DER-2-129: deer hunt in Unit 2C, Jan 1-15
DER-2-129 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a bow in Unit 2C, January 1 to 15, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55). In the 2026 draw, 1,128 applicants chose it first and 40 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 46 hunters reporting, a 31% success rate, 15 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landBureau of ReclamationTribal landUnit 2CNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Deer: Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | January 1 to 15 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 2C |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 1,128 (40 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 31% success, 15 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 89.8% |
How many hunters applied for DER-2-129?
1,128 applicants chose DER-2-129 first in the 2026 draw and 40 drew it on that choice, 3.5% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 1,238 first-choice applicants and 37 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 | 358 | 369 | 221 | 35 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 506 | 345 | 155 | 1 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 264 | 256 | 113 | 4 | 5 |
| All applicants | 1,128 | 970 | 489 | 40 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 401 | 310 | 203 | 31 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 585 | 305 | 176 | 3 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 252 | 253 | 135 | 3 | 5 |
| All applicants | 1,238 | 868 | 514 | 37 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on DER-2-129?
NMDGF's results for DER-2-129, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 31% (2025-26), from 46 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 51 in 2023-24 to 50 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 | 1/1-1/15, '26 | 50 | 46 | 31% | 15 | 0 | 8.1 | 3.2 |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Jan 1-15, '25 | 50 | 47 | 27% | 13 | 0 | 7 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Jan 1-15, '24 | 51 | 48 | 24% | 11 | 0 | 8 | 3.2 |
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-2-129 compare with the other Unit 2C deer hunts?
DER-2-129 is one of 3 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 2C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 3 drawn ones (1,128). Its 2025-26 success rate, 31%, was the 2nd highest of the 3 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 2C deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 89.8% public land (463,488 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-2-129 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for DER-2-129 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 50 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-2-129?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-2-129 a 31% success rate, from 46 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 24% to 31%.
How many people applied for DER-2-129 in 2026?
2,587 applicants listed DER-2-129 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 1,128 chose it first and 40 of those drew it, 3.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 1,238 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-2-129?
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).