Hunters in New Mexico's Unit 23 have shared valuable insights on the diverse terrain, ranging from wooded zones and sagebrush flats to agricultural borders. To maximize visibility in the sagebrush, it's recommended to find high vantage points for effective glassing, particularly at first light. Campsites are plenty, though some hunters opt for vehicle accommodation to stay flexible. There's ongoing discussion around the guided and non-resident draws, particularly involving discrepancies in draw data, highlighting the need for hunters to verify with trusted sources. Additionally, those venturing into more remote areas like the Blue Range Wilderness may benefit from contacting local biologists to assess effort-to-reward potential. For Coues deer, outfitters like Gila DNA and Bobby Holder are popular recommendations. Non-hunting inquiries, such as for javelina presence, reveal a collaborative community willing to help, while also emphasizing the importance of cross-referencing any online data.
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 160"+ |
| Coues Deer | 80"-90" | 100"+ |
| Elk | 280"-320" | 330"+ |
| Antelope | 65"-75" | 75"+ |
| Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep | 160"-170" | 170"+ |
High
Low
Bordering Arizona, this unit is known for the Blue Range Wilderness and the Burro Mountain hunting area, which the state has long labeled and managed as a quality deer hunting site. Coues deer, desert mule deer, pronghorn antelope, javelina and elk are hunted in Unit 23.
Deer tags in the Burro Mountain hunting area are hard to draw because hunters take many big Coues deer. Some bigger elk have come from the Blue Range area. Heavy hunting pressure on public land.
Public lands are vast, ranging from 4,250 above sea level in the desert near Lordsburg to 8,827 feet on Whiterocks Mountain. Other prominent peaks include 8,340-foot Saddle Mountain and 7,620-foot Brushy Mountain. Blue Range Wilderness covers 29,305 acres where few hunters go. South of Silver City the Big Burro Mountains in the Gila National Forest.
Highway 180 runs the length of the eastern edge from the Arizona border near Luna to Deming to the south. From Deming the unit boundary follows Interstate 10 to Lordsburg and then runs northwest on Highway 70 to the Arizona line. Dirt roads provide access to many hunting areas in the Gila National Forest and to some places on BLM and state land, but some BLM and state land is landlocked by private property. Highway 90 provides paved access points to the Big Burro area and Highway 78 near Mule Creek provides access to the middle part of the unit. The upper part is reached by dirt roads that branch from Highway 180.
Low elevations are mainly rolling desert grasslands with isolated mountains in the south. Dominant plants include soap-tree yuccas, four-wing saltbush and rabbit brush, alligator juniper trees and sacaton grass and grama grasses. Middle elevations—Mostly mountain mahoganies and scrub oaks mixed with alligator and one-seed juniper trees. Pinyon pines and manzanita bushes grow on most slopes. High elevations—On most mountains in the San Francisco Range grow ponderosa pines and Gambel oaks, while Douglas firs and aspens grow on high north-facing slopes.
Most hunters camp along gravel roads on public land. Some hunters stay in RV parks or seek lodging in Glenwood or Silver City.
Roughly 2,928 square miles
63.2% public land
Elevations range from 4,500 - 8,800 feet
Campgrounds at Luna, Pueblo Park and Glenwood
Motels at Silver City, Glenwood, Rancho Grande and Deming
RV parks in Silver City, White Signal and Alma
No camping or parking within 300 yards of water tanks or ponds
Four-wheel-drive vehicles and ATVs are recommended