Unit 13 Unit 13
A vast, 60%-private unit spanning malpais flats, island mountain ranges and the wide grass sea of the San Agustin plains
Plains of San Agustin & Datil-Bear Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
4,462
sq mi
Public land
40%
approx.
Elevation
4,700–9,500
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 13 is one of New Mexico's largest units, stretching from I-40 near Grants south to Socorro and west to Datil across Cibola, Catron and Socorro counties. It is a country of contrasts: flat high desert and jagged malpais in the north, the timbered island ranges of the Datil, Bear, Gallinas and Ladron mountains, and the enormous open grassland of the Plains of San Agustin at its heart. Elk concentrate in the southern mountain country while deer and antelope are scattered throughout, but 60% of the unit is private ranch land, making land status the defining challenge of any hunt here.
Terrain
High desert basins and volcanic malpais in the north give way to forested island mountain ranges and the broad, treeless Plains of San Agustin, rising to timbered peaks near 9,500 feet.
Cover: Grassland and sagebrush across the plains and basins, pinyon-juniper on the mesa breaks, and ponderosa pine with mixed conifer and oak brush on the higher slopes of the Datil, Bear, Gallinas and Ladron ranges.
Landmarks: Plains of San Agustin · Very Large Array radio observatory · Datil Mountains · Bear Mountains · Gallinas Mountains · Ladron Peak · Datil and Magdalena
Access
The unit is roughly 60% private and 40% public. National forest ground is limited to the Datil/Bear/Magdalena ranges under the Cibola NF, wrapped by large BLM tracts and vast private cattle ranches — especially across the Plains of San Agustin, where much of the antelope and elk range is deeded and hunted through E-PLUS landowner tags. Public hunters should target the Cibola NF island ranges and contiguous BLM; confirm boundaries carefully, as private and public interlock without fences.
Managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), BLM, USFS Cibola NF (Magdalena RD), NM State Trust
Access points: US 60 corridor through Datil and Magdalena · Cibola NF roads into the Datil and Bear Mountains · BLM roads off NM 12 and NM 52 south and west of Datil · Forest access on the north end of the Magdalena Ranger District
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityElk are most abundant in the southern half of the unit, using the timbered Datil, Bear and Magdalena-district ranges and adjacent ranch country. A large share of elk range is private, so E-PLUS access or careful public-ground scouting is key.
- →Focus the timbered southern ranges — Datil and Bear Mountains — where elk hold in ponderosa and mixed conifer
- →Glass the timber-grass edges at dawn and dusk as elk move off ranch land onto public
- →Hunt canyon heads and springs in the heat of early seasons
- →Locate water and wallows on the drier BLM fringes
Mule Deer
common opportunityMule deer are scattered across the whole unit, from pinyon mesa breaks to the mountain oak brush, with modest success rates typical of big, dry country. Bucks come to patient hunters who cover ground.
- →Glass mesa rims, malpais edges and pinyon-juniper breaks at first light
- →Work oak-brush pockets and canyon heads in the island ranges
- →Hunt near reliable water in the drier northern basins
- →Be mobile — deer densities are low across a huge unit
Pronghorn
common qualityPronghorn roam the Plains of San Agustin and the open grass basins, with strong buck-success rates for the few tags drawn — but much of the best antelope grassland is private ranch land under E-PLUS.
- →Glass the open plains from vehicle-height terrain rolls and spot-and-stalk mature bucks
- →Use the few folds and swales to close distance in flat country
- →Watch stock tanks and windmills where pronghorn water
- →Verify land status constantly — antelope cross private lines freely on the plains
Pro tips
- →Land status is everything in a 60%-private unit — run a current ownership layer and plan legal access before you go.
- →Public elk hunters should key on the Cibola NF Datil, Bear and Magdalena-district timber and the BLM around it.
- →For the Plains of San Agustin antelope, an E-PLUS ranch tag is often the realistic path to the best ground.
- →Water sources concentrate game in early seasons — map tanks and springs.
- →The unit is enormous; pick a drainage or range and hunt it well rather than trying to cover it all.
Watch out for
- !~60% private land — much elk and antelope range is deeded/E-PLUS, not open public
- !Public and private interlock without fences across the plains — easy to trespass
- !Long distances, unreliable water, and limited services
- !Slick clay and malpais roads after storms; exposed, windy plains with no cell coverage
Logistics
Magdalena and Datil offer fuel and limited supplies; Socorro to the southeast and Grants to the north are the nearest full-service towns for groceries, gear and lodging. Distances are long and public water is unreliable, so carry fuel and water. Cell service exists near US 60 and the towns but disappears across the plains and back in the ranges.
Nearest towns: Magdalena, Datil, Socorro, Grants, Quemado
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 · GOHUNT New Mexico Unit 13 Profile · NM Big Game Hunting — Cibola National Forest Elk Hunts (Unit 13)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 13 in New Mexico?
- Unit 13 (Unit 13) covers about 4,462 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,700 to 9,500 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 13?
- Approximately 40% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), BLM, USFS Cibola NF (Magdalena RD), NM State Trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 13?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official New Mexico agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 13 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.