New Mexico Bighorn Sheep Hunting Units & Draw Odds
17 units · 93.3% avg hunter success
New Mexico's bighorn sheep draw is random—no points required to enter. Nonresidents make up 22% of available tags, competing on equal footing regardless of prior applications. The 2026 draw closes March 18, with results posted April 22; expect to pay a $13 application fee and $3523 for your tag if drawn. We've pulled data from 17 units across multiple years to show you where your odds are strongest and where success rates run highest once you're afield. Use the unit breakdowns below to target your applications and understand what each hunt actually produces.
How the New Mexico Draw Works
Draw system
Pure random draw — every applicant has equal odds, no points.
Nonresident allocation: 22% of tags
2026 application window
— – Mar 18(nonresident)
Results: Apr 22
2026 fees (nonresident, regular)
$13 app · $3523 tag
Easiest Bighorn Sheep Draws for Nonresidents (2022 Results)
Point levels that drew with certainty, and the best documented zero-point hunts — actual draw results, per hunt.
4.8% at zero points · Archery, Bhs-2-203
4.8% at zero points · Archery, Bhs-2-203
4.8% at zero points · Archery, Bhs-2-203
1.7% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-202
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-204
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-204
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-204
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-204
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-204
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-204
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-201
0.1% at zero points · Rifle, Bhs-1-201
| Unit | Drew with certainty at | Best zero-point hunt | Success | Public land |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 49 | — | 4.8%Archery, Bhs-2-203 | 96% | 88% |
| Unit 50 | — | 4.8%Archery, Bhs-2-203 | 96% | 79% |
| Unit 53 | — | 4.8%Archery, Bhs-2-203 | 96% | 73% |
| Unit 45 | — | 1.7%Rifle, Bhs-1-202 | 50% | 82% |
| Unit 13 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-204 | 96% | 69% |
| Unit 17 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-204 | 96% | 75% |
| Unit 19 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-204 | 96% | 98% |
| Unit 20 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-204 | 96% | 74% |
| Unit 26 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-204 | 96% | 54% |
| Unit 27 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-204 | 96% | 69% |
| Unit 16B | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-201 | 96% | 100% |
| Unit 22 | — | 0.1%Rifle, Bhs-1-201 | 96% | 71% |
All New Mexico Bighorn Sheep Units
New Mexico Bighorn Sheep Draw FAQ
Do I need preference points to draw a New Mexico bighorn sheep tag?
No. New Mexico's bighorn sheep draw is random, meaning zero-point applications have the same chance as anyone else's. There's no points system for this hunt.
When does the 2026 New Mexico bighorn sheep draw close, and when do results post?
Applications close March 18, 2026. Results are posted April 22, 2026. The nonresident application fee is $13, and the tag fee is $3523 if drawn.
What percentage of New Mexico bighorn tags go to nonresidents?
Nonresidents are allocated 22% of available bighorn sheep tags in New Mexico's draw.
Which New Mexico bighorn units have the best draw odds for nonresidents?
Units 49, 50, and 53 each posted a best zero-point draw at 4.8% (archery hunts in 2022), the highest odds in the data. Unit 45 showed 1.7% on a rifle hunt in 2024, while Unit 13 dropped to 0.1% on a rifle hunt in 2024, indicating tighter competition.
Plan your New Mexico Bighorn Sheep hunt — free account, no card. Run the draw simulator at your point level, see 2022–2024 data, and save units to compare.
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