Unit 1 Unit 1
A vast trophy-caliber elk and mule deer unit that is almost entirely Navajo Nation reservation — hunted under tribal permit, not a general NMDGF draw
Far northwest New Mexico — Navajo Nation / Chuska Mountains (tribal land) · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
3,923
sq mi
Public land
1%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–9,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
GMU 1 blankets the far northwest corner of New Mexico, a nearly 4,000-square-mile block of the eastern Navajo Reservation running from the San Juan Basin badlands up into the timbered Chuska Mountains along the Arizona line. On paper it is famous for producing genuinely large mule deer and elk, but the critical thing to understand is that essentially the entire unit (roughly 99%) is Navajo Nation tribal land — it is not open to standard New Mexico Game and Fish hunting. Hunting here is administered by the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife under separate tribal permits, seasons, and fees. Treat GMU 1 as tribal country first and a New Mexico unit second.
Terrain
A dramatic sweep from the eroded sage and badland flats of the San Juan Basin near 5,000 ft up to the forested spine of the Chuska Mountains, which crest near 9,000-9,500 ft. Broad mesas, sandstone rims, and pine-timbered highlands define the country.
Cover: Sage flats, greasewood, and grassland at lower elevations; extensive pinyon-juniper and Gambel oak on the mid-slopes and mesas; ponderosa pine, spruce-fir, and aspen pockets across the high Chuskas.
Landmarks: Chuska Mountains · Washington Pass / Narbona Pass · San Juan Basin · Chuska / Whiskey lakes · Shiprock (Tsé Bitʼaʼí) to the north · Defiance Plateau (Arizona line)
Access
This is the single most important point for GMU 1: it is almost entirely Navajo Nation reservation and is NOT huntable on a New Mexico Game and Fish license. Big-game hunting is controlled by the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife (nndfw.org), which issues its own tribal permits and sets its own seasons; non-tribal access is limited and must be arranged through the tribe. The San Juan Basin fringe has some checkerboarded BLM and state trust parcels, but they are fragmented and hard to reach without crossing tribal land. Do not assume any ground here is open public land — verify ownership and secure tribal authorization before hunting.
Managers: Navajo Nation (tribal — closed to general NMDGF hunting), scattered BLM checkerboard, NM State Trust (permit)
Access points: US-491 corridor (Shiprock–Newcomb–Sheep Springs–Tohatchi) · NM-134 over Narbona (Washington) Pass into the Chuskas · Navajo Route roads accessing Crystal, Sanostee, and Chuska Lake (tribal permission required) · Farmington / Shiprock as staging
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyThe eastern Navajo reservation and the Chuska Mountains have a long reputation for producing exceptional, mature mule deer bucks, a product of limited pressure and good high-country habitat. These are tribal-permit deer, not a New Mexico draw, but the trophy potential is real.
- →Glass the pinyon-juniper benches, oak brush pockets, and mesa rims at first and last light
- →Push higher into the ponderosa and aspen of the Chuskas as fall progresses and the rut approaches
- →Work the transition zones between the open sage basin and the timbered slopes
- →Arrange access and permits through the Navajo Nation well ahead of season
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe high Chuska Mountains hold a quality elk herd that produces good mature bulls under light, tribally managed pressure. As with the deer, this is a Navajo Nation permit hunt rather than a New Mexico E-PLUS or draw opportunity.
- →Hunt the timbered ridges, aspen stringers, and mountain meadows of the high Chuskas
- →Locate bulls by bugling in the pre-rut and rut in the pine and spruce-fir
- →Key on the high-country stock ponds and lakes (Chuska, Whiskey) for water in dry falls
- →Secure Navajo Nation authorization and a guide familiar with the reservation
Pronghorn
limited opportunityPronghorn scatter across the open sage and grassland flats of the San Juan Basin portion of the unit in modest numbers — a tribal-land spot-and-stalk opportunity across big, open country.
- →Glass the wide-open sage and grassland basins from high points
- →Use terrain folds and washes to close the distance in featureless country
- →Watch stock tanks and greener draws at dawn and dusk
Bighorn Sheep
limited qualityDesert bighorn are associated with the rugged canyon and cliff country of the reservation and are managed as a very limited tribal resource. Realistically a rare, hard-to-obtain Navajo Nation opportunity rather than a general hunt.
- →Glass the steep canyon rims, cliff bands, and broken escape terrain
- →Treat as a specialized, tribally permitted hunt requiring direct coordination with the Navajo Nation
Pro tips
- →Understand up front that GMU 1 is tribal land — plan the hunt through the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife (nndfw.org), not the New Mexico draw
- →The Chuska Mountains hold the elk and the best mule deer country — focus high for both
- →Book access and permits early; non-tribal opportunity is limited and fills through the tribe
- →Carry water and recovery gear; reservation dirt roads punish vehicles and go impassable when wet
- →Do not assume any parcel is open public land here — verify ownership before setting foot
Watch out for
- !Almost the entire unit is Navajo Nation reservation and is CLOSED to general New Mexico Game and Fish hunting — tribal permit required
- !Checkerboarded BLM/state trust parcels are fragmented and often unreachable without crossing tribal land
- !Unimproved reservation roads become impassable when wet; long distances between services
- !Limited cell coverage off the main highways
- !Trophy reputation draws attention, but access is the real constraint — arrange it well in advance
Logistics
Staging is easiest out of Farmington or Shiprock (fuel, lodging, supplies) on the north end, or Gallup on the south. Beyond the US-491 corridor and NM-134, roads become unimproved Navajo routes that turn greasy and impassable when wet, so a high-clearance 4WD, recovery gear, and extra water are smart. Cell service is spotty off the highways. Above all, arrange tribal permits and access through the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife before you go — this is not a unit you can freelance on a state license.
Nearest towns: Shiprock, Newcomb, Sheep Springs, Tohatchi, Crystal, Farmington, Window Rock, AZ
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official New Mexico sources:
Research sources: NMDGF — Game Management Unit maps and boundary PDFs · GOHUNT — New Mexico Unit 1 profile (eastern Navajo Reservation, ~0.1% public, trophy deer/elk) · Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife — big game hunt units
FAQ
- How big is Unit 1 in New Mexico?
- Unit 1 (Unit 1) covers about 3,923 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 1?
- Approximately 1% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: Navajo Nation (tribal — closed to general NMDGF hunting), scattered BLM checkerboard, NM State Trust (permit). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 1?
- Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, Bighorn Sheep. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official New Mexico agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 1 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.