DER-2-315: deer hunt in Unit 33 (including Prairie Chicken WMAs), Jan 1-15
DER-2-315 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a bow in Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs, January 1 to 15, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63). In the 2026 draw, 401 applicants chose it first and 47 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 48 hunters reporting, a 30% success rate, 14 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeState parkMilitary landUnit 33Neighboring 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 33 |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 401 (47 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 30% success, 14 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 57.9% |
How many hunters applied for DER-2-315?
401 applicants chose DER-2-315 first in the 2026 draw and 47 drew it on that choice, 11.7% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 315 first-choice applicants and 43 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 | 298 | 205 | 174 | 40 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 47 | 50 | 34 | 2 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 56 | 35 | 16 | 5 | 5 |
| All applicants | 401 | 290 | 224 | 47 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 229 | 159 | 150 | 38 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 43 | 47 | 47 | 2 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 43 | 24 | 23 | 3 | 5 |
| All applicants | 315 | 230 | 220 | 43 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is DER-2-315 held?
DER-2-315 is held on Prairie Chicken WMA, 36,633 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Units 31, 32 and 33, 9 miles from Tatum. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Not allowed at any of the Prairie Chicken Wildlife Areas. Closures: The Prairie Chicken Areas are closed to all access from February 16-June 29.
How did hunters do on DER-2-315?
NMDGF's results for DER-2-315, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 30% (2025-26), from 48 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 50 in 2023-24 to 50 in 2025-26. NMDGF also prints private-land licenses under DER-2-315 (22 in 2025-26); they have their own column and are not counted in the drawn hunt's results.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 | Private-land licenses, same code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | FAD | 1/1-1/15, '26 | 50 | 48 | 30% | 14 | 0 | 7.4 | 3.9 | 22 (9 bucks, 0 does) |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Jan 1-15, '25 | 50 | 49 | 32% | 14 | 0 | 6.8 | 3.8 | 19 (3 bucks, 0 does) |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Jan 1-15, '24 | 50 | 47 | 28% | 13 | 0 | 6.9 | 3.9 | 24 (5 bucks, 0 does) |
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-2-315 compare with the other Unit 33 deer hunts?
DER-2-315 is one of 7 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 33 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (401). Its 2025-26 success rate, 30%, was the 2nd highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 33 deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 57.9% public land (842,107 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-2-315 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for DER-2-315 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 50 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-2-315?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-2-315 a 30% success rate, from 48 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 28% to 32%.
How many people applied for DER-2-315 in 2026?
915 applicants listed DER-2-315 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 401 chose it first and 47 of those drew it, 11.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 315 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-2-315?
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).