National Wildlife Refuge · New Mexico · FWS Region 2

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge Hunting & Fishing Guide 2026–27

Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in Socorro County, New Mexico, with about 57,049 acres of land owned in fee by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For the 2026–2027 season the refuge has 6 mapped hunt units: 5 open with special regulations and 1 closed, covering about 47,619 huntable acres.

5 with special regs1 closed
View hunt map Directions Official hunting page ↗
6hunt units
47.6Khuntable acres
57KFWS-owned acres
7game categories

Bosque del Apache NWR hunt unit map

Hunt units are colored by 2026–2027 status. Toggle layers for FWS-owned land, the approved refuge boundary and private easements. Use satellite imagery to scout marshes, timber edges and access points.

Loading interactive map…
OpenSpecial regulationsClosedFWS-owned landWPA (public)Refuge boundaryEasement (private) Tip: switch to Satellite or USGS Topo in the layer menu · click the map for GPS coordinates
Take it into the field: KML (Google Earth / onX) GPX waypoints GeoJSON

Hunting at Bosque del Apache NWR

Hunting opportunities include big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules. Fishing is available.

Along the banks of the Rio Grande lies Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, a rest stop, home and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife.

Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large mammalsWaterfowlDucks, geese, brant, swans (where legal) and cootsWild TurkeySpring and fall wild turkeyUpland BirdsPheasant, quail, grouse, prairie chicken and partridgeMigratory BirdsMourning dove, woodcock, snipe, rails, gallinules and sandhill craneSmall GameSquirrel, rabbit, hare, raccoon, opossum and other small mammalsFeral & ExoticFeral hogs and other non-native species where refuge rules allow

Categories are those listed by USFWS for this station; exact species, seasons and bag limits follow New Mexico regulations plus refuge-specific rules.

Hunt units (6)

Acreage by status
Special regulations: 47,619 (83%)Closed: 9,430 (17%)47.6Khuntable acres
  • Special regulations47,619 ac 83%
  • Closed9,430 ac 17%
Units by size (acres)
East Hunt Unit
27,498 ac
West Hunt Unit
13,241 ac
Closed Area
9,430 ac
Bajada Hunt Unit
3,489 ac
North Special Hunt Area
1,960 ac
South Special Hunt Area
1,432 ac
UnitStatusAcresPermitDetails
Bajada Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 3,489 —
East Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 27,498 —
North Special Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,960 —
South Special Hunt Area
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 1,432 —
West Hunt Unit
Show on map · Directions		 Special regs 13,241 —
Closed Area
Show on map · Directions		 Closed 9,430 —

Bosque del Apache NWR by the numbers

With about 47,619 huntable acres, Bosque del Apache NWR ranks #3 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Mexico and #55 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 83% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.

The largest huntable unit is East Hunt Unit (27,498 acres, special regulations), while the smallest, South Special Hunt Area, covers 1,432 acres.

1 unit totaling 9,430 acres is closed to hunting (Closed Area). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.

Besides 57,049 acres of federally owned land, the station administers conservation easements on about 255 acres of private land. Easement land protects habitat but is not open to public hunting.

When to hunt Bosque del Apache NWR

Typical U.S. season windows for the game categories offered here. New Mexico sets the exact dates, and refuges often open fewer days than the statewide season — use this to plan scouting, then confirm the 2026–2027 dates in the state regulations and the refuge hunt brochure.

Typical season windows — Big Game, Waterfowl, Wild Turkey, Upland Birds, Migratory Birds, Small Game, Feral & Exotic
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
Archery deerFirearm deer
🦆 Waterfowl
Early teal & gooseRegular duck & goose
🦃 Wild Turkey
Spring gobblerFall (some states)
🐦 Upland Birds
Pheasant, quail, grouse
🕊️ Migratory Birds
Dove (Sept. 1 opener)Woodcock & snipeLate dove split
🐇 Small Game
Squirrel & rabbit
🐗 Feral & Exotic
Feral hog (often year-round)

Permits & licenses

Refuge permit

Not listed

USFWS does not list a separate refuge permit for this station. Specific units or hunts (e.g. quota deer hunts) may still require one — check the hunt brochure.

You'll also need

  • A valid New Mexico hunting license and any required tags or stamps — New Mexico Department of Game and Fish
  • Federal Duck Stamp (waterfowl hunters 16+) and HIP certification for migratory birds
  • Non-toxic shot for waterfowl (federal requirement)
  • Hunter education certification where your state requires it
  • The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)

Fishing at Bosque del Apache NWR

    Refuge fishing waters include a shallow 30-acre wetland spanned by a universally accessible boardwalk, the Elmendorf Canal (Interior Drain), Riverside Canal and the east side of the Low Flow Conveyance Channel.

    State fishing licenses and regulations apply. Some waters close seasonally to protect wildlife.

