DER-3-211: deer hunt in Unit 18, Oct 31-Nov 4
DER-3-211 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a muzzleloader in Unit 18, October 31 to November 4, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 58). In the 2026 draw, 35 applicants chose it first and 28 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 76 licenses sold, 70 hunters reporting, a 15% success rate, 10 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 58. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeBureau of ReclamationNational Park ServiceMilitary landUnit 18Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Deer: Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | October 31 to November 4 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 18 |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 35 (28 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 15% success, 10 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 65.9% |
How many hunters applied for DER-3-211?
35 applicants chose DER-3-211 first in the 2026 draw and 28 drew it on that choice, 80% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 43 first-choice applicants and 26 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 | 32 | 41 | 75 | 25 | 68 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| All applicants | 35 | 42 | 82 | 28 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 37 | 52 | 83 | 21 | 67 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
| All applicants | 43 | 55 | 87 | 26 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on DER-3-211?
NMDGF's results for DER-3-211, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 15% (2025-26), from 70 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 75 in 2023-24 to 76 in 2025-26. NMDGF also prints private-land licenses under DER-3-211 (4 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 | 11/1-11/5 | 76 | 70 | 15% | 10 | 0 | 3.8 | 2.7 | 4 (0 bucks, 0 does) |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Oct 26-30 | 75 | 71 | 25% | 15 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 1 (0 bucks, 0 does) |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Oct 28-Nov 1 | 75 | 72 | 28% | 20 | 0 | 3.7 | 3 | 5 (1 buck, 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-3-211 compare with the other Unit 18 deer hunts?
DER-3-211 is one of 5 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 18 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (35). Its 2025-26 success rate, 15%, was the 5th highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 18 deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 65.9% public land (1,031,695 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-3-211 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for DER-3-211 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 58). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-3-211?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-3-211 a 15% success rate, from 70 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 15% to 28%.
How many people applied for DER-3-211 in 2026?
159 applicants listed DER-3-211 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 35 chose it first and 28 of those drew it, 80% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 43 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-3-211?
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).