DER-3-169: deer hunt in Unit 9 (including Water Canyon WMA, Restricted Muzzleloader only), Sep 27-Oct 3
DER-3-169 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a muzzleloader in Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA, Restricted Muzzleloader only, September 27 to October 3, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 57). In the 2026 draw, 50 applicants chose it first and 9 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 7 hunters reporting, a 43% success rate, 4 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 57. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeState parkNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 9Neighboring 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 9 |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 50 (9 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 43% success, 4 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 26.7% |
How many hunters applied for DER-3-169?
50 applicants chose DER-3-169 first in the 2026 draw and 9 drew it on that choice, 18% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 51 first-choice applicants and 7 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 | 45 | 54 | 39 | 8 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 50 | 54 | 40 | 9 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 50 | 56 | 48 | 7 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 51 | 57 | 50 | 7 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is DER-3-169 held?
DER-3-169 is held on Water Canyon WMA, 2,844 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 9, 4 miles from Bibo. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: No camping is allowed except licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Closures: Water Canyon Wildlife Area is open year-round except during established deer and elk hunts.
How did hunters do on DER-3-169?
NMDGF's results for DER-3-169, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 43% (2025-26), from 7 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 10 in 2023-24 to 10 in 2025-26. NMDGF also prints private-land licenses under DER-3-169; 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 | 9/27-10/3 | 10 | 7 | 43% | 4 | 0 | 4.1 | 3.7 | |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Sept 27-Oct 3 | 10 | 8 | 43% | 4 | 0 | 4.7 | 3.9 | |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Sept 27-Oct 3 | 10 | 8 | 43% | 4 | 0 | 3.1 | 3.7 | 1 (0 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-3-169 compare with the other Unit 9 deer hunts?
DER-3-169 is one of 6 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 9 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (50). Its 2025-26 success rate, 43%, was the 2nd highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 9 deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 26.7% public land (567,834 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-3-169 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for DER-3-169 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 57). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-3-169?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-3-169 a 43% success rate, from 7 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 43% to 43%.
How many people applied for DER-3-169 in 2026?
144 applicants listed DER-3-169 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 50 chose it first and 9 of those drew it, 18% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 51 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-3-169?
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). NMDOW warns that with 10 licenses a nonresident is extremely unlikely to draw it.