Deer hunting in New Mexico Unit 22: hunts, draw and harvest
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 6 deer hunt codes in Unit 22, 6 of them drawn with 280 licenses, from September 1 to January 15, 2027 (page 59). In the 2026 draw, 261 applicants chose one of these hunts first, for 280 licenses (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 296 licenses sold, 255 hunters reporting, a 27% success rate, 64 bucks and 0 does taken on the Unit 22 hunts.
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 landUnit 22Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Unit | Unit 22 |
|---|---|
| Hunt codes, 2026-27 | 6 (6 drawn) |
| Draw licenses | 280 |
| Season span | September 1 to January 15, 2027 |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 draw | 261 |
| NMDGF harvest, 2025-26 | 64 (64 bucks, 0 does) |
| Success rate, 2025-26 | 27% (NMDGF) |
| Public land | 69.2% (173,811 acres) |
Which deer hunts are in Unit 22 for 2026-27?
Every deer hunt code NMDOW lists for Unit 22, with the code's own 2025-26 result where NMDGF reported one under the same code and units.
| Hunt code | Weapon | Dates, 2026-27 | Bag limit | Licenses | Who may apply | 2025-26 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DER-2-231 | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 30 | Any applicant | 30 sold, 17% success, 4 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-3-233 | muzzleloader | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 65 | Any applicant | 64 sold, 26% success, 13 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-228 | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 70 | Any applicant | 70 sold, 23% success, 13 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-229 | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 70 | Any applicant | 70 sold, 23% success, 12 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-230 | any legal weapon | Nov 21-29 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 20 | youth only | 20 sold, 59% success, 11 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-2-232 | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 25 | Any applicant | 25 sold, 24% success, 5 bucks, 0 does |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 59. Results: NMDGF 2025-26 deer harvest report. Success rate is NMDGF's own figure.
How many hunters applied for Unit 22 deer in 2026?
261 applicants put one of these 6 drawn hunts as their first choice in the 2026 draw, for 280 licenses; 114 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DER-2-231 | 30 | 11 | 9 | 81.8% |
| DER-3-233 | 65 | 19 | 19 | 100% |
| DER-1-228 | 70 | 129 | 39 | 30.2% |
| DER-1-229 | 70 | 75 | 32 | 42.7% |
| DER-1-230 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 70% |
| DER-2-232 | 25 | 17 | 8 | 47.1% |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report. Applicants and licenses drawn on second and third choices are on each hunt code's page.
How many deer are taken in Unit 22?
NMDGF's totals for the Unit 22 deer hunts, season by season. The newest, 2025-26: 296 licenses sold, 255 hunters reporting, a 27% success rate, 64 bucks and 0 does taken.
| Season | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 296 | 255 | 27% | 64 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 323 | 276 | 34% | 90 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 315 | 267 | 21% | 53 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 313 | 277 | 29% | 83 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 302 | 259 | 22% | 51 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 310 | 283 | 29% | 79 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 308 | 273 | 29% | 74 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 314 | 266 | 32% | 83 | 1 |
| 2017-18 | 299 | 266 | 31% | 74 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 305 | 264 | 23% | 58 | 0 |
Source: NMDOW deer harvest reports, the printed area totals (public-land hunt codes and, where NMDGF counts them in the total, private-land licenses).
How much public land is in Unit 22?
69.2% of Unit 22 is public land, 173,811 of 251,154 acres, most of it national forest (159,607 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 22.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer licenses are there in Unit 22?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 6 deer hunt codes for Unit 22 with 280 draw licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 59).
What is the deer success rate in Unit 22?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives a 27% success rate for the Unit 22 deer hunts as a whole: 255 hunters reported and 64 deer were taken. Across the 10 seasons NMDGF reported for this area, the rate ran from 21% to 34%.
When is deer season in Unit 22 in 2026?
The Unit 22 deer hunts run from September 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Bow hunts start Sep 1 and Jan 1, muzzleloader hunts start Oct 31 and any legal weapon hunts start Nov 7, Nov 14 and Nov 21 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 59).
Can nonresidents hunt deer in Unit 22?
Yes, for 6 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).