Deer hunting in New Mexico Unit 55A: hunts, draw and harvest
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 5 deer hunt codes in Unit 55A, 5 of them drawn with 30 licenses, from September 1 to November 29, 2026 (page 67). In the 2026 draw, 195 applicants chose one of these hunts first, for 30 licenses (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2022-23, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 10 hunters reporting, a 33% success rate, 3 bucks and 0 does taken on the Unit 55A 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 forestWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 55ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Unit | Unit 55A |
|---|---|
| Hunt codes, 2026-27 | 5 (5 drawn) |
| Draw licenses | 30 |
| Season span | September 1 to November 29, 2026 |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 draw | 195 |
| NMDGF harvest, 2022-23 | 3 (3 bucks, 0 does) |
| Success rate, 2022-23 | 33% (NMDGF) |
| Public land | 13.2% (132,899 acres) |
| Residents only | 4 of the 5 codes |
Which deer hunts are in Unit 55A for 2026-27?
Every deer hunt code NMDOW lists for Unit 55A, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DER-2-408 | Valle Vidal only | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | Any applicant | 10 sold, 40% success, 4 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-404 | E.S. Barker WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | residents only | 5 sold, 60% success, 3 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-406 | Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | residents only | 5 sold, 40% success, 2 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-407 | Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | residents only | 5 sold, 0% success, 0 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-405 | E.S. Barker WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 21-29 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | residents only / youth only | 5 sold, 0% success, 0 bucks, 0 does |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67. Results: NMDGF 2025-26 deer harvest report. Success rate is NMDGF's own figure.
How many hunters applied for Unit 55A deer in 2026?
195 applicants put one of these 5 drawn hunts as their first choice in the 2026 draw, for 30 licenses; 16 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-2-408 | 10 | 143 | 8 | 5.6% |
| DER-1-404 | 5 | 15 | 3 | 20% |
| DER-1-406 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 8.3% |
| DER-1-407 | 5 | 14 | 2 | 14.3% |
| DER-1-405 | 5 | 11 | 2 | 18.2% |
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 55A?
NMDGF's totals for the Unit 55A deer hunts, season by season. The newest, 2022-23: 10 licenses sold, 10 hunters reporting, a 33% success rate, 3 bucks and 0 does taken.
| Season | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 10 | 10 | 33% | 3 | 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 55A?
13.2% of Unit 55A is public land, 132,899 of 1,006,943 acres, most of it national forest (101,514 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 55A.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer licenses are there in Unit 55A?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 5 deer hunt codes for Unit 55A with 30 draw licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67).
What is the deer success rate in Unit 55A?
NMDGF's 2022-23 harvest report gives a 33% success rate for the Unit 55A deer hunts as a whole: 10 hunters reported and 3 deer were taken.
When is deer season in Unit 55A in 2026?
The Unit 55A deer hunts run from September 1, 2026 to November 29, 2026. Bow hunts start Sep 1 and any legal weapon hunts start Oct 24, Oct 31 and Nov 21 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67).
Can nonresidents hunt deer in Unit 55A?
Yes, for 1 of the drawn codes. 4 are for residents only. 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).