Unit 52 Unit 52
A big, 92%-public Carson Forest unit of high prairie and aspen with a strong elk herd
Colorado border high country — San Antonio Mountain & Cruces Basin Wilderness · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
422
sq mi
Public land
92%
approx.
Elevation
8,100–9,100
feet
Motorized
extensive
access
Overview
Unit 52 covers roughly 422 square miles of the Carson National Forest along the Colorado state line, built around towering San Antonio Mountain and the Cruces Basin Wilderness, east of the highway between Colorado and Tres Piedras and north of US 64. It is a high, open unit of grassy prairie, creek drainages and aspen-choked hillsides that carries a sizable, popular elk herd along with a healthy mule deer population. Access is excellent — about 92% public national forest with a good road network — though large private tracts sit south and southwest of San Antonio Mountain and some ground participates in New Mexico's E-PLUS landowner-tag system.
Terrain
High rolling prairie and grassland basins between 8,100 and 9,100 feet, cut by creeks and rivers, with the volcanic dome of San Antonio Mountain and aspen-timbered hills rising above.
Cover: Grasses and low brush across the high prairie, pinyon-juniper and ponderosa on the low hills, and aspen with spruce-fir-pine conifer at the highest elevations; creeks lined with cottonwood and willow.
Landmarks: San Antonio Mountain · Cruces Basin Wilderness · Carson National Forest · Los Pinos River / Los Pinos State Wildlife Area · US 285 corridor · Colorado state line
Access
Overwhelmingly public Carson National Forest with a good network of maintained and unmaintained roads, giving excellent access. Large private tracts lie south and southwest of San Antonio Mountain, and some ground carries E-PLUS landowner elk tags — otherwise private parcels are mostly small strips along creeks and open roads. The Cruces Basin Wilderness is closed to vehicles (foot/horseback only). Jicarilla Apache reservation land lies to the west/southwest and is closed to general NMDGF hunting.
Managers: USFS Carson NF, BLM, private ranch (E-PLUS), NM State Trust
Access points: US 285 north from Tres Piedras toward the Colorado line · US 64 along the southern boundary · Forest roads to San Antonio Mountain and the Cruces Basin trailheads · Los Pinos State Wildlife Area access
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe headline species — a sizable elk herd across the high prairie and aspen country, very popular with archery hunters and a strong public-land opportunity.
- →Glass the open prairie basins and aspen edges at first and last light
- →Hunt aspen-choked hillsides and conifer pockets where bulls bed and rut
- →Hike into the roadless Cruces Basin Wilderness for less-pressured bulls
- →Work water and creek drainages in the dry early archery season
Mule Deer
common qualityA healthy mule deer population shares the pinyon-juniper hills and aspen country, offering a solid secondary opportunity with good bucks taken annually.
- →Glass pinyon-juniper and sage transitions at dawn
- →Work aspen-conifer edges and hillside pockets
- →Hunt the broken country and creek breaks between prairie and timber
Black Bear
limited opportunityBlack bear range the aspen and conifer high country and creek drainages as a secondary opportunity.
- →Glass berry and oak-brush slopes in early fall
- →Watch aspen edges and creek bottoms at dawn and dusk
- →Focus on the higher timbered hillsides where mast and cover concentrate bears
Pro tips
- →This is glassing country — cover the open prairie basins and aspen edges at first and last light
- →The Cruces Basin Wilderness holds less-pressured bulls for hunters willing to hike in
- →Water and creek drainages concentrate elk in the dry early archery season
- →Watch the private tracts south and southwest of San Antonio Mountain — confirm public ground
- →Come prepared for fast weather changes on the exposed high country
Watch out for
- !Large private tracts south/southwest of San Antonio Mountain and E-PLUS landowner tags mean not all ground is public
- !Cruces Basin Wilderness is foot/horseback only — no vehicles
- !Jicarilla Apache reservation land to the west/southwest is closed to general NMDGF hunting
- !Exposed high country — snow, wind and cold can arrive quickly
- !Water is limited away from the creeks in dry years
Logistics
Tres Piedras offers minimal services; Antonito just over the Colorado line and Tierra Amarilla/Chama provide fuel and limited supplies, with Taos and Española the larger hubs for lodging, groceries and gear. Roads are generally good, but the high open country means exposed camping and long drives to trailheads. Cell coverage is spotty off US 285 and US 64.
Nearest towns: Tres Piedras, Antonito (CO), Tierra Amarilla, Chama, Taos
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 52 Boundary Map · GOHUNT — New Mexico Unit 52 Profile · Hunters Domain — New Mexico Unit 52 Hunting Info
FAQ
- How big is Unit 52 in New Mexico?
- Unit 52 (Unit 52) covers about 422 square miles, ranging from roughly 8,100 to 9,100 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 52?
- Approximately 92% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Carson NF, BLM, private ranch (E-PLUS), NM State Trust. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 52?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Black Bear. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official New Mexico agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 52 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.