DER-1-405: deer hunt in Unit 55A (E.S. Barker WMA only), Nov 21-29
DER-1-405 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with any legal weapon in Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only, November 21 to 29, with 5 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67). In the 2026 draw, 11 applicants chose it first and 2 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 5 licenses sold, 5 hunters reporting, a 0% success rate.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 55ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Deer: Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 21 to 29 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Licenses | 5 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / youth only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 11 (2 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 0% success, 0 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
How many hunters applied for DER-1-405?
11 applicants chose DER-1-405 first in the 2026 draw and 2 drew it on that choice, 18.2% of them. 5 of the 5 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 25 first-choice applicants and 2 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 | 11 | 18 | 10 | 2 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 11 | 18 | 11 | 2 | 5 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 25 | 11 | 18 | 2 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 25 | 11 | 18 | 2 | 5 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is DER-1-405 held?
DER-1-405 is held on Elliott Barker WMA, 5,442 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 55A, 6 miles from Ute Park. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. Closures: Elliott Barker Wildlife Area is closed to wildlife viewing, photographing, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding May 15-July 31 and December 15-March 31.
How did hunters do on DER-1-405?
NMDGF's results for DER-1-405, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 0% (2025-26), from 5 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 5 in 2023-24 to 5 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 | 11/22-11/30 | 5 | 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2.3 |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Nov 23-Dec 1 | 5 | 5 | 50% | 2 | 0 | 9.8 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Nov 18-26 | 5 | 4 | 67% | 3 | 0 | 2.3 | 4 |
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-1-405 compare with the other Unit 55A deer hunts?
DER-1-405 is one of 5 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (11). Its 2025-26 success rate, 0%, was the 4th highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 55A deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 13.2% public land (132,899 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-1-405 have?
NMDOW lists 5 licenses for DER-1-405 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 5 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-1-405?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-1-405 a 0% success rate, from 5 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 0% to 67%.
How many people applied for DER-1-405 in 2026?
40 applicants listed DER-1-405 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 11 chose it first and 2 of those drew it, 18.2% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 25 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-1-405?
No. DER-1-405 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 67).