Unit 16E Unit 16E
A sleeper of open plains and low ranges where monster bulls roam but access is the real hunt.
San Augustin Plains — grassland & scattered ranges · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
962
sq mi
Public land
60%
approx.
Elevation
6,800–9,400
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 16E is dominated by the vast, high San Augustin Plains — mostly flat grassland and prairie with rolling cedar-covered hills and thick brushy canyons, rising into mountains only in the south. The southern edge holds the federally managed Pelona Mountains along the Continental Divide, while the southeast holds the largely State Trust Luera Mountains; a good share of the north is roadless BLM. It has a reputation as a sleeper unit — in wet years some rank it among New Mexico's best for trophy-sized bulls — but very limited access and scattered public land make it a tough draw and a tough hunt.
Terrain
Largely flat, open grassland plains with rolling cedar-covered hills and thick brushy canyons, rising into the Pelona and Luera Mountains in the south and southeast.
Cover: Grassland and prairie dominate, with pinon-juniper (cedar) hills and thicker cover in canyons; ponderosa and mixed conifer appear only on the higher southern ranges.
Landmarks: San Augustin Plains · Pelona Mountains · Luera Mountains · Continental Divide · Continental Divide Wilderness Study Area
Access
Access is the defining challenge. Large private ranches blanket much of the plains, and the Luera Mountains are mostly State Trust (permit required for recreational access). Public land is a mix of roadless BLM in the north and federal ground in the southern Pelona Mountains, but few roads reach it. Some tags here are landowner (E-PLUS) permits. No significant tribal land in this unit.
Managers: BLM, NM State Trust, USFS, private ranch (E-PLUS)
Access points: NM 12 / US 60 corridor · NM 52 · NM 59 · Coyote Canyon Road · Horse Springs area
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyThe marquee species and the only one with harvest data (5-yr ~30% success, ~232 taken). Elk concentrate in the timbered southern mountains rather than the open plains, and the unit can grow genuine giants in wet years — but access is very limited.
- →Head to the southern Pelona and Luera Mountains where elk hold, not the open flats
- →Use Coyote Canyon Road and NM 52/59 to reach the Continental Divide WSA and BLM ground
- →Glass the timbered pockets and canyon heads bordering the grassland
- →In wet years work the greened-up edges; in dry years hunt water hard
Pronghorn
common qualityThe wide-open San Augustin Plains are classic pronghorn country, though much of the best ground lies behind private ranch boundaries.
- →Glass the open grassland plains and cedar-hill edges at long range
- →Identify accessible public parcels before the hunt — private ranches dominate the flats
- →Watch water sources and fence lines in dry stretches
Mule Deer
limited opportunityMule deer inhabit the cedar hills, canyons, and southern ranges at low density as a secondary opportunity.
- →Work the brushy canyons and cedar breaks rather than the open plains
- →Glass rims and rolling hills from high points
Pro tips
- →Elk live in the southern mountains, not the plains — plan your hunt around the Pelona and Luera ranges
- →Map public vs. private before you go; private ranches lock up much of the plains and State Trust needs a permit
- →This is a wet-year unit — trophy potential spikes after a strong monsoon
- →Save the open flats for pronghorn glassing, not elk
- →Roadless BLM in the north rewards those willing to walk in away from pressure
Watch out for
- !Very limited access — large private plains ranches and State Trust Luera Mountains restrict where you can legally hunt; some tags are E-PLUS landowner permits
- !State Trust land requires a recreational access permit
- !Water is scarce across the plains, especially in dry years
- !Long distances between services and little to no cell coverage
- !Wildfire risk in dry years
Logistics
This is remote, sparsely populated ranch country; Datil and Magdalena along US 60 are the nearest services, with Reserve to the southwest. Public parcels are scattered and roads are few, so scout access and mark boundaries in advance. Carry water, recovery gear, and extra fuel; cell coverage is poor to none.
Nearest towns: Datil, Reserve, Quemado, Magdalena, Horse Springs
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 16E Profile · Hunters Domain — NM Unit 16E Hunting Information · BLM New Mexico
FAQ
- How big is Unit 16E in New Mexico?
- Unit 16E (Unit 16E) covers about 962 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,800 to 9,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 16E?
- Approximately 60% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, NM State Trust, USFS, private ranch (E-PLUS). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 16E?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Pronghorn, 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 16E on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.