Water Canyon Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
Water Canyon Wildlife Management Area is 2,844 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 9, 4 miles from Bibo, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 11 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name it. NMDOW's fact sheet: "Hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters for deer, elk, bear, turkey, and small game. Nongame hunting (including Himalayan tahr) is allowed January 1-March 31 annually."
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 landTribal landWater Canyon WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 2,844 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northwest New Mexico |
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Open to | hunting and GAIN activities |
| Camping | No camping is allowed except licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond the roadway and parking area. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 11 |
| Nearest towns | Bibo (4 mi), Encinal (4 mi) and Paguate (4 mi) |
What is Water Canyon WMA like?
This property sits on the side of the now dormant volcano, Mount Taylor. Its vegetation is a mixture of pinon, juniper, and mixed grasses and forbs. The Water Canyon Wildlife Area was purchased in 1953 to improve winter range for turkey and provide public access to big game hunting.
From NMDOW fact sheet for Water Canyon.
What are the rules on Water Canyon WMA?
Closures: Water Canyon Wildlife Area is open year-round except during established deer and elk hunts. Camping: No camping is allowed except licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Motor vehicles: Not allowed beyond the 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 Water Canyon WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: Hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters for deer, elk, bear, turkey, and small game. Nongame hunting (including Himalayan tahr) is allowed January 1-March 31 annually. 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-2-167 | Deer | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | bow | Sep 1-24 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | 2025-26: 22% success, 2 taken |
| ELK-2-151 | Elk | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | bow | Sep 1-14 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 82 | 2025-26: 11% success, 7 taken |
| ELK-2-152 | Elk | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | bow | Sep 15-24 | Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) | 82 | 2025-26: 15% success, 11 taken |
| DER-3-169 | Deer | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA, Restricted Muzzleloader only | muzzleloader | Sep 27-Oct 3 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | 2025-26: 43% success, 4 taken |
| ELK-3-153 | Elk | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | muzzleloader | Oct 10-14 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 21 | 2025-26: 18% success, 2 taken |
| ELK-3-154 | Elk | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | muzzleloader | Oct 17-21 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 35 | 2025-26: 13% success, 4 taken |
| ELK-3-155 | Elk | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | muzzleloader | Oct 24-28 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 35 | 2025-26: 9% success, 3 taken |
| ELK-3-156 | Elk | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | muzzleloader | Oct 31-Nov 4 | Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal | 21 | 2025-26: 20% success, 3 taken |
| DER-1-164 | Deer | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | any legal weapon | Nov 14-18 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 15 | 2025-26: 67% success, 10 taken |
| DER-1-166 | Deer | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | any legal weapon | Nov 21-29 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 10 | 2025-26: 43% success, 3 taken |
| DER-2-168 | Deer | Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA | bow | Jan 1-15 | Fork-antlered deer (white-tailed or mule deer) | 15 | 2025-26: 43% success, 6 taken |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, pages 57, 78 and 79. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to Water Canyon WMA?
Water Canyon Wildlife Area is located about 50 miles northwest of Albuquerque.
Highways within 8 miles: I-40, NM 124 and NM 279. Nearest towns: Bibo (4 miles), Encinal (4 miles), Paguate (4 miles) and San Fidel (5 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 6,932 acres of other public land, most of it national forest.
Which unit is Water Canyon WMA in?
All of it is in Unit 9. 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 9 | 2,844 | 26.7% | 11 | 6 | 3 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on Water Canyon WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists Water Canyon as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "Hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters for deer, elk, bear, turkey, and small game. Nongame hunting (including Himalayan tahr) is allowed January 1-March 31 annually." 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 Water Canyon WMA closed?
Water Canyon Wildlife Area is open year-round except during established deer and elk hunts. (NMDOW fact sheet for Water Canyon). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on Water Canyon WMA?
No camping is allowed except licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. (NMDOW fact sheet for Water Canyon)
Which unit is Water Canyon WMA in?
All of Water Canyon WMA is in Unit 9, by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include Water Canyon WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names Water Canyon in DER-2-167 (deer, Sep 1-24), ELK-2-151 (elk, Sep 1-14), ELK-2-152 (elk, Sep 15-24), DER-3-169 (deer, Sep 27-Oct 3), ELK-3-153 (elk, Oct 10-14), ELK-3-154 (elk, Oct 17-21), ELK-3-155 (elk, Oct 24-28) and ELK-3-156 (elk, Oct 31-Nov 4) and 3 more. Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).