    How to get to Bosque del Apache NWR

    Navigate

    Destination: Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)

    Google Maps Apple Maps Waze
    Decimal
    33.80052, -106.87403
    DMS
    33°48′01.9″N 106°52′26.5″W

    Download for GPS / onX / Google Earth:KMLGPX

    Nearest towns

    • Socorro, NM18 mi S of town
    • Albuquerque, NM89 mi S of town
    • Las Cruces, NM103 mi N of town
    • Roswell, NM138 mi W of town

    Closest airports

    • ABQ Albuquerque Sunport87 mi
    • ELP El Paso Intl140 mi

    Straight-line distances. Driving routes are longer; many refuge roads are gravel and may close seasonally.

    The navigation point is the station reference location published by USFWS — often the headquarters or main entrance. For a specific hunt unit, open its page or click it on the map for coordinates and parking planning.

    Sunrise, sunset & shooting hours

    Today at Bosque del Apache NWR

    Legal light*–
    Sunrise–
    Sunset–

    *½ hour before sunrise — the standard federal shooting-hour start for migratory game birds. Times in Denver local time.

    Full season calculator →

    2026–2027 season sun table

    DateShooting lightSunriseSunsetDaylight
    Tue, Sep 1, 20266:10 AM6:40 AM7:35 PM12h 54m
    Tue, Sep 15, 20266:19 AM6:49 AM7:15 PM12h 26m
    Thu, Oct 1, 20266:30 AM7:00 AM6:53 PM11h 53m
    Thu, Oct 15, 20266:41 AM7:11 AM6:34 PM11h 24m
    Sun, Nov 1, 20265:55 AM6:25 AM5:16 PM10h 50m
    Sun, Nov 15, 20266:09 AM6:39 AM5:05 PM10h 26m
    Tue, Dec 1, 20266:24 AM6:54 AM4:59 PM10h 05m
    Tue, Dec 15, 20266:34 AM7:04 AM5:00 PM9h 56m
    Fri, Jan 1, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:08 PM9h 57m
    Fri, Jan 15, 20276:42 AM7:12 AM5:20 PM10h 08m
    Mon, Feb 1, 20276:34 AM7:04 AM5:36 PM10h 32m

    Computed for 33.801, -106.874 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.

    7-day hunting weather

    Loading National Weather Service forecast…

    Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.

    Guides for hunting Bosque del Apache NWR

    Deer Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Quota Hunts, Archery Units and Stand Rules

    How refuge deer hunts work — lotteries and quota permits, archery-only and muzzleloader units, tree-stand rules…

    Public-Land Duck Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges: Tactics That Work

    How to find ducks, beat the crowds and set up on refuge marshes and WPAs — scouting, timing, small decoy spreads for…

    Federal Duck Stamp Explained: Who Needs One, Where to Buy It and Where the Money Goes

    Everything waterfowl hunters need to know about the Federal Duck Stamp — who must carry it, signing rules, the…

    Nontoxic Shot Guide for Refuge and WPA Hunters

    Why lead shot is banned for waterfowl, which nontoxic loads are approved, how steel, bismuth and tungsten compare, and…

    Turkey Hunting on Wildlife Refuges: Lotteries, Pressured Birds and Safety

    How spring and fall turkey hunts work on National Wildlife Refuges, how to scout and call public-land gobblers, and…

    Pheasant and Upland Bird Hunting on Waterfowl Production Areas

    Why WPAs are some of the best walk-in pheasant ground in the Midwest, how to hunt them early and late in the season…

    Bosque del Apache NWR FAQ

    Is hunting allowed at Bosque del Apache NWR?

    Yes. Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 5 units (47,619 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game, waterfowl, wild turkey, upland birds, migratory birds, small game, and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.

    Do I need a permit to hunt Bosque del Apache NWR?

    FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for Bosque del Apache NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.

    Can you fish at Bosque del Apache NWR?

    Yes. Fishing is permitted. State fishing licenses and regulations apply along with refuge rules.

    Where is Bosque del Apache NWR located?

    Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is in Socorro County, New Mexico, about 18 miles S of Socorro, NM (straight-line). GPS: 33.80052, -106.87403.

    What are legal shooting hours at Bosque del Apache NWR?

    Migratory game bird shooting hours are generally one-half hour before sunrise to sunset; big game and other seasons follow state rules. See the sunrise/sunset table on this page and confirm in the refuge hunt brochure.

    Nearby refuges & public land

    Sevilleta NWR

    Socorro County, NM · 36 mi N

    4 special
    🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣

    228K huntable acres

    San Andres NWR

    Doña Ana County, NM · 79 mi S

    1 open1 closed
    🦌🐗

    57.3K huntable acres

    Valle de Oro NWR

    Bernalillo County, NM · 82 mi N

    1 closed
    No hunting listed

    Bitter Lake NWR

    Chaves County, NM · 143 mi E

    3 special1 closed
    🦌🦆🐦🕊️🐇🐗

    14.3K huntable acres

    Southwestern Native Aquatic Resources and Recovery Center

    Chaves County, NM · 152 mi E

    1 open1 closed
    🦆🐦🕊️

    449 huntable acres

    Las Vegas NWR

    San Miguel County, NM · 155 mi NE

    2 open3 special1 closed
    🦌🦆🕊️

    7.3K huntable acres

    All refuges in New Mexico →

    Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.