Elliott Barker Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Elliott Barker Wildlife Management Area is 5,442 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 55A, 6 miles from Ute Park, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 5 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name it (all held only on the WMA). NMDOW's fact sheet: "Deer, elk, bear, turkey, and small game."
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.
National forestWildlife Commission landElliott Barker WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 5,442 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northeast New Mexico |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Open to | hunting, fishing and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond parking area. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 5 (5 held only on the WMA) |
| Nearest towns | Ute Park (6 mi), Eagle Nest (9 mi) and Cimarron (13 mi) |
What is Elliott Barker WMA like?
A long high mesa with canyon slopes, rocky outcrops, and side canyons with Ponil Creek flowing through the middle, making it perfect habitat for deer, elk, bear, and turkey. The Elliott Barker Wildlife Area was purchased in 1966 to protect prime habitat for deer and elk.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Elliott Barker.
What are the rules on Elliott Barker WMA?
Closures: Elliott Barker Wildlife Area is closed to wildlife viewing, photographing, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding May 15-July 31 and December 15-March 31. Camping: Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. Motor vehicles: Not allowed beyond 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 Elliott Barker WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: Deer, elk, bear, turkey, and small game. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK-2-431 | Elk | Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only | bow | Sep 1-14 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 5 | 2025-26: 0% success, 0 taken |
| ELK-2-432 | Elk | Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only | bow | Sep 15-24 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 5 | 2025-26: 0% success, 0 taken |
| ELK-1-433 | Elk | Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 10-14 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 38% success, 4 taken |
| DER-1-404 | Deer | Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | 2025-26: 60% success, 3 taken |
| DER-1-405 | Deer | Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 21-29 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | 2025-26: 0% success, 0 taken |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 67 and 90. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to Elliott Barker WMA?
The Elliott Barker Wildlife Area is located about 15 miles northwest of Cimarron.
Highways within 8 miles: US 64, NM 204 and NM 38. Nearest towns: Ute Park (6 miles), Eagle Nest (9 miles), Cimarron (13 miles) and Red River (16 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 5,969 acres of other public land, most of it national forest.
Which unit is Elliott Barker WMA in?
All of it is in Unit 55A. 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 55A | 5,442 | 13.2% | 25 | 14 | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Elliott Barker WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Elliott Barker as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "Deer, elk, bear, turkey, and small game." 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 Elliott Barker WMA closed?
Elliott Barker Wildlife Area is closed to wildlife viewing, photographing, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding May 15-July 31 and December 15-March 31. (NMDOW fact sheet for Elliott Barker). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on Elliott Barker WMA?
Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. (NMDOW fact sheet for Elliott Barker)
Which unit is Elliott Barker WMA in?
All of Elliott Barker WMA is in Unit 55A, by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include Elliott Barker WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names Elliott Barker in ELK-2-431 (elk, Sep 1-14), ELK-2-432 (elk, Sep 15-24), ELK-1-433 (elk, Oct 10-14), DER-1-404 (deer, Oct 24-28) and DER-1-405 (deer, Nov 21-29). Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).