Urraca Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Urraca Wildlife Management Area is 13,303 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 55A, 5 miles from Costilla, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 9 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name it (all held only on the WMA). NMDOW's fact sheet: "Deer, elk, and small game hunting allowed to hunters with legal licenses and permits only during open seasons."
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 forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landUrraca WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 13,303 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northeast New Mexico |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Open to | hunting 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 | 9 (9 held only on the WMA) |
| Nearest towns | Costilla (5 mi), Questa (9 mi) and Red River (10 mi) |
What is Urraca WMA like?
The Urraca Wildlife Area sits on the western slope of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. It rises up from dry sagebrush flats to aspen and pine groves found at more than 11,000 feet in elevation. Urraca was purchased in 1966 to provide winter habitat for deer and elk.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Urraca.
What are the rules on Urraca WMA?
Closures: Urraca is closed to all access December 15-March 31 and again from May 15-June 30. 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 Urraca WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: Deer, elk, and small game hunting allowed to hunters with legal licenses and permits only during open 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK-2-434 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | bow | Sep 1-14 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 5 | 2025-26: 50% success, 3 taken |
| ELK-2-435 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | bow | Sep 15-24 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 5 | 2025-26: 0% success, 0 taken |
| ELK-3-436 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | muzzleloader | Oct 10-14 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 17% success, 1 taken |
| ELK-1-437 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 17-21 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 14% success, 1 taken |
| DER-1-406 | Deer | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 24-28 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | 2025-26: 40% success, 2 taken |
| DER-1-407 | Deer | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 5 | 2025-26: 0% success, 0 taken |
| ELK-1-438 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 7-11 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 10 | 2025-26: 10% success, 1 taken |
| ELK-1-439 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Antlerless elk | 15 | 2025-26: 0% success, 0 taken |
| ELK-1-440 | Elk | Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only | any legal weapon | Nov 28-Dec 2 | Antlerless elk | 15 | 2025-26: 11% success, 1 taken |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 67 and 90. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to Urraca WMA?
Urraca Wildlife Area is located about 12 miles north of Questa.
Highways within 8 miles: NM 522, NM 196 and NM 378. Nearest towns: Costilla (5 miles), Questa (9 miles), Red River (10 miles) and San Cristobal (17 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 5,673 acres of other public land, most of it national forest.
Which unit is Urraca 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 | 13,303 | 13.2% | 25 | 14 | 5 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Urraca WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Urraca as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "Deer, elk, and small game hunting allowed to hunters with legal licenses and permits only during open seasons." 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 Urraca WMA closed?
Urraca is closed to all access December 15-March 31 and again from May 15-June 30. (NMDOW fact sheet for Urraca). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on Urraca WMA?
Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. (NMDOW fact sheet for Urraca)
Which unit is Urraca WMA in?
All of Urraca WMA is in Unit 55A, by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include Urraca WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names Urraca in ELK-2-434 (elk, Sep 1-14), ELK-2-435 (elk, Sep 15-24), ELK-3-436 (elk, Oct 10-14), ELK-1-437 (elk, Oct 17-21), DER-1-406 (deer, Oct 24-28), DER-1-407 (deer, Oct 31-Nov 4), ELK-1-438 (elk, Nov 7-11) and ELK-1-439 (elk, Nov 14-18) and 1 more. Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).