Deer hunting in New Mexico Unit 7: hunts, draw and harvest
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 4 deer hunt codes in Unit 7, 4 of them drawn with 80 licenses, from September 1 to January 15, 2027 (page 56). In the 2026 draw, 331 applicants chose one of these hunts first, for 80 licenses (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 158 licenses sold, 139 hunters reporting, a 26% success rate, 33 bucks and 0 does taken on the Unit 7 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 landBureau of ReclamationNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 7Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Unit | Unit 7 |
|---|---|
| Hunt codes, 2026-27 | 4 (4 drawn) |
| Draw licenses | 80 |
| Season span | September 1 to January 15, 2027 |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 draw | 331 |
| NMDGF harvest, 2025-26 | 33 (33 bucks, 0 does) |
| Success rate, 2025-26 | 26% (NMDGF) |
| Public land | 36% (789,010 acres) |
Which deer hunts are in Unit 7 for 2026-27?
Every deer hunt code NMDOW lists for Unit 7, 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-2-159 | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | Any applicant | 10 sold, 14% success, 1 buck, 0 does |
| DER-3-161 | muzzleloader | Sep 27-Oct 3 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 25 | Any applicant | 25 sold, 9% success, 2 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-1-158 | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 30 | Any applicant | 30 sold, 56% success, 12 bucks, 0 does |
| DER-2-160 | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 15 | Any applicant | 15 sold, 11% success, 1 buck, 0 does |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 56. Results: NMDGF 2025-26 deer harvest report. Success rate is NMDGF's own figure.
How many hunters applied for Unit 7 deer in 2026?
331 applicants put one of these 4 drawn hunts as their first choice in the 2026 draw, for 80 licenses; 34 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-2-159 | 10 | 12 | 4 | 33.3% |
| DER-3-161 | 25 | 28 | 9 | 32.1% |
| DER-1-158 | 30 | 249 | 12 | 4.8% |
| DER-2-160 | 15 | 42 | 9 | 21.4% |
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 7?
NMDGF's totals for the Unit 7 deer hunts, season by season. The newest, 2025-26: 158 licenses sold, 139 hunters reporting, a 26% success rate, 33 bucks and 0 does taken.
| Season | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 158 | 139 | 26% | 33 | 0 |
| 2024-25 | 159 | 137 | 22% | 30 | 0 |
| 2023-24 | 166 | 145 | 24% | 37 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | 135 | 112 | 25% | 31 | 0 |
| 2021-22 | 141 | 116 | 27% | 36 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 135 | 117 | 39% | 46 | 0 |
| 2019-20 | 115 | 99 | 33% | 33 | 0 |
| 2018-19 | 109 | 91 | 23% | 22 | 0 |
| 2017-18 | 96 | 82 | 32% | 28 | 0 |
| 2016-17 | 109 | 88 | 42% | 43 | 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 7?
36% of Unit 7 is public land, 789,010 of 2,189,704 acres, most of it BLM (655,908 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 7.
Questions hunters ask
How many deer licenses are there in Unit 7?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet lists 4 deer hunt codes for Unit 7 with 80 draw licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 56).
What is the deer success rate in Unit 7?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives a 26% success rate for the Unit 7 deer hunts as a whole: 139 hunters reported and 33 deer were taken. Across the 10 seasons NMDGF reported for this area, the rate ran from 22% to 42%.
When is deer season in Unit 7 in 2026?
The Unit 7 deer hunts run from September 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027. Bow hunts start Sep 1 and Jan 1, muzzleloader hunts start Sep 27 and any legal weapon hunts start Nov 7 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 56).
Can nonresidents hunt deer in Unit 7?
Yes, for 4 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).