At a Glance
East of Artesia, this mainly flat portion of land is home to The Caprock formation and has good numbers of mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Also called the Mescalero Escarpment or Mescalero Ridge, the Caprock formation separates flatlands from higher plains and sand hills to the east.
Mule deer here have been improving in quality in recent years. Antelope habitat is limited which can conentrate hunting pressure at times.. The area is mainly public land with large private holdings. Public land is evenly distributed between state trust land and BLM land.
Quick Tips
- Visit Mescalero Sand North Dune OHV Area
- Look for mollusc fossils at The Caprock
- Prairie chickens can be seen here
- Carry extra spare tires and a GPS unit
- Spotting scope on a tripod is helpful, especially from the tops of the dunes that offer a good vantage point

