W.A. Humphries Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
W.A. Humphries Wildlife Management Area is 11,078 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 4, 7 miles from Lumberton, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 12 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name it (all held only on the WMA). NMDOW's fact sheet: "Hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters for 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.
State trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landW.A. Humphries WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 11,078 acres (NMDOW map) |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Northwest New Mexico |
| Unit | Unit 4 |
| Open to | hunting and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Primitive camping is allowed Memorial Day weekend-November 15 in designated areas only. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond the roadway and parking area. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 12 (12 held only on the WMA) |
| Nearest towns | Lumberton (7 mi), Chama (8 mi) and Brazos (10 mi) |
What is W.A. Humphries WMA like?
The Bill Humphries straddles the Continental Divide in northern New Mexico. It contains a mixture of pinon, juniper and mixed conifers as well as grasses and forbs. Purchases for the Bill Humphries Wildlife Area began in 1966 to provide wildlife habitat and public access to big game hunting.
From NMDOW fact sheet for W.A. Humphries.
What are the rules on W.A. Humphries WMA?
Closures: Bill Humphries Wildlife Area is closed November 16 until Memorial Day weekend except for established deer and elk hunts. Camping: Primitive camping is allowed Memorial Day weekend-November 15 in designated areas only. 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 W.A. Humphries WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: Hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters for 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 W.A. Humphries WMA?
Bill Humphries Wildlife Area is located about 10 miles west of Chama south of Highway 64/84.
Highways within 8 miles: US 64 and US 84. Nearest towns: Lumberton (7 miles), Chama (8 miles), Brazos (10 miles) and Los Ojos (10 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 621 acres of other public land, most of it state trust land.
Which unit is W.A. Humphries WMA in?
All of it is in Unit 4. 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 | 11,078 | 11.7% | 15 | 6 | 4 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on W.A. Humphries WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists W.A. Humphries as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "Hunting is allowed by licensed and permitted hunters for 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 W.A. Humphries WMA closed?
Bill Humphries Wildlife Area is closed November 16 until Memorial Day weekend except for established deer and elk hunts. (NMDOW fact sheet for W.A. Humphries). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on W.A. Humphries WMA?
Primitive camping is allowed Memorial Day weekend-November 15 in designated areas only. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. (NMDOW fact sheet for W.A. Humphries)
Which unit is W.A. Humphries WMA in?
All of W.A. Humphries WMA is in Unit 4, by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include W.A. Humphries WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names W.A. Humphries 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 4 more. Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).