DER-3-317: deer hunt in Unit 33 (including Prairie Chicken WMAs, Huey WMA only), Nov 21-29
DER-3-317 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a deer of either sex with a muzzleloader in Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs, Huey WMA only, November 21 to 29, with 5 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63). In the 2026 draw, 17 applicants chose it first and 4 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 5 licenses sold, 5 hunters reporting, a 20% success rate, 1 buck 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: Any male or female of a big-game species |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | November 21 to 29 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 33 |
| Licenses | 5 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / youth only |
| NMDOW fee class | quality |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 17 (4 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 20% success, 1 buck, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 57.9% |
How many hunters applied for DER-3-317?
17 applicants chose DER-3-317 first in the 2026 draw and 4 drew it on that choice, 23.5% of them. 5 of the 5 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 21 first-choice applicants and 5 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 | 17 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 17 | 15 | 8 | 4 | 5 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 21 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is DER-3-317 held?
DER-3-317 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-3-317?
NMDGF's results for DER-3-317, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 20% (2025-26), from 5 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 5 in 2023-24 to 5 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bucks | Does | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | ES | 11/22-11/30 | 5 | 5 | 20% | 1 | 0 | 3.4 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Nov 23-Dec 1 | 5 | 5 | 60% | 3 | 0 | 3 | 4.4 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Nov 18-26 | 5 | 4 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 5.8 | 3.8 |
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-3-317 compare with the other Unit 33 deer hunts?
DER-3-317 is one of 7 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 33 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (17). Its 2025-26 success rate, 20%, was the 4th 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-3-317 have?
NMDOW lists 5 licenses for DER-3-317 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 5 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-3-317?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-3-317 a 20% success rate, from 5 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 20% to 60%.
How many people applied for DER-3-317 in 2026?
40 applicants listed DER-3-317 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 17 chose it first and 4 of those drew it, 23.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 21 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-3-317?
No. DER-3-317 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63).