Unit 37 Unit 37
Rugged forest islands over private desert flats — big bulls and scattered bucks
Capitan & Jicarilla Mountains — Lincoln County · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
1,651
sq mi
Public land
35%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–10,100
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
Unit 37 spreads east and north of Ruidoso across Lincoln County, where forested ranges — the Capitan Mountains and Capitan Wilderness, the Jicarillas, and the Tucson Mountains — rise as islands out of private desert flatlands. More than half the unit is private, and the public core is Lincoln National Forest that is genuinely hard to hunt: rough, cliff-broken, and often walled off from below by private ground. It produces some of the largest bull elk and pronghorn in New Mexico, with lower-density but occasionally excellent mule deer.
Terrain
Isolated rugged mountains with sheer white cliffs and cross-country hiking, surrounded by broad private grassland and desert basins cut by arroyos.
Cover: Pinyon-juniper and ponderosa on the ranges climbing to mixed conifer near Capitan Peak; grama grassland, yucca, and shrub flats across the lowlands.
Landmarks: Capitan Peak · Capitan Mountain Wilderness · Jicarilla Mountains · Tucson Mountains · Fort Stanton
Access
More than half of Unit 37 is private, mostly the desert flats, held under the E-PLUS landowner system. The biggest public block is Lincoln NF taking in the Capitan Range and Jicarilla/Tucson Mountains, plus BLM and State Trust at lower elevations — but much of that low public ground is landlocked behind private and hard to reach on legal roads. Fort Stanton (BLM/State) offers additional public access. Public forest roads lead into the mountains, but the Capitan Wilderness and cliff country require hiking.
Managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), USFS Lincoln NF, BLM, NM State Trust
Access points: Fort Stanton area · Capitan Gap / FR 130 · Pierce Canyon · NM 246 (Capitan-Corona) · US 380 corridor
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common trophyLower harvest than neighboring 36 but real trophy potential — some of the biggest bulls in NM have come off these ranges. Elk hold in the mountains and forested foothills.
- →Hunt the timbered high country of the Capitans and Jicarillas
- →Glass parks and cliff-bench edges at light
- →Be prepared for steep cross-country hiking to reach undisturbed bulls
- →Work the rut in September on public forest away from private lines
Mule Deer
common qualityDeer are present but scattered at low density; road-hunters and glassers still take remarkably big bucks from the rough public ranges.
- →Glass rough cliff country and oak brush patiently
- →Focus mountain foothills and transition breaks
- →Cover ground — bucks are thinly spread
Pronghorn
common qualitySome of the largest pronghorn in the state occupy the grassland lowlands, though most of that habitat is private.
- →Glass open grama flats from vantage points
- →Target accessible State Trust and BLM grassland
- →Watch water and fence lines in early season heat
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear inhabit the forested Capitan and Jicarilla drainages.
- →Glass oak and mast slopes in early fall
- →Check canyon bottoms with water
- →Hunt north-facing timber
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions track deer through the isolated ranges.
- →Cut fresh snow on high roads
- →Focus deer concentration canyons
- →Watch rimrock travel routes
Pro tips
- →Verify legal public access before committing — much low-elevation BLM/State is landlocked behind private ranches
- →The rough Capitan and Jicarilla ranges hold the biggest bulls but demand cross-country hiking
- →For pronghorn, focus the limited accessible public grassland; most of the flats are private E-PLUS
- →Fort Stanton is an underrated public access point on the west side
- →Bring more water than you think — the flats and lower ranges are dry
Watch out for
- !Over half the unit is private under E-PLUS — a public tag is valid only on legally accessible public land
- !Landlocked BLM/State parcels behind private are common; confirm legal ingress
- !Steep, cliff-broken public terrain requires real hiking
- !Fire and drought closures possible on Lincoln NF
Logistics
Capitan and Carrizozo cover fuel, food, and lodging basics; Ruidoso to the south is the nearest full-service hub. US 380 and NM 246/48 frame the unit, with forest roads into the Capitan and Jicarilla ranges — expect walk-in access for the best spots.
Nearest towns: Capitan, Carrizozo, Ruidoso, Corona, Lincoln
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official New Mexico sources:
Research sources: GOHUNT New Mexico Unit 37 Profile · Hunters Domain NM Unit 37 Info · NMDGF Big Game Unit Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 37 in New Mexico?
- Unit 37 (Unit 37) covers about 1,651 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 10,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 37?
- Approximately 35% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), USFS Lincoln NF, BLM, NM State Trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 37?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Pronghorn, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official New Mexico agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 37 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.