Unit 5A Unit 5A
A compact, elk-rich private-ranch unit on the Jicarilla Apache border
North-central — Lindrith foothill elk country · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
229
sq mi
Public land
25%
approx.
Elevation
6,500–8,200
feet
Motorized
moderate
access
Overview
Unit 5A is a small (about 230 sq mi) game unit in the Lindrith area of Rio Arriba County, north-central New Mexico, wedged between the Carson National Forest high country to the north and the Jicarilla Apache Nation to the west. Despite its size it is a genuinely strong elk unit — the resident herd produces good harvest numbers (over 330 in recent years) at roughly 59% success, with a solid mule deer hunt alongside it. The defining reality is access: the unit is predominantly private ranchland worked through NM's E-PLUS landowner system, with only limited public ground, and elk move freely across the closed Jicarilla reservation boundary.
Terrain
Rolling piñon-juniper and sage foothills and mesas rising toward scattered ponderosa ridges, cut by creek bottoms and canyon draws.
Cover: Piñon-juniper woodland and sagebrush flats with ponderosa pine on the higher ridges, oakbrush, and grassy hay meadows and willow bottoms along the creeks.
Landmarks: Lindrith · Jicarilla Apache Nation boundary (west) · Carson National Forest (north) · piñon-juniper mesas and creek bottoms
Access
Predominantly private ranchland — most elk and deer are hunted through landowner (E-PLUS) tags, and DIY public opportunity is limited. Scattered Carson NF, BLM and State Trust tracts exist but do not dominate. The Jicarilla Apache Nation borders the unit to the west and is closed to general NMDGF hunting; do not count it as open, though elk cross the line and can pile onto adjacent private ranches when reservation seasons push them. State Trust access requires a valid NM license.
Managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), USFS Carson NF, BLM, NM State Trust, tribal (Jicarilla Apache Nation — closed to NMDGF hunting)
Access points: NM-112 / county roads through Lindrith · Carson NF access roads on the north edge · BLM / State Trust tract roads
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
abundant qualityThe marquee species. For a small unit, 5A holds a strong resident elk herd that uses private hay fields, creek bottoms and PJ mesas, with success around 59% and good bull quality on managed ranches. The best hunting is on private ground (E-PLUS), and boundary country near the Jicarilla can concentrate elk pushed off the reservation.
- →Hunt private hay meadows and creek bottoms at first and last light where elk feed
- →Locate them by bugling in the timbered ridges during the rut
- →Work the piñon-juniper-to-ponderosa transition and canyon heads for bedded bulls
- →Watch the Jicarilla boundary country when reservation pressure moves elk onto private land
- →Secure E-PLUS or landowner access early — it drives success here
Mule Deer
common qualityA solid secondary hunt at moderate success (near 41%). Mule deer use the PJ mesas, sage benches, oakbrush and creek bottoms; buck quality is decent on lightly pressured private ground.
- →Glass PJ mesa edges, sage benches and oakbrush pockets morning and evening
- →Hunt creek bottoms and mesa breaks that hold cover and water
- →Focus on private or Carson NF tracts with browse
- →Slow still-hunts through piñon-juniper can pay off midday
Pro tips
- →This unit lives on private access — line up an E-PLUS or landowner tag before applying/hunting
- →Hunt the private hay meadows and creek bottoms where the herd feeds
- →Watch the Jicarilla boundary — elk crossing off the reservation stack up on nearby ranches
- →Do not enter Jicarilla Apache land; it is closed to NMDGF hunting
- →Carry an ownership map to sort Carson NF, BLM and State Trust from private and tribal ground
Watch out for
- !Predominantly private ranch — DIY public elk access is limited (E-PLUS driven)
- !Jicarilla Apache Nation on the west is closed to NMDGF hunting — respect the boundary
- !State Trust access requires a valid NM hunting license
- !Small unit, so pressure concentrates on the accessible public pieces
- !Remote ranch roads turn greasy and impassable after storms
Logistics
Lindrith is a tiny ranching community with minimal services; Cuba to the south is the practical resupply, fuel and lodging town, with Chama and Farmington farther out. Roads are mostly county and ranch two-tracks that cross private and tribal boundaries, so a good ownership map is essential. This is remote foothill country — plan to be self-sufficient.
Nearest towns: Lindrith, Cuba, Gobernador, Chama
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 Maps · Carson National Forest (USFS) · BLM New Mexico Hunting Maps · ProHunt New Mexico Unit 5A (Lindrith) Elk Guide
FAQ
- How big is Unit 5A in New Mexico?
- Unit 5A (Unit 5A) covers about 229 square miles, ranging from roughly 6,500 to 8,200 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 5A?
- Approximately 25% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: private ranch (E-PLUS), USFS Carson NF, BLM, NM State Trust, tribal (Jicarilla Apache Nation — closed to NMDGF hunting). Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 5A?
- 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 5A on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.