Bosque del Apache NWR
Socorro County, NM · 79 mi N
!5 special✕1 closed
🦌🦆🦃🐦🕊️🐇🐗🎣
47.6K huntable acres
San Andres 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
Hunting at San Andres NWR
- Big Game
-
Waterfowl -
Wild Turkey -
Upland Birds -
Migratory Birds -
Small Game - Feral & Exotic
-
Fishing
Hunting opportunities include big game and feral & exotic, subject to state seasons and refuge-specific rules.
San Andres National Wildlife Refuge lies entirely within the White Sands Missile Range, which restricts public access. The refuge is home to a native herd of desert bighorn sheep.
Big GameWhite-tailed and mule deer, elk, pronghorn, moose, bear and other large 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 (2)
- Open57,330 ac 100%
- Closed2.1 ac 0%
| Unit | Status | Acres | Permit | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Station Show on map · Directions |
✓Open | 57,330 | — | |
| Headquarters Show on map · Directions |
✕Closed | 2.1 | — |
San Andres NWR by the numbers
With about 57,330 huntable acres, San Andres NWR ranks #2 of 6 refuges and stations with mapped hunting land in New Mexico and #40 of 420 nationwide. Roughly 100% of the acreage inside its mapped hunt units is open to hunting in some form.
The largest huntable unit is Station (57,330 acres).
1 unit totaling 2.1 acres is closed to hunting (Headquarters). Closed areas often serve as sanctuaries — learn their boundaries before you set up nearby.
When to hunt San Andres 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.
AugSepOctNovDecJanFebMarAprMayJun
🦌 Big Game
🐗 Feral & Exotic
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
- Hunter education certification where your state requires it
- The current refuge hunt brochure / regulations (often must be signed and carried)
Fishing at San Andres NWR
USFWS does not list fishing opportunities for San Andres NWR.
How to get to San Andres NWR
Navigate
Destination: San Andres National Wildlife Refuge (FWS reference point)
- Decimal
32.69513, -106.53764- DMS
32°41′42.5″N 106°32′15.5″W
Nearest towns
- Las Cruces, NM29 mi NE of town
- El Paso, TX65 mi N of town
- Socorro, NM96 mi S of town
- Roswell, NM126 mi W of town
Closest airports
- ELP El Paso Intl62 mi
- ABQ Albuquerque Sunport162 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 San Andres 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
| Date | Shooting light | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Sep 1, 2026 | 6:10 AM | 6:40 AM | 7:32 PM | 12h 52m |
| Tue, Sep 15, 2026 | 6:18 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:14 PM | 12h 25m |
| Thu, Oct 1, 2026 | 6:29 AM | 6:59 AM | 6:52 PM | 11h 53m |
| Thu, Oct 15, 2026 | 6:39 AM | 7:09 AM | 6:34 PM | 11h 25m |
| Sun, Nov 1, 2026 | 5:52 AM | 6:22 AM | 5:16 PM | 10h 54m |
| Sun, Nov 15, 2026 | 6:05 AM | 6:35 AM | 5:06 PM | 10h 30m |
| Tue, Dec 1, 2026 | 6:20 AM | 6:50 AM | 5:00 PM | 10h 10m |
| Tue, Dec 15, 2026 | 6:30 AM | 7:00 AM | 5:01 PM | 10h 01m |
| Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:10 PM | 10h 02m |
| Fri, Jan 15, 2027 | 6:38 AM | 7:08 AM | 5:21 PM | 10h 13m |
| Mon, Feb 1, 2027 | 6:31 AM | 7:01 AM | 5:37 PM | 10h 36m |
Computed for 32.695, -106.538 (MDT / DST-aware). Check state rules — big game hours vary.
7-day hunting weather
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Forecast from the National Weather Service. Wind direction matters — plan your approach downwind of where game beds.
Guides for hunting San Andres 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…
Feral Hog Hunting on National Wildlife Refuges
Why many refuges allow — and encourage — feral hog hunting, how refuge rules handle hogs, safe shot placement, disease…
How to Read a Refuge Hunt Brochure (and Not Miss the Rule That Matters)
What's inside a National Wildlife Refuge hunt brochure, where to find it, how it relates to 50 CFR Part 32 and state…
Hunting Safety on Public Land: Cold Water, Tree Stands, Crowds and Weather
The safety habits that matter most on refuges and WPAs — firearm rules, blaze orange, tree-stand harnesses, cold-water…
San Andres NWR FAQ
Is hunting allowed at San Andres NWR?
Yes. San Andres National Wildlife Refuge offers hunting in 1 unit (57,330 acres) during 2026–2027 for big game and feral & exotic. Seasons follow state regulations plus refuge-specific rules in 50 CFR Part 32.
Do I need a permit to hunt San Andres NWR?
FWS data does not list a separate refuge hunting permit for San Andres NWR. You still need a valid state license, any required state tags or stamps, and (for waterfowl hunters 16+) a Federal Duck Stamp.
Where is San Andres NWR located?
San Andres National Wildlife Refuge is in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, about 29 miles NE of Las Cruces, NM (straight-line). GPS: 32.69513, -106.53764.
What are legal shooting hours at San Andres 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
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San Bernardino NWR
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Data: USFWS National Hunt Units 2026–2027, Hunting & Fishing Opportunities, Realty Boundaries & Tracts. Page updated October 28, 2026.