NM Elk Unit 36

NM 36 — Elk Hunting. Terrain & Access Unit 36 spans 635,000 acres across central New Mexico with elevation ranging from 4,261 to 11,552 feet. This dramatic relief creates diverse habitat from lower piñon-juniper and ponderosa pine foothills to high-country mixed-conifer and alpine terrain. Just over half the unit (54%) is public land—a solid foundation for access, though hunters will encounter private holdings throughout. The elevation spread supports multiple habitat zones, allowing hunters to adjust tactics vertically as weather and herd movement dictate. Trophy Potential The counties overlapping Unit 36 hold a consistent history of trophy-class elk..