Deer hunting in New Mexico Unit 2C: hunts, draw and harvest
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 3 deer hunt codes in Unit 2C, 3 of them drawn with 100 licenses, from September 27 to January 15, 2027 (page 55). In the 2026 draw, 8,131 applicants chose one of these hunts first, for 100 licenses (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 121 licenses sold, 111 hunters reporting, a 38% success rate, 43 bucks and 0 does taken on the Unit 2C 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 landBureau of ReclamationTribal landUnit 2CNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Unit | Unit 2C |
|---|---|
| Hunt codes, 2026-27 | 3 (3 drawn) |
| Draw licenses | 100 |
| Season span | September 27 to January 15, 2027 |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 draw | 8,131 |
| NMDGF harvest, 2025-26 | 43 (43 bucks, 0 does) |
| Success rate, 2025-26 | 38% (NMDGF) |
| Public land | 89.8% (463,488 acres) |
Which deer hunts are in Unit 2C for 2026-27?
Every deer hunt code NMDOW lists for Unit 2C, 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-3-131 | muzzleloader | Sep 27-Oct 3 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 20 | Any applicant | 20 sold, 0% success, 0 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-127 | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 30 | Any applicant | 30 sold, 62% success, 18 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-2-129 | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 50 | Any applicant | 50 sold, 31% success, 15 bucks, 0 does |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55. Results: NMDGF 2025-26 deer harvest report. Success rate is NMDGF's own figure.
How many hunters applied for Unit 2C deer in 2026?
8,131 applicants put one of these 3 drawn hunts as their first choice in the 2026 draw, for 100 licenses; 75 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-3-131 | 20 | 206 | 10 | 4.9% |
| DER-1-127 | 30 | 6,797 | 25 | 0.4% |
| DER-2-129 | 50 | 1,128 | 40 | 3.5% |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report. Applicants and licenses drawn on second and third choices are on each hunt code's page.
How many deer are taken in Unit 2C?
NMDGF's totals for the Unit 2C deer hunts, season by season. The newest, 2025-26: 121 licenses sold, 111 hunters reporting, a 38% success rate, 43 bucks and 0 does taken.
| Season | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 121 | 111 | 38% | 43 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 122 | 115 | 39% | 45 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 130 | 119 | 43% | 49 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 113 | 109 | 41% | 45 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 131 | 123 | 35% | 43 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 126 | 121 | 64% | 76 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 120 | 118 | 47% | 55 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 111 | 104 | 54% | 54 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 108 | 102 | 63% | 65 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 105 | 100 | 47% | 48 | 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 2C?
89.8% of Unit 2C is public land, 463,488 of 516,408 acres, most of it BLM (402,946 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 2C.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer licenses are there in Unit 2C?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 3 deer hunt codes for Unit 2C with 100 draw licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55).
What is the deer success rate in Unit 2C?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives a 38% success rate for the Unit 2C deer hunts as a whole: 111 hunters reported and 43 deer were taken. Across the 10 seasons NMDGF reported for this area, the rate ran from 35% to 64%.
When is deer season in Unit 2C in 2026?
The Unit 2C deer hunts run from September 27, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Muzzleloader hunts start Sep 27, any legal weapon hunts start Nov 14 and bow hunts start Jan 1 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55).
Can nonresidents hunt deer in Unit 2C?
Yes, for 3 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).