NM Elk Unit 15

NM 15 Tactical Analysis. Terrain & Access NM 15 is a massive, high-elevation unit spanning nearly 1.1 million acres across the Mogollon Plateau region, with terrain ranging from 5,700 to over 10,000 feet. Nearly 80% is public land—primarily national forest—making it accessible to unguided hunters. Elevation variation creates distinct habitat zones: lower piñon-juniper and ponderosa pine giving way to mixed conifer and aspen at higher elevations. This vertical diversity concentrates elk across multiple terrain bands, from open ridges to timbered drainages. The unit's size means elk exist on all cardinal exposures; scout strategically in the week before opening..