Prairie Chicken Wildlife Management Areas: hunting and access
Prairie Chicken Wildlife Management Areas are 36,633 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Units 31, 32 and 33, 9 miles from Tatum, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists them as open to hunting, and 17 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name them. NMDOW's fact sheet: "No hunting is allowed for lesser prairie chickens. Deer and small game hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters."
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.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landPrairie Chicken WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 36,633 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Southeast New Mexico |
| Units | Unit 31, Unit 32, Unit 33 |
| Open to | hunting and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Not allowed at any of the Prairie Chicken Wildlife Areas. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond roadways and parking areas. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 17 |
| Nearest towns | Tatum (9 mi), Causey (13 mi) and Dora (15 mi) |
What is Prairie Chicken WMA like?
The properties are scattered over the grasslands of south-eastern New Mexico. Common plants in the sand hills include tall and short grass species and shinnery oak. The Prairie Chicken Areas were purchased beginning in 1940 to provide habitat for the preservation and restoration of the lesser prairie chicken.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Prairie Chicken.
What are the rules on Prairie Chicken WMA?
Closures: The Prairie Chicken Areas are closed to all access from February 16-June 29. Camping: Not allowed at any of the Prairie Chicken Wildlife Areas. Motor vehicles: Not allowed beyond roadways and parking areas.
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 Prairie Chicken WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: No hunting is allowed for lesser prairie chickens. Deer and small game hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters. 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-2-302 | Deer | Unit 31, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 175 | 2025-26: 16% success, 23 taken |
| DER-2-309 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 150 | 2025-26: 7% success, 9 taken |
| DER-2-314 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 60 | 2025-26: 13% success, 6 taken |
| DER-3-304 | Deer | Unit 31, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | muzzleloader | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 175 | 2025-26: 26% success, 39 taken |
| DER-3-311 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | muzzleloader | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 175 | 2025-26: 18% success, 28 taken |
| DER-3-316 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs, restricted muzzleloader only | muzzleloader | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 140 | 2025-26: 15% success, 19 taken |
| DER-1-305 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 565 | 2025-26: 31% success, 154 taken |
| DER-1-300 | Deer | Unit 31, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 440 | 2025-26: 35% success, 136 taken |
| DER-1-312 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 150 | 2025-26: 34% success, 48 taken |
| DER-1-306 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 560 | 2025-26: 29% success, 143 taken |
| DER-1-301 | Deer | Unit 31, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Nov 21-25 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 435 | 2025-26: 33% success, 127 taken |
| DER-1-313 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Nov 21-25 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 150 | 2025-26: 30% success, 41 taken |
| DER-1-307 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Dec 16-31 | Antlerless deer | 15 | 2025-26: 80% success, 11 taken |
| DER-2-303 | Deer | Unit 31, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 100 | 2025-26: 23% success, 20 taken |
| DER-2-310 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 100 | 2025-26: 28% success, 24 taken |
| DER-2-315 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 50 | 2025-26: 30% success, 14 taken |
| DER-1-308 | Deer | Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs | any legal weapon | Jan 16-31 | Antlerless deer | 15 | 2025-26: 56% success, 6 taken |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 62 and 63. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to Prairie Chicken WMA?
The Prairie Chicken Wildlife Areas are located in various parcels about 25 miles southeast of Portales.
Highways within 8 miles: NM 206, NM 125, NM 508, NM 262 and US 380. Nearest towns: Tatum (9 miles), Causey (13 miles), Dora (15 miles) and Elida (17 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 121,438 acres of other public land, most of it state trust land.
Which unit is Prairie Chicken WMA in?
It spans Unit 31 (25,894 acres), Unit 32 (9,834 acres) and Unit 33 (905 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 31 | 25,894 | 48.4% | 5 | 12 | |
| Unit 32 | 9,834 | 33.4% | 7 | 12 | |
| Unit 33 | 905 | 57.9% | 7 | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Prairie Chicken WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Prairie Chicken as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "No hunting is allowed for lesser prairie chickens. Deer and small game hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters." 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 Prairie Chicken WMA closed?
The Prairie Chicken Areas are closed to all access from February 16-June 29. (NMDOW fact sheet for Prairie Chicken). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on Prairie Chicken WMA?
Not allowed at any of the Prairie Chicken Wildlife Areas. (NMDOW fact sheet for Prairie Chicken)
Which unit is Prairie Chicken WMA in?
Prairie Chicken WMA spans Unit 31 (25,894 acres), Unit 32 (9,834 acres) and Unit 33 (905 acres), by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include Prairie Chicken WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names Prairie Chicken in DER-2-302 (deer, Sep 1-24), DER-2-309 (deer, Sep 1-24), DER-2-314 (deer, Sep 1-24), DER-3-304 (deer, Oct 24-28), DER-3-311 (deer, Oct 24-28), DER-3-316 (deer, Oct 24-28), DER-1-305 (deer, Oct 31-Nov 4) and DER-1-300 (deer, Nov 7-11) and 9 more. Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).
New Mexico hunting Southeast New Mexico Unit 31 Unit 32 Unit 33