Unit 50 Unit 50
A long, low, mostly public unit — marginal elk, tough deer, patient hunting
North-central NM — Tusas Mountains and pinyon-juniper country west of the Rio Grande · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
924
sq mi
Public land
68%
approx.
Elevation
5,900–9,400
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 50 is a long, narrow unit running from near Española north toward the Colorado line, west of the Rio Grande Gorge through the Tusas Mountains and rolling pinyon-juniper mesas around Tres Piedras. It is largely public — about 68% BLM, State Trust, and Carson National Forest — but private and tribal parcels break up access in places. Elk are here but at low density on what is mostly winter range, making it a marginal but honest elk unit; mule deer densities are also modest. Success rewards patience, glassing, and knowing the country.
Terrain
Rolling sage and grass lowlands rising through pinyon-juniper mesas and arroyos into ponderosa and oak-brush ridges of the Tusas Mountains; long east-west spread west of the gorge.
Cover: Roughly 72% shrub/scrub and sage with 16% grassland; pinyon and juniper line the arroyos and mesa edges, giving way to a ponderosa pine and oak-brush mix on the higher ground.
Landmarks: Tres Piedras · Tusas Mountains · Pot Mountain · Cerro Montoso · Rio Grande del Norte (east edge) · Ojo Caliente country
Access
About 68% public across BLM, State Trust, and Carson NF, but private ranches and tribal (Pueblo) land limit and restrict access in parts of the unit. US-285 and US-64 provide public road access around Tres Piedras, Pot Mountain, and Cerro Montoso. State Trust parcels require a recreational access permit, and E-PLUS elk tags cover much of the private ground.
Managers: BLM, USFS Carson NF, NM State Trust, private ranch (E-PLUS), Tribal (Pueblo)
Access points: US-285 north-south through Tres Piedras · US-64 from Taos to Tres Piedras · Carson NF and BLM roads to Pot Mountain and Cerro Montoso · County roads out of Ojo Caliente
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common opportunityA dispersed, mostly winter-range elk herd at low density — a marginal but real elk unit where a fit, prepared hunter can still take a 270–300 inch bull with homework.
- →Glass timbered mesa benches and Tusas ridges at first and last light
- →Watch known crossings near US-285 south of Tres Piedras where elk move between units
- →Locate scattered water and resident groups, then hunt away from the road corridors
Mule Deer
limited opportunityModest mule deer densities through the pinyon-juniper mesas and sage breaks; success takes patience, glassing, and covering ground.
- →Glass sage and pinyon-juniper edges at dawn from high points
- →Still-hunt arroyo pockets and mesa rims
- →Be ready for longer shots in the open country and cover a lot of terrain
Pro tips
- →Set realistic expectations — this is honest, low-density hunting that rewards patience over luck
- →Focus elk effort on the higher Tusas timber and mesa benches, not the open sage flats
- →Watch the US-285 corridor south of Tres Piedras where elk cross between units
- →Run a GPS land layer — public and private are interwoven and tribal ground is closed
- →Pull a State Trust recreational access permit before hunting those parcels
Watch out for
- !Private ranches and Pueblo tribal land restrict access in parts of the unit
- !Low game densities and modest success — plan for a working hunt
- !E-PLUS elk tags cover much of the private ground; it is not open access
- !Water is scarce across the sage and pinyon-juniper — carry your own
- !Dirt roads turn slick and impassable when wet; long distances between services
Logistics
Tres Piedras offers minimal services; base out of Española, Ojo Caliente, or Taos for fuel, lodging, and groceries. US-285 and US-64 are good paved corridors, but interior access runs on dirt BLM and forest roads that turn greasy when wet. Distances are long across this stretched-out unit; carry water, fuel, and a land-ownership map.
Nearest towns: Tres Piedras, Ojo Caliente, Española
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 50 Profile · Hunters Domain — NM Unit 50 Hunting Info
FAQ
- How big is Unit 50 in New Mexico?
- Unit 50 (Unit 50) covers about 924 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,900 to 9,400 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 50?
- Approximately 68% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: BLM, USFS Carson NF, NM State Trust, private ranch (E-PLUS), Tribal (Pueblo). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 50?
- 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 50 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.