NM Elk Unit 48

NM 48 — Terrain & Access Unit 48 spans 242,197 acres across high-elevation terrain, with elevations climbing from roughly 5,900 feet to over 10,600 feet. The unit sits in the southern Rocky Mountain front, dominated by mixed conifer and alpine habitat typical of the region's northern ranges. Public land comprises 29 percent of the unit—a constraint that significantly shapes hunting strategy. The remaining 71 percent is private land, and access to private property depends on annual negotiations between the state wildlife agency and landowners. Local contact with the field officer is essential for current access information, as conditions shift..