Unit 16B Unit 16B
Nearly all wilderness — a backcountry, foot-and-horse unit that hides all-time record bulls
Gila high country — Gila & Aldo Leopold Wilderness · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
944
sq mi
Public land
99.5%
approx.
Elevation
5,000–10,895
feet
Motorized
wilderness
access
Overview
Unit 16B is roughly 944 square miles of almost entirely public land — about 99% national forest — most of it swallowed by the Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness areas at the heart of the Gila National Forest. This is deep, rugged backcountry: the eastern edge and southern half are steep and remote, softening to milder terrain elsewhere, and elevations sweep from around 5,000 feet to nearly 10,900 on the Black Range crest. It is a genuine trophy elk unit that has produced all-time Boone & Crockett bulls, with black bear common and a low-density, hard-to-find mule deer population. The catch is access: wilderness designation means foot and horseback only across most of the unit, so it rewards fit, self-reliant backcountry hunters.
Terrain
Vast wilderness terrain — rough, steep canyon and ridge country on the east and south, milder rolling forest elsewhere, topping out on the Black Range crest.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper and oak brush at lower elevations rising through ponderosa pine into mixed conifer, with grassy parks, meadows and old burn mosaics in the high country.
Landmarks: Gila Wilderness · Aldo Leopold Wilderness · Black Range crest · Gila National Forest · Mimbres River drainage · Continental Divide
Access
Almost entirely public Gila National Forest, the majority of it congressionally designated Gila and Aldo Leopold Wilderness where all mechanized and motorized travel is prohibited — access is on foot or horseback via forest trailheads. Vehicle access is limited to perimeter forest roads and the corridors around the wilderness. A small amount of private ranch bottom exists near the fringes and participates in E-PLUS. No tribal land in the unit.
Managers: USFS Gila NF, USFS wilderness (Gila & Aldo Leopold), private ranch (E-PLUS)
Access points: Perimeter Gila NF trailheads and forest roads · Mimbres/NM 35 corridor on the SE · Beaverhead and Wall Lake area to the north · Black Range trailheads off NM 152 to the south
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant trophyA true wilderness trophy unit — remote, lightly pressured country that has produced all-time Boone & Crockett bulls for hunters willing to go deep on foot or horseback.
- →Plan a backcountry foot/horse hunt and camp deep away from trailheads
- →Glass high meadows, parks and burn mosaics at first and last light
- →Work water, wallows and drainage heads during the September rut
- →Use the rugged east and south country to find undisturbed mature bulls
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bear are common throughout this heavily forested wilderness, from oak-brush canyons to mixed-conifer high country.
- →Glass oak-brush and berry slopes in early fall when mast is on
- →Watch canyon bottoms and meadow edges at dawn and dusk
- →Cover country from high vantage points and be ready for spot-and-stalk
Mule Deer
limited opportunityLow-density mule deer with limited trophy potential — mature bucks are scattered and genuinely hard to locate in this big wilderness.
- →Glass high-country parks and timber edges patiently
- →Hunt oak-brush benches and canyon rims
- →Cover ground on foot and expect to earn any buck you find
Pro tips
- →This is a wilderness hunt first and an elk hunt second — arrive fit, with a pack-in or horse plan
- →Water sources concentrate rutting elk in a dry September; scout them from maps and confirm on the ground
- →Get well past the trailheads; the deep east and south country holds the least-pressured bulls
- →Have a realistic meat-packout plan before you shoot — a downed bull miles from the trailhead is a major project
- →Carry navigation and know the wilderness boundary — no vehicles, e-bikes or game carts past it
Watch out for
- !Wilderness designation bans all motorized and mechanized travel across most of the unit — foot or horseback only
- !Deep, remote terrain with no cell service — self-rescue capability and navigation are essential
- !Meat spoilage and packout distance are real risks in warm early seasons
- !Fire closures and trail washouts frequently affect the Gila — check status before your hunt
- !The small private/E-PLUS fringes still require checking public status; don't assume every boundary is open forest
Logistics
Silver City to the south is the main full-service hub (fuel, lodging, groceries, outfitters); Mimbres, Winston and Chloride offer only minimal services near the eastern approaches. This is a pack-in unit — plan for horses or a serious backpack effort, long trailhead drives on forest roads, and total self-sufficiency. There is no cell coverage in the wilderness interior.
Nearest towns: Silver City, Mimbres, Winston, Chloride, Reserve
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 16B Boundary Map · GOHUNT New Mexico Unit 16B Profile · Hunters Domain — New Mexico Unit 16B Hunting Info
FAQ
- How big is Unit 16B in New Mexico?
- Unit 16B (Unit 16B) covers about 944 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,000 to 10,895 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 16B?
- Approximately 99.5% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Gila NF, USFS wilderness (Gila & Aldo Leopold), private ranch (E-PLUS). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 16B?
- 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 16B on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.