Unit 2A Unit 2A
Legendary big-buck genetics in a checkerboard of tribal, private and BLM land
Northwest NM — San Juan Basin trophy mule deer country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
789
sq mi
Public land
45%
approx.
Elevation
5,050–7,215
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 2A occupies the northwestern corner of New Mexico's San Juan Basin — the portion of Unit 2 west of the Pine Arm of Navajo Reservoir and north of the San Juan River, bordering Colorado and the Southern Ute, Ute Mountain and Navajo lands. It is one of New Mexico's most storied trophy mule deer units: bucks in the 150–170-inch class are the norm and 180-plus is a real possibility. The catch is access — the basin is a checkerboard of BLM, State Trust, private ranch and tribal land laced with oil-and-gas roads, and the best hunting is widely reported to be on private ground.
Terrain
High-desert basin ranging from barren flats around 5,050–5,500 feet through low hills and mesas to isolated high points near 7,200 feet; irrigated river bottoms cut through the sage.
Cover: Sagebrush flats, piñon-juniper mesas and arroyo bottoms, with alfalfa and hay fields along the San Juan, Animas and Los Pinos rivers providing feed and water.
Landmarks: San Juan River · Animas River · Los Pinos (Pine) River · Navajo Reservoir · San Juan Basin oil & gas field
Access
Access is the hardest part of this unit. Public BLM and State Trust parcels are scattered and checkerboarded with private ranches and tribal land, and adjacent Navajo Nation, Southern Ute and Ute Mountain lands are closed to general NMDGF hunting — do not count them as open. The productive, low-pressure deer are largely on private ground, so many hunters pursue landowner (E-PLUS-style) or trespass-fee access. Verify ownership parcel-by-parcel; oil-and-gas lease roads cross private and public alike.
Managers: BLM, NM State Trust, private ranch, tribal (Navajo Nation / Southern Ute — closed to NMDGF hunting)
Access points: US-64 / US-550 corridors near Bloomfield and Aztec · county and BLM roads north of the San Juan River · Navajo Reservoir / Pine River area
Species notes
Mule Deer
common trophyThis is the reason to hunt Unit 2A. San Juan Basin genetics produce heavy, wide bucks — a 150–170-inch average with genuine 180-plus potential. Deer are scattered and hard to pattern, and the biggest bucks tend to hold on private ground, so success hinges as much on access as on hunting skill.
- →Glass sage flats, piñon-juniper edges and river-bottom feed at first and last light
- →Hunt near the irrigated Animas/San Juan/Los Pinos bottoms that pull deer in dry country
- →Secure private or landowner access ahead of the season for the best odds
- →Cover ground and glass hard — mature basin bucks are low-density and reclusive
Pro tips
- →Lock down access first — this unit lives and dies on where you can legally hunt
- →Use a parcel/ownership map to separate BLM and State Trust from private and tribal land
- →Watch the irrigated river bottoms and their edges for feeding bucks
- →Do not enter Navajo, Southern Ute or Ute Mountain land — it is closed to NMDGF hunting
Watch out for
- !Best hunting is largely on private land; DIY public access is limited and scattered
- !Adjacent tribal lands are closed — respect boundaries and signage
- !Checkerboard ownership with oil-and-gas leases makes it easy to stray onto private ground
- !State Trust access requires a valid NM hunting license
Logistics
Farmington, Bloomfield and Aztec offer full services, lodging and fuel, and the oil-and-gas road network makes most of the unit vehicle-accessible. The flip side of all that access is a maze of private/lease boundaries — carry a good ownership mapping layer and sort access before you hunt. High-desert nights are cold in the fall.
Nearest towns: Bloomfield, Aztec, Farmington, Navajo Dam
Nearby units
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 · BLM New Mexico Hunting Maps · GOHUNT New Mexico Unit 2A Profile
FAQ
- How big is Unit 2A in New Mexico?
- Unit 2A (Unit 2A) covers about 789 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,050 to 7,215 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 2A?
- Approximately 45% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, NM State Trust, private ranch, tribal (Navajo Nation / Southern Ute — closed to NMDGF hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 2A?
- 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 2A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.