DER-3-131: deer hunt in Unit 2C, Sep 27-Oct 3
DER-3-131 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a muzzleloader in Unit 2C, September 27 to October 3, with 20 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55). In the 2026 draw, 206 applicants chose it first and 10 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 20 licenses sold, 19 hunters reporting, a 0% success rate.
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 | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | September 27 to October 3 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 2C |
| Licenses | 20 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 206 (10 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 0% success, 0 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 89.8% |
How many hunters applied for DER-3-131?
206 applicants chose DER-3-131 first in the 2026 draw and 10 drew it on that choice, 4.9% of them. 20 of the 20 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 291 first-choice applicants and 10 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 | 105 | 137 | 120 | 10 | 17 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 78 | 110 | 109 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 23 | 169 | 78 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 206 | 416 | 307 | 10 | 20 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 154 | 175 | 109 | 10 | 17 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 90 | 140 | 133 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 47 | 254 | 63 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 291 | 569 | 305 | 10 | 20 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on DER-3-131?
NMDGF's results for DER-3-131, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 0% (2025-26), from 19 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 20 in 2023-24 to 20 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 | 9/27-10/3 | 20 | 19 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 5.3 | 2.6 |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Sept 27-Oct 3 | 20 | 20 | 44% | 8 | 0 | 4.7 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Sept 27-Oct 3 | 20 | 19 | 53% | 9 | 0 | 4.9 | 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-3-131 compare with the other Unit 2C deer hunts?
DER-3-131 is one of 3 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 2C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 3 drawn ones (206). Its 2025-26 success rate, 0%, was the 3rd 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-3-131 have?
NMDOW lists 20 licenses for DER-3-131 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 55). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 20 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-3-131?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-3-131 a 0% success rate, from 19 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 0% to 53%.
How many people applied for DER-3-131 in 2026?
929 applicants listed DER-3-131 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 206 chose it first and 10 of those drew it, 4.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 291 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-3-131?
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).