Edward Sargent Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Edward Sargent Wildlife Management Area is 20,057 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 4, next to Chama, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 14 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name it (all held only on the WMA).
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.
Wildlife Commission landTribal landEdward Sargent WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 20,057 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northwest New Mexico |
| Unit | Unit 4 |
| Open to | hunting, fishing and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Camping is allowed only in the Designated Camping Area and only from July 1-Nov. 15. Licensed hunters and their guests may camp in this designated area during their hunt. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond the parking area. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 14 (14 held only on the WMA) |
| Nearest towns | Chama (next to it), Brazos (10 mi) and Los Ojos (11 mi) |
What is Edward Sargent WMA like?
The property provides habitat for elk and other wildlife species. It is one of the largest properties owned by the Department. Its northern boundary extends to the Colorado state line. The Sargent property consists of high aspen meadows, alder-lines streams, oak groves, and grassy meadows. The Sargent was purchased in 1975 with funding from The Nature Conservancy and the Federal Sportfish and Wildlife Restoration Act.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Edward Sargent.
What are the rules on Edward Sargent WMA?
Closures: From May 15-June 30: GAIN activities (wildlife viewing, photograpy, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, skiing, snowshoeing, etc) are restricted to the Sargent Main Road, Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and The Elk Viewing Trail. During published deer and elk hunts: GAIN activities are restricted to the Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and the Elk Viewing Trail; the Sargent Main Road is closed to GAIN activities during this time. Camping: Camping is allowed only in the Designated Camping Area and only from July 1-Nov. 15. Licensed hunters and their guests may camp in this designated area during their hunt. Motor vehicles: Not allowed beyond the parking area.
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 Edward Sargent WMA?
NMDOW's booklet sets the seasons. The 2026-27 booklet names the WMA in these hunt codes, with each code's newest NMDGF result:
| Hunt code | Species | Where | Weapon | Dates | Bag limit | Licenses | Newest result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DER-2-141 | Deer | Unit 4, Humphries/Rio Chama/Sargent WMAs only | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | 2025-26: 33% success, 3 taken |
| ELK-2-163 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | bow | Sep 1-14 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 10 | 2025-26: 44% success, 4 taken |
| ELK-2-164 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | bow | Sep 15-24 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 10 | 2025-26: 67% success, 6 taken |
| ELK-1-165 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 10-14 | Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 67% success, 6 taken |
| ELK-1-166 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 17-21 | Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 71% success, 7 taken |
| DER-1-133 | Deer | Unit 4, Humphries/Rio Chama/Sargent WMAs only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 20 | 2025-26: 53% success, 9 taken |
| DER-1-134 | Deer | Unit 4, Humphries/Rio Chama/Sargent WMAs only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | 2025-26: 30% success, 3 taken |
| ELK-1-167 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 75% success, 6 taken |
| DER-1-136 | Deer | Unit 4, Humphries/Rio Chama/Sargent WMAs only | any legal weapon | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 20 | 2025-26: 42% success, 8 taken |
| ELK-1-168 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 75% success, 6 taken |
| ELK-1-169 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Antlerless elk | 10 | 2025-26: 57% success, 4 taken |
| ELK-1-170 | Elk | Unit 4, Sargent WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Antlerless elk | 10 | 2025-26: 67% success, 6 taken |
| DER-1-138 | Deer | Unit 4, Humphries/Rio Chama/Sargent WMAs only | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | 2025-26: 50% success, 4 taken |
| DER-1-140 | Deer | Unit 4, Humphries/Rio Chama/Sargent WMAs only | any legal weapon | Nov 25-29 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | 2025-26: 60% success, 3 taken |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 56 and 75. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to Edward Sargent WMA?
The Sargent Wildlife Area can be found north of Chama in Rio Arriba County. The parking area is located at the north end of Pine Street, in the northwest corner of the village.
Highways within 8 miles: US 84, US 64, NM 17 and NM 29. Nearest towns: Chama (next to it), Brazos (10 miles), Los Ojos (11 miles) and Ensenada (12 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 195 acres of other public land, most of it Wildlife Commission land.
Which unit is Edward Sargent WMA in?
All of it is in Unit 4. 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 4 | 20,057 | 11.7% | 15 | 6 | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Edward Sargent WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Edward Sargent as open to hunting. 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).
When is Edward Sargent WMA closed?
From May 15-June 30: GAIN activities (wildlife viewing, photograpy, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, skiing, snowshoeing, etc) are restricted to the Sargent Main Road, Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and The Elk Viewing Trail. During published deer and elk hunts: GAIN activities are restricted to the Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and the Elk Viewing Trail; the Sargent Main Road is closed to GAIN activities during this time. (NMDOW fact sheet for Edward Sargent). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on Edward Sargent WMA?
Camping is allowed only in the Designated Camping Area and only from July 1-Nov. 15. Licensed hunters and their guests may camp in this designated area during their hunt. (NMDOW fact sheet for Edward Sargent)
Which unit is Edward Sargent WMA in?
All of Edward Sargent WMA is in Unit 4, by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include Edward Sargent WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names Edward Sargent in DER-2-141 (deer, Sep 1-24), ELK-2-163 (elk, Sep 1-14), ELK-2-164 (elk, Sep 15-24), ELK-1-165 (elk, Oct 10-14), ELK-1-166 (elk, Oct 17-21), DER-1-133 (deer, Oct 24-28), DER-1-134 (deer, Oct 24-28) and ELK-1-167 (elk, Oct 24-28) and 6 more. Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).