October 7, 2026 |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 draw | 299 |
| Public land | 74.3% (725,646 acres) |
Which bighorn sheep hunts are in Unit 45 for 2026-27?
Every bighorn sheep hunt code NMDOW lists for Unit 45, with the code's own 2025-26 result where NMDGF reported one under the same code and units.
| Hunt code | Where | Weapon | Dates, 2026-27 | Bag limit | Licenses | Who may apply | 2025-26 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS-2-203 | GMU 45 (Pecos) | bow | Sep 4-13 | Any female bighorn sheep | 10 | Any applicant | 9 sold, 50% success, 0 rams, 4 ewes |
| BHS-1-202 | the Pecos herds | any legal weapon | Sep 19-Oct 7 | Any female bighorn sheep | 20 | Any applicant | 20 sold, 80% success, 0 rams, 8 ewes |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 107 and 108. Results: NMDGF 2025-26 bighorn sheep harvest report. Success rate is NMDGF's own figure.
How many hunters applied for Unit 45 bighorn sheep in 2026?
299 applicants put one of these 2 drawn hunts as their first choice in the 2026 draw, for 30 licenses; 5 of them drew on that first choice. The share is NMDOW's 2026 result, not a forecast for another year.
| Hunt code | Licenses | First-choice applicants | Drawn on first choice | Share of first-choice applicants who drew |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BHS-2-203 | 10 | 96 | 2 | 2.1% |
| BHS-1-202 | 20 | 203 | 3 | 1.5% |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report. Applicants and licenses drawn on second and third choices are on each hunt code's page.
How much public land is in Unit 45?
74.3% of Unit 45 is public land, 725,646 of 976,072 acres, most of it national forest (624,291 acres), measured from the BLM New Mexico surface management agency map (read 2026-10). The unit page has the map, highways, towns and neighbors: Unit 45.
Questions hunters ask
How many bighorn sheep licenses are there in Unit 45?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 2 bighorn sheep hunt codes for Unit 45 with 30 draw licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 107 and 108).
When is bighorn sheep season in Unit 45 in 2026?
The Unit 45 bighorn sheep hunts run from September 4, 2026 to October 7, 2026. Bow hunts start Sep 4 and any legal weapon hunts start Sep 19 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 107 and 108).
Can nonresidents hunt bighorn sheep in Unit 45?
Yes, for 2 of the drawn codes. Statewide, at least 84% of draw licenses go to residents, 10% to applicants with a registered outfitter and 6% to nonresidents without one, and antlerless elk and WMA-only hunts are for residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).