Unit 16A Unit 16A
A compact, trophy-bull Gila unit that has grown monster elk for decades
Gila high country — Reserve / northern Gila Wilderness edge · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
646
sq mi
Public land
90%
approx.
Elevation
7,000–9,000
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 16A covers roughly 646 square miles of the Gila National Forest in Catron County, wrapping the northern and western edge of the Gila Wilderness above Reserve and Glenwood. It is a smaller, rugged unit of canyons, grassy parks and natural burn areas timbered in pinyon, juniper and ponderosa, and it has a long reputation for producing monster bulls. Elk are the clear headline — this is one of the Gila's premier trophy units — with black bear and a modest mule deer presence sharing the country. Access is predominantly public national forest, though private valley bottoms along the US 180 and NM 12 corridors participate in New Mexico's E-PLUS landowner-tag system.
Terrain
Rugged mid-elevation canyon country broken by grassy parks and old burn scars, rising from valley corridors into forested ridges on the Gila Wilderness rim.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper on lower slopes grading into ponderosa pine, with grassland parks, oak brush and regenerating burn areas.
Landmarks: Gila National Forest · Gila Wilderness boundary · Negrito Creek · Collins Park · Bursum Road (NM 159) corridor · US 180 / NM 12 junction near Reserve
Access
Overwhelmingly public Gila National Forest, hunted off forest roads and the Bursum Road/NM 159 and NM 12 corridors. Private ranches occupy the valley bottoms around Reserve and along US 180, and some elk tags here are landowner-allocated through E-PLUS on private ground — confirm public status before hunting. The unit borders the Gila Wilderness on its south/east, where travel is foot and horseback only. No tribal land in the unit.
Managers: USFS Gila NF, private ranch (E-PLUS), BLM
Access points: US 180 and NM 12 from Reserve · Bursum Road / NM 159 (USFS Rd 28) · USFS Road 94 to Collins Park · Negrito Creek forest roads · Glenwood-area access to the SW
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant trophyThe marquee species and the reason to draw this unit — a Gila trophy factory that has produced monster bulls for decades from its canyon-and-park mosaic.
- →Glass grassy parks and burn edges at first and last light
- →Hunt the timbered canyon heads and north slopes where mature bulls bed
- →Locate and work wallows and water in the dry September rut
- →Push toward the quieter Gila Wilderness boundary to escape road pressure
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common through the forested canyons and oak-brush drainages of this Gila unit.
- →Glass oak-brush and berry-bearing slopes in early fall
- →Watch canyon bottoms and drainages at dawn and dusk
- →Check acorn-heavy Gambel oak pockets when mast is on
Mule Deer
limited opportunityA modest mule deer presence across the pinyon-juniper slopes and canyon breaks — a secondary opportunity behind the elk.
- →Work pinyon-juniper transition zones and mesa rims at dawn
- →Glass oak-brush pockets and canyon benches
- →Hunt broken country between parks and timber
Pro tips
- →Water is king in September — inventory wallows, seeps and tanks before the rut
- →Burn scars and grassy parks are your best glassing terrain for mature bulls
- →Hunt toward the Gila Wilderness boundary to leave road-hunter pressure behind
- →Confirm public vs. private E-PLUS ground in the valley bottoms before setting up
- →This is a compact unit — spend scouting time learning a few key drainages rather than roaming
Watch out for
- !Private ranch bottoms and E-PLUS landowner tags mean not all elk ground or tags are public
- !The Gila Wilderness edge is foot/horseback only — no vehicles or bikes past the boundary
- !Water is scarce in dry years; carry your own
- !Fire restrictions and forest-road closures frequently hit the Gila in drought
- !Rough, remote forest roads with no cell coverage — come prepared and self-reliant
Logistics
Reserve is the closest hub with fuel, limited lodging and basic supplies; Glenwood and Alma to the south add minimal services on US 180. Plan for gravel forest-road access, self-sufficient camping on the Gila NF, and long drives to trailheads. Cell service is unreliable to absent off the highway corridors.
Nearest towns: Reserve, Glenwood, Alma, 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 16A Boundary Map · NM Big Game Hunting — Gila National Forest Elk Hunts (Units 15, 16A...) · Compass West Outfitters — NM Units 16A/16C/16D
FAQ
- How big is Unit 16A in New Mexico?
- Unit 16A (Unit 16A) covers about 646 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,000 to 9,000 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 16A?
- Approximately 90% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Gila NF, private ranch (E-PLUS), BLM. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 16A?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Black Bear, Mule Deer. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official New Mexico agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 16A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.