Bernardo Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Bernardo Wildlife Management Area is 1,804 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Units 14 and 18, 2 miles from Abeytas, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting. NMDOW's fact sheet: "Waterfowl hunting is allowed during open seasons; hunting is restricted to areas designated in the New Mexico Hunting Migratory Game Bird Supplement Booklet."
Data updated October 2026. Rules: NMDOW's fact sheet and Commission lands page, read 2026-10-18. Hunts: NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet. Boundary: NMDOW GIS.
BLMWildlife Commission landBernardo WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 1,804 acres (NMDOW map); NMDOW's fact sheet says 1,675 |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northwest New Mexico |
| Units | Unit 14, Unit 18 |
| Open to | hunting, fishing and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Not allowed. |
| Motor vehicles | Allowed on auto tour route and in designated parking areas only. |
| Nearest towns | Abeytas (2 mi), Las Nutrias (3 mi) and La Joya (3 mi) |
What is Bernardo WMA like?
The area contains mostly flat croplands. In the late fall and winter, fields are flooded for waterfowl to roost in. Bernardo Wildlife Area was purchased in 1971 to provide habitat and food for wintering waterfowl.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Bernardo.
What are the rules on Bernardo WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet lists no closures. Camping: Not allowed. Motor vehicles: Allowed on auto tour route and in designated parking areas only.
Every Commission land needs a Habitat Management and Access Validation and the right license; WMAs are closed to hunting unless NMDOW's booklet lists them as open (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49). Rules posted on the property also apply.
What can you hunt on Bernardo WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: Waterfowl hunting is allowed during open seasons; hunting is restricted to areas designated in the New Mexico Hunting Migratory Game Bird Supplement Booklet. The 2026-27 booklet names Bernardo in no big game hunt code; hunting follows the seasons of the unit it is in.
How do you get to Bernardo WMA?
Part of the Ladd S. Gordon Waterfowl Complex, Bernardo Wildlife Area is located between Belen and Socorro between I-25 and the Rio Grande.
Highways within 8 miles: I-25, US 85, US 60, NM 304 and NM 116. Nearest towns: Abeytas (2 miles), Las Nutrias (3 miles), La Joya (3 miles) and Veguita (6 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 9,319 acres of other public land, most of it national wildlife refuge.
Which unit is Bernardo WMA in?
It spans Unit 14 (1,112 acres) and Unit 18 (692 acres). Each unit's 2026-27 hunt codes and public land, for the whole unit:
| Unit | WMA acres in it | Unit public land | Elk codes | Deer codes | Pronghorn codes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 14 | 1,112 | 17% | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Unit 18 | 692 | 65.9% | 3 | 5 | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Bernardo WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Bernardo as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "Waterfowl hunting is allowed during open seasons; hunting is restricted to areas designated in the New Mexico Hunting Migratory Game Bird Supplement Booklet." Hunters need the proper license and the Habitat Management and Access Validation, and all WMAs are closed to hunting unless the booklet lists them as open (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).
Can you camp on Bernardo WMA?
Not allowed. (NMDOW fact sheet for Bernardo)
Which unit is Bernardo WMA in?
Bernardo WMA spans Unit 14 (1,112 acres) and Unit 18 (692 acres), by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.