Unit 38 Unit 38
Big open ranch country built for pronghorn, with mountain fringes for deer and elk
Corona plains & Gallinas Mountains — central NM pronghorn country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
3,265
sq mi
Public land
20%
approx.
Elevation
6,000–8,600
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 38 is a sprawling, mostly flat unit in the center of New Mexico around Corona, where broad grassland and arroyo-cut plains give way to the Gallinas Mountains and Cibola National Forest ground west of town. It is above all a pronghorn unit — the strong antelope success and harvest confirm a healthy herd on the open ranch country. Deer and a smaller elk contingent hold in and around the mountains. The unit is mostly private ranchland with scattered BLM, State Trust, and Forest Service ground, so access planning is essential.
Terrain
Mostly flat to gently rising grassland plains cut by arroyos, with the Gallinas Mountains and other steep timbered peaks rising in the Cibola NF west of Corona.
Cover: Shortgrass and grama prairie, cholla, yucca, and scattered pinyon-juniper on the flats; ponderosa and mixed conifer on the mountain slopes.
Landmarks: Gallinas Peak · Cibola National Forest (Gallinas) · Corona · US 54 corridor · Jicarilla Mountains fringe
Access
Most of Unit 38 is private ranchland held under the E-PLUS landowner system; pronghorn live on ranches that mix public and private ground. The public core is the Cibola NF block on the Gallinas Mountains plus scattered BLM and State Trust parcels. A public-land draw tag is valid only on legally accessible public land — many pronghorn hunts here are effectively landowner/private-land tags, so verify what any given tag allows.
Managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), BLM, NM State Trust, USFS Cibola NF
Access points: Gallinas Peak / Cibola NF roads west of Corona · US 54 and US 285 corridors · NM 42 · BLM two-tracks off county roads
Species notes
Pronghorn
abundant qualityThe signature species — high success on a healthy herd spread across the open grassland plains. Most animals live on the ranch country that blends public and private ground.
- →Glass long across the open flats from high points at first light
- →Watch water sources and windmills in early-season heat
- →Use terrain folds and arroyos to close the stalk
- →Confirm your tag's legal access before scouting a specific ranch
Mule Deer
common opportunityDeer are present but at modest density and lower success; they hold in the broken country and mountain fringes rather than the open plains.
- →Focus the Gallinas Mountains and brushy arroyo breaks
- →Glass pinyon-juniper edges at dawn
- →Hunt near reliable water
Rocky Mountain Elk
limited opportunityA smaller elk contingent uses the timbered mountains and foothills; harvest is modest but success is decent for those with access to the right ground.
- →Hunt the Cibola NF timber on the Gallinas Mountains
- →Glass parks and forest edges
- →Follow water and cover in the higher country
Cougar
limited opportunityMountain lions range the mountain fringes following deer.
- →Cut snow on high forest roads
- →Focus deer country in the Gallinas Mountains
- →Watch rimrock and canyon travel
Pro tips
- →Read your tag carefully — many Unit 38 hunts are landowner/private-land based, not general public access
- →For pronghorn, glass big and watch water in the early-season heat
- →The Gallinas Mountains Cibola NF block is the main reliable public ground for deer and elk
- →Use arroyos and terrain rolls to break the pronghorn's sightlines on a stalk
- →Carry ample water — the plains are dry and services are thin
Watch out for
- !Mostly private ranchland under E-PLUS — a public draw tag is valid only on legally accessible public land
- !Confirm whether a given pronghorn tag is public-land or landowner-based before scouting
- !Scarce water and long distances between services on the open plains
- !Fire and drought restrictions possible on Cibola NF ground
Logistics
Corona is a small town with limited services; Carrizozo, Vaughn, and Encino offer fuel and basics, with the nearest larger supply runs toward Roswell or Ruidoso. US 54, US 285, and county roads provide broad access, though most side roads cross private ranchland.
Nearest towns: Corona, Carrizozo, Vaughn, Encino, Ancho
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 38 Profile · NMDGF Pronghorn Private Lands Map · NMDGF Big Game Unit Maps
FAQ
- How big is Unit 38 in New Mexico?
- Unit 38 (Unit 38) covers about 3,265 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,000 to 8,600 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 38?
- Approximately 20% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), BLM, NM State Trust, USFS Cibola NF. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 38?
- Pronghorn, Mule Deer, Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 38 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.