Unit 27 Unit 27
New Mexico's southwestern corner: a Boone-and-Crockett sleeper for Coues whitetail and desert bighorn tucked between the Arizona and Mexico lines.
Far bootheel — Peloncillo & Animas Mountains · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,038
sq mi
Public land
68%
approx.
Elevation
4,000–6,928
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 27 is the far southwestern tip of New Mexico's bootheel, wedged against the Arizona border on the west and Mexico on the south. Despite its small size it is a quietly excellent unit: the Peloncillo Mountains, Guadalupe Canyon and the border-straddling Guadalupe range have produced both desert bighorn rams and Coues whitetail bucks big enough for the Boone and Crockett records. Coues and desert mule deer share the country, pronghorn use the valleys, and a limited bighorn tag adds a trophy dimension. Access is the catch — with two international/state borders and large closed private ranches (the Animas Valley is dominated by the vast Gray Ranch / Diamond A), hunters must work to reach the BLM, State Trust and Coronado National Forest ground that is open.
Terrain
Flat-to-rolling creosote desert floor from which rugged mountains rise abruptly; scrub-oak and juniper peaks and deep canyons crown the ranges, topped by Gray Mountain at 6,928 feet.
Cover: Creosote, cactus and agave on the flats, ocotillo, grama grass and cactus on the mountain slopes, and scrub oak with juniper along the peaks and in deep, shaded canyons.
Landmarks: Peloncillo Mountains · Guadalupe Canyon · Guadalupe Mountains (border) · Gray Mountain (6,928 ft) · Animas Valley · Coronado National Forest (Peloncillo Ranger District)
Access
About two-thirds public — BLM, NM State Trust, and Coronado National Forest ground in the Peloncillos — but access is genuinely difficult. Roughly a third is private, and the Animas Valley is dominated by the enormous Gray Ranch / Diamond A, which is largely closed to public hunting. Forest roads mostly skirt the mountain bases with a few reaching backcountry trailheads; there are some BLM walk-in areas. There is no tribal land in the unit. Verify boundaries carefully — the Arizona line, the Mexican border and private ranches all pinch the accessible country.
Managers: BLM, Coronado National Forest, NM State Trust, private ranch (E-PLUS)
Access points: NM-338 south from I-10 at Road Forks toward Animas · Coronado NF roads into the Peloncillo Mountains · Geronimo Trail / Guadalupe Canyon road (rough) · BLM walk-in areas along the ranges
Species notes
Whitetail Deer
common trophyThis is prime Coues whitetail country — the unit's strongest deer, with the highest success of the three bootheel units and a track record of Boone-and-Crockett-class bucks. Coues hold on the oak-and-juniper slopes and canyon heads of the Peloncillo and Guadalupe ranges.
- →Get high before first light and glass oak-brush hillsides and canyon heads with a tripod-mounted spotter
- →Pick apart shaded north slopes and bench edges — Coues are small and hard to spot
- →Hunt the rut window when bucks move and chase does
- →Set up on saddles and travel routes between bedding and feeding areas
- →Be patient and methodical — this is a glassing game, not a walking game
Mule Deer
common qualityDesert mule deer share the unit, using the lower bajadas, mesquite draws and canyon mouths below the Coues zone. A solid secondary opportunity for hunters glassing the desert front.
- →Glass bajadas, canyon mouths and mesquite draws at dawn and dusk
- →Hunt near reliable water and stock tanks in dry stretches
- →Work the transition zone below the oak line where mule deer overlap the Coues range
Bighorn Sheep
limited trophyDesert bighorn inhabit the rugged desert ranges and have produced record-class rams; the unit carries a very-limited, highly-coveted bighorn tag — a once-in-a-lifetime draw for most hunters.
- →Glass steep cliff faces and rocky rims from long distance
- →Locate rams first, then plan a careful stalk through broken rock
- →Scout extensively or lean on local knowledge — sheep key on specific escape terrain
Pronghorn
limited qualityPronghorn use the open Animas and border-valley grasslands in scattered numbers; a limited-draw resource largely on private and mixed grazing land.
- →Glass open valley grassland from vantage points and stalk on foot
- →Confirm land status carefully — much of the pronghorn ground sits on private ranches
Pro tips
- →This is a genuine Coues sleeper — invest in quality glass and hunt from high vantage points
- →Solve access first: map the Gray Ranch/Diamond A private and the AZ/Mexico borders before you go
- →Hunt Coues high in the oak and juniper; drop to the bajadas and canyon mouths for mule deer
- →Time your hunt to the Coues rut for the best chance at a mature buck
- →The Coronado NF roads mostly skirt the mountain bases — plan foot access into the high country
- →A bighorn tag here is a once-in-a-lifetime trophy prize — scout the ranges relentlessly if you draw
Watch out for
- !Access is the hard part — Arizona and Mexico borders plus the huge closed Gray Ranch/Diamond A private squeeze the open country
- !Roughly a third private, much of it E-PLUS-enrolled and not open to the public
- !Remote Mexican-border region with no services and no cell coverage — travel prepared and aware
- !Unmarked NM State Trust sections require proper access permission
- !Scarce water and long, rough roads — carry ample water and recovery gear
- !Monsoon flash flooding on canyon and desert roads
Logistics
Lordsburg on I-10 is the nearest town with fuel, lodging, groceries and basic services; Animas and Rodeo are tiny, and Douglas, Arizona is an alternate resupply on the west side. This is deep, remote border country — fuel up, carry water and vehicle recovery gear, and expect long, rough dirt-road drives with no cell coverage to reach trailheads.
Nearest towns: Lordsburg, Animas, Rodeo, Douglas (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 · GOHUNT — New Mexico Unit 27 profile · NMDGF Unit 27 boundary description (PDF)
FAQ
- How big is Unit 27 in New Mexico?
- Unit 27 (Unit 27) covers about 1,038 square miles, ranging from roughly 4,000 to 6,928 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 27?
- Approximately 68% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, Coronado National Forest, NM State Trust, private ranch (E-PLUS). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 27?
- Whitetail Deer, Mule Deer, Bighorn Sheep, 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 27 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.