DER-3-397: deer hunt in Unit 52 (Restricted muzzleloader only), Sep 27-Oct 3
DER-3-397 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a fork-antlered deer with a muzzleloader in Unit 52, Restricted muzzleloader only, September 27 to October 3, with 25 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 66). In the 2026 draw, 117 applicants chose it first and 21 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 25 licenses sold, 23 hunters reporting, a 35% success rate, 8 bucks and 0 does taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 66. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 52Neighboring 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 52 |
| Licenses | 25 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 117 (21 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 35% success, 8 bucks, 0 does |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for DER-3-397?
117 applicants chose DER-3-397 first in the 2026 draw and 21 drew it on that choice, 17.9% of them. 25 of the 25 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 109 first-choice applicants and 18 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 | 62 | 84 | 19 | 23 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 12 | 8 | 19 | 2 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 117 | 70 | 103 | 21 | 25 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 95 | 73 | 73 | 15 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 12 | 11 | 7 | 1 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| All applicants | 109 | 84 | 81 | 18 | 25 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on DER-3-397?
NMDGF's results for DER-3-397, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 35% (2025-26), from 23 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 25 in 2023-24 to 25 in 2025-26. NMDGF also prints private-land licenses under DER-3-397 (3 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 | 9/27-10/3 | 25 | 23 | 35% | 8 | 0 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3 (0 bucks, 0 does) |
| 2024-25 | FAD | Sept 27-Oct 3 | 25 | 22 | 45% | 10 | 0 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 2 (2 bucks, 0 does) |
| 2023-24 | FAD | Sept 27-Oct 3 | 25 | 25 | 26% | 5 | 0 | 3.8 | 2.9 | 1 (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-3-397 compare with the other Unit 52 deer hunts?
DER-3-397 is one of 4 deer hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 4 drawn ones (117). Its 2025-26 success rate, 35%, was the 2nd highest of the 4 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 52 deer hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 92.1% public land (247,713 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does DER-3-397 have?
NMDOW lists 25 licenses for DER-3-397 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 66). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 25 sold.
What is the success rate for DER-3-397?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives DER-3-397 a 35% success rate, from 23 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 26% to 45%.
How many people applied for DER-3-397 in 2026?
290 applicants listed DER-3-397 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 117 chose it first and 21 of those drew it, 17.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 109 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for DER-3-397?
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).