Unit 49 Unit 49
Steep, heavily public Sangre de Cristo timber with quality elk and mule deer
North-central NM — Carson National Forest high country south of Taos · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
426
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
7,500–11,900
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 49 lies just south of Taos Pueblo, bounded on the west by the Rio Grande Gorge and made up mostly of steep, forested Carson National Forest mountains. This is a genuine DIY unit — roughly 80% public — with a strong mix of mule deer and elk. Elk run 260–300 inches with 320-plus potential in the high timber, and deer hunting is solid through the mid-elevation forest and breaks. The country is rugged and vertical, rewarding hunters who climb away from the roads.
Terrain
Steep, forested Sangre de Cristo mountains rising from the Rio Grande Gorge, cut by drainages and topping out on high alpine ridges near 12,000 feet.
Cover: About 76% evergreen forest — ponderosa, mixed conifer, and spruce-fir up high — with 9% shrub, 7% grassland, aspen pockets, and sage and pinyon-juniper on the lower gorge edges.
Landmarks: Rio Grande Gorge (west boundary) · Taos Junction Bridge (NM 567/570) · Picuris Mountains · Carson NF / Camino Real Ranger District · Peñasco valley
Access
Around 80% public — roughly 190,000 acres of Carson NF plus BLM along the gorge — giving excellent DIY access. Private inholdings (about 20%) and Picuris Pueblo tribal land are woven through the lower valleys; tribal ground is closed to general NMDGF hunting. Forest roads and the Camino Real district open up most of the high country, with BLM access along the Rio Grande.
Managers: USFS Carson NF, BLM, private ranch (E-PLUS), NM State Trust, Tribal (Picuris / Taos Pueblo)
Access points: Carson NF forest roads off NM-518 and NM-75 · Peñasco and the Camino Real district · BLM river access at Taos Junction Bridge (NM-567/570) · US Hill / high-country trailheads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityQuality elk in the Carson NF high country — mature bulls in the 260–300 inch range with 320-plus potential, spread through steep timber and high meadows.
- →Hunt high-timber benches and spruce-fir edges at first and last light
- →Work aspen pockets and wallows during the rut
- →Climb well away from forest roads to reach undisturbed bulls
Mule Deer
common qualitySolid mule deer through the mid-elevation forest, oak brush, and drainages, with good bucks available for hunters willing to work the steep country.
- →Glass timber-edge parks and oak brush slopes at dawn
- →Still-hunt drainages and north-slope conifer during warm spells
- →Check the transition between forest and the lower gorge breaks
Pro tips
- →Lean on the ~80% public land — this is one of the better DIY elk-and-deer units in north-central NM
- →Gain elevation and get off the road system; the best animals hold in undisturbed timber
- →Use BLM gorge access on the west for a different, lower-country option
- →Know exactly where Picuris Pueblo and private inholdings sit before you hunt
- →Prepare for steep, vertical days — fitness is the real limiting factor here
Watch out for
- !Picuris and Taos Pueblo tribal land is closed to general NMDGF hunting — don't trespass
- !Roughly 20% private inholdings, some tied to E-PLUS elk tags
- !Steep, rugged terrain and fast-changing high-country weather
- !Forest roads get slick and washed out after storms
- !NM State Trust parcels require a recreational access permit
Logistics
Taos is the full-service hub for fuel, lodging, and groceries, with Peñasco serving the south end. Forest roads reach much of the high country but can be rough and steep; carry recovery gear and expect long, vertical hikes. Weather changes fast at elevation and cell coverage drops in the drainages.
Nearest towns: Taos, Peñasco, Ranchos de Taos
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official New Mexico sources:
Research sources: NMDGF Big Game Unit Maps · GOHUNT — New Mexico Unit 49 Profile · Hunters Domain — NM Unit 49 Hunting Info
FAQ
- How big is Unit 49 in New Mexico?
- Unit 49 (Unit 49) covers about 426 square miles, ranging from roughly 7,500 to 11,900 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 49?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Carson NF, BLM, private ranch (E-PLUS), NM State Trust, Tribal (Picuris / Taos Pueblo). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 49?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, 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 49 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.