DER-3-220: deer hunt in Unit 20, Oct 31-Nov 4
DER-3-220 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a muzzleloader in Unit 20, October 31 to November 4, with 85 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 59). In the 2026 draw, 31 applicants chose it first and 21 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 85 licenses sold, 77 hunters reporting, a 16% success rate, 11 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 59. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
BLMState trust landNational wildlife refugeBureau of ReclamationState parkMilitary landOther federal (closed)Unit 20Neighboring 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 20 |
| Licenses | 85 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 31 (21 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 16% success, 11 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 62.9% |
How many hunters applied for DER-3-220?
31 applicants chose DER-3-220 first in the 2026 draw and 21 drew it on that choice, 67.7% of them. 85 of the 85 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 43 first-choice applicants and 31 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 | 31 | 28 | 84 | 21 | 84 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 31 | 30 | 85 | 21 | 85 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 42 | 46 | 76 | 30 | 79 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 43 | 50 | 82 | 31 | 85 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on DER-3-220?
NMDGF's results for DER-3-220, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 16% (2025-26), from 77 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 85 in 2023-24 to 85 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 | 11/1-11/5 | 85 | 77 | 16% | 11 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Oct 26-30 | 85 | 76 | 28% | 21 | 0 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Oct 28-Nov 1 | 85 | 79 | 28% | 19 | 0 | 3.3 | 2.9 |
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-3-220 compare with the other Unit 20 deer hunts?
DER-3-220 is one of 5 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 20 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (31). Its 2025-26 success rate, 16%, was the 5th highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 20 deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 62.9% public land (1,026,204 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-3-220 have?
NMDOW lists 85 licenses for DER-3-220 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 59). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 85 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-3-220?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-3-220 a 16% success rate, from 77 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 16% to 28%.
How many people applied for DER-3-220 in 2026?
146 applicants listed DER-3-220 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 31 chose it first and 21 of those drew it, 67.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 43 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-3-220?
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).