DER-1-144: deer hunt in Unit 5A (Public Land only), Nov 10-16
DER-1-144 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with any legal weapon in Unit 5A, Public Land only, November 10 to 16, with 40 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 56). In the 2026 draw, 181 applicants chose it first and 21 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 40 licenses sold, 36 hunters reporting, a 55% success rate, 20 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 56. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landTribal landUnit 5ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Deer: Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 10 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 5A |
| Licenses | 40 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 181 (21 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 55% success, 20 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 16.3% |
How many hunters applied for DER-1-144?
181 applicants chose DER-1-144 first in the 2026 draw and 21 drew it on that choice, 11.6% of them. 40 of the 40 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 197 first-choice applicants and 23 drawn on first choice. These are NMDOW's results for those draws, not a forecast.
| Pool, 2026 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 170 | 195 | 174 | 18 | 34 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 8 | 18 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| All applicants | 181 | 216 | 181 | 21 | 40 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 186 | 168 | 184 | 20 | 34 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 8 | 13 | 22 | 1 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| All applicants | 197 | 183 | 207 | 23 | 40 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on DER-1-144?
NMDGF's results for DER-1-144, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 55% (2025-26), from 36 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 40 in 2023-24 to 40 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | FAD | 11/11-11/17 | 40 | 36 | 55% | 20 | 0 | 3.7 | 3.7 |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Nov 5-11 | 41 | 37 | 16% | 6 | 0 | 3.5 | 2.5 |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Nov 7-13 | 40 | 38 | 46% | 17 | 0 | 4.1 | 3.3 |
Source: NMDGF 2025-26 deer harvest report, NMDGF 2024-25 deer harvest report and NMDGF 2023-24 deer harvest report and earlier NMDOW deer harvest reports.
How does DER-1-144 compare with the other Unit 5A deer hunts?
DER-1-144 is one of 3 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 5A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 3 drawn ones (181). Its 2025-26 success rate, 55%, was the 2nd highest of the 3 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 5A deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 16.3% public land (23,914 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-1-144 have?
NMDOW lists 40 licenses for DER-1-144 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 56). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 41 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-1-144?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-1-144 a 55% success rate, from 36 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 16% to 55%.
How many people applied for DER-1-144 in 2026?
578 applicants listed DER-1-144 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 181 chose it first and 21 of those drew it, 11.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 197 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-1-144?
Yes. Nonresidents draw from the 6% of licenses set aside for them, or the 10% for applicants with a registered outfitter (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).