W.S. Huey Wildlife Management Area: hunting and access
W.S. Huey Wildlife Management Area is 3,462 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 33, 2 miles from Morningside, measured from NMDOW's Commission land map. NMDOW lists it as open to hunting, and 2 of its 2026-27 hunt codes name it (all held only on the WMA). NMDOW's fact sheet: "Small game hunting and limited draw deer, draw turkey, and draw pheasant hunts."
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 landW.S. Huey WMAUnit lineLake or riverHighway
| Size | 3,462 acres (NMDOW map); NMDOW's fact sheet says 2,880 |
|---|---|
| Quadrant | Southeast New Mexico |
| Unit | Unit 33 |
| Open to | hunting, fishing and GAIN activities |
| Camping | Not allowed. |
| Motor vehicles | Not allowed beyond parking area. |
| Hunt codes that name it, 2026-27 | 2 (2 held only on the WMA) |
| Nearest towns | Morningside (2 mi), Artesia (4 mi) and Atoka (6 mi) |
What is W.S. Huey WMA like?
The William S. Huey Wildlife Area covers land on both sides of the Pecos River in southern New Mexico. This area contains flat farm lend, grazing land and a river bosque. William S. Huey Wildlife Area was dedicated in 1986 to mitigate habitat loss caused by Brantley Dam.
From NMDOW fact sheet for W.S. Huey.
What are the rules on W.S. Huey WMA?
Closures: Activities allowed only in designated areas. See specific restrictions posted at the William S. Huey Wildlife Area. Camping: Not allowed. 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 W.S. Huey WMA?
NMDOW's fact sheet: Small game hunting and limited draw deer, draw turkey, and draw pheasant hunts. 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-3-317 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs, Huey WMA only | muzzleloader | Nov 21-29 | Any male or female of a big-game species | 5 | 2025-26: 20% success, 1 taken |
| DER-3-318 | Deer | Unit 33, including Prairie Chicken WMAs, Huey WMA only | muzzleloader | Dec 26-Jan 1 | Antlerless deer | 5 | 2025-26: 0 taken |
Hunts: NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 63. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
How do you get to W.S. Huey WMA?
The William S. Huey Wildlife Area is located on the Pecos River between Artesia and Carlsbad.
Highways within 8 miles: US 285, US 82, NM 229, NM 2 and NM 438. Nearest towns: Morningside (2 miles), Artesia (4 miles), Atoka (6 miles) and Lake Arthur (6 miles). Within 3 miles of the WMA, FilledTag measured 15,221 acres of other public land, most of it BLM.
Which unit is W.S. Huey WMA in?
All of it is in Unit 33. 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 33 | 3,462 | 57.9% | 7 | 6 |
Questions hunters ask
Can you hunt on W.S. Huey WMA?
Yes. NMDOW's Commission lands page lists W.S. Huey as open to hunting. Its fact sheet says: "Small game hunting and limited draw deer, draw turkey, and draw pheasant hunts." 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.S. Huey WMA closed?
Activities allowed only in designated areas. See specific restrictions posted at the William S. Huey Wildlife Area. (NMDOW fact sheet for W.S. Huey). Rules posted on site also apply.
Can you camp on W.S. Huey WMA?
Not allowed. (NMDOW fact sheet for W.S. Huey)
Which unit is W.S. Huey WMA in?
All of W.S. Huey WMA is in Unit 33, by NMDOW's unit and Commission land maps.
Which hunt codes include W.S. Huey WMA?
NMDOW's 2026-27 booklet names W.S. Huey in DER-3-317 (deer, Nov 21-29) and DER-3-318 (deer, Dec 26-Jan 1). Hunts held only on a WMA are for New Mexico residents (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 49).