Rio Chama Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Rio Chama Wildlife Management Area is 13,080 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Units 4 and 51B, 4 miles from Tierra Amarilla, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 13 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.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landRio Chama WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 13,080 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northwest New Mexico |
| Units | Unit 4, Unit 51B |
| Open to | hunting, fishing and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Allowed in designated areas Memorial Day weekend-November 15. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond roadway and parking area. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 13 (13 held only on the WMA) |
| Nearest towns | Tierra Amarilla (4 mi), Los Ojos (6 mi) and Ensenada (6 mi) |
What is Rio Chama WMA like?
The Rio Chama offers access to 12.5 miles of the Chama River and 4.5 miles of El Vado reservoir shoreline. There are pinon covered ridges bounding the deep Chama Canyon. The Rio Chama was purchased beginning in 1953 to provide hunting and fishing access.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Rio Chama.
What are the rules on Rio Chama WMA?
Closures: GAIN activities (wildlife viewing, photography, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, camping, etc.) and most access is prohibited during published deer and elk hunts and from November 16 Memorial Day weekend. Camping: Allowed in designated areas Memorial Day weekend-November 15. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Motor vehicles: Not allowed beyond roadway and 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 Rio Chama 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-2-171 | Elk | Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only, Humphries/Rio Chama WMAs only | bow | Sep 1-14 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 10 | 2025-26: 43% success, 4 taken |
| ELK-2-172 | Elk | Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only, Humphries/Rio Chama WMAs only | bow | Sep 15-24 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 10 | 2025-26: 43% success, 4 taken |
| ELK-1-173 | Elk | Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only | any legal weapon | Oct 10-14 | Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal | 15 | 2025-26: 54% success, 8 taken |
| ELK-1-174 | Elk | Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only | any legal weapon | Oct 17-21 | Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal | 15 | 2025-26: 38% success, 5 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 |
| 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-1-175 | Elk | Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Antlerless elk | 10 | 2025-26: 63% success, 5 taken |
| ELK-1-176 | Elk | Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Antlerless elk | 15 | 2025-26: 38% success, 5 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 |
| ELK-1-177 | Elk | Unit 4, Rio Chama WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Antlerless elk | 20 | 2025-26: 38% success, 6 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 76. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to Rio Chama WMA?
The Rio Chama Wildlife Area is located about 14 miles south of Chama bordering El Vado Reservoir and the Chama River.
Highways within 8 miles: NM 112, US 84, NM 95, US 64 and NM 162. Nearest towns: Tierra Amarilla (4 miles), Los Ojos (6 miles), Ensenada (6 miles) and Brazos (7 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 10,435 acres of other public land, most of it BLM.
Which unit is Rio Chama WMA in?
It spans Unit 4 (13,080 acres) and Unit 51B (1 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 4 | 13,080 | 11.7% | 15 | 6 | 4 |
| Unit 51B | 1 | 66% | 11 | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Rio Chama WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Rio Chama 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 Rio Chama WMA closed?
GAIN activities (wildlife viewing, photography, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, camping, etc.) and most access is prohibited during published deer and elk hunts and from November 16 Memorial Day weekend. (NMDOW fact sheet for Rio Chama). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on Rio Chama WMA?
Allowed in designated areas Memorial Day weekend-November 15. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. (NMDOW fact sheet for Rio Chama)
Which unit is Rio Chama WMA in?
Rio Chama WMA spans Unit 4 (13,080 acres) and Unit 51B (1 acres), by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include Rio Chama WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names Rio Chama in DER-2-141 (deer, Sep 1-24), ELK-2-171 (elk, Sep 1-14), ELK-2-172 (elk, Sep 15-24), ELK-1-173 (elk, Oct 10-14), ELK-1-174 (elk, Oct 17-21), DER-1-133 (deer, Oct 24-28), DER-1-134 (deer, Oct 24-28) and DER-1-136 (deer, Oct 31-Nov 4) and 5 more. Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).