Unit 1, New Mexico

Highly varied Colorado Plateau topography ranging from approximately 5,000 feet elevation in the San Juan Basin (flat-lying sedimentary benchlands, sandstone mesas, badlands, and wash-cut canyons) up to 9,823 feet at Roof Butte on the Chuska Mountains, which form the unit's southwestern boundary along the Arizona–New Mexico state line. The lower country features broad mesas and arroyos characteristic of the Four Corners region, while the higher elevations transition to steep forested ridges and mountain meadows. The San Juan River and its tributaries — the Animas, La Plata, and other drainages — cross the northern portion.

GMU 1 is legally defined as the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe reservation plus all contiguous portions of the Navajo Nation reservation north and west of Section 31, T 17 N, R 13 W (NM Admin. Code § 19.30.4.8). The unit is essentially 100% tribal trust land — there are no state or federal (BLM/USFS) lands open to the general public. US Highway 64 runs east-west through Farmington; US 491 (formerly US 666) runs north-south through Shiprock. Access requires a valid Navajo Nation or Ute Mountain Ute hunting permit applied for through NNDFW (nndfw.org). Non-Navajo trophy elk and deer hunters must hire a licensed Navajo Nation guide — however, non-Navajo trophy hunts (DTNN/ETNN) are offered only in units 6–16, not Unit 1. The New Lands subunit (Units 16A/16B) is separately gated and requires checking out keys from the Fish and Wildlife office with a $50 deposit. Allotted lands (especially in Units 13–14) are treated as private property requiring written permission from individual allottees. Coal mine lease areas (NAPI) are closed to hunting. Nearest gateway towns: Farmington and Shiprock, NM; NNDFW headquarters is in Window Rock, AZ.

Elevation-driven vegetation bands: sage flats and greasewood shrublands in the lower San Juan Basin (5,000–6,500 ft); pinyon-juniper woodland and Gambel oak brush across mid-elevation mesas and canyon rims (6,500–8,000 ft); ponderosa pine forest with grassy parks in the upper transition zone (8,000–9,000 ft); and spruce-fir forest with aspen stands near the Chuska Mountain crest above 9,000 ft. Riparian corridors along the San Juan River support cottonwood-willow bosque. The Navajo Nation Forest administers the Chuska highland timber zone.

Mule deer are widespread but occur in small, widely spaced pockets per NNDFW, with populations under stress from prolonged drought, overgrazing by livestock, and feral horses competing for surface water. Rocky Mountain elk inhabit the forested Chuska Mountain zone and adjacent mesa country; NNDFW notes most reservation elk occur in small local populations and hunts are designed to manage expanding herds — elk are doing better than mule deer due to greater adaptability. Black bear range throughout the forested and pinyon-juniper zones (Units 1–5). Desert bighorn sheep are managed on a once-in-a-lifetime permit basis for Navajo members — specific unit locations within the reservation not confirmed in public proclamation materials; 2024 harvest was 0 (0% success across 132 applicants). Wild turkey (Merriam's) occur in the ponderosa pine belt and adjacent mesas (Units 1–5 and 15). Pronghorn antelope are Navajo-only and limited to Unit 16 — not present in Unit 1 as a huntable tag. CWD has been detected adjacent to the Navajo Nation in the Four Corners area; mandatory sampling required for DG-11 hunters and encouraged for all deer/elk hunters.

CRITICAL CONTEXT: NM GMU 1 is entirely tribal trust land (Navajo Nation + Ute Mountain Ute Tribe) with ~0% public land. All permits issued by NNDFW (nndfw.org) and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe independently — NMDGF issues no big-game tags here. Non-trophy non-Navajo access in Unit 1: 1 archery deer permit (DA-1), 20 archery elk permits (EA-1, multi-unit pool), 6 muzzleloader elk permits (EM-1, multi-unit), 26 general elk permits (EG-1, multi-unit), 5 late-general elk (EG-4, multi-unit), 4 bear permits (B-1), 6 turkey permits (TF). Non-Navajo trophy deer (DTNN) and trophy elk (ETNN) hunts are NOT offered in Unit 1 — those are units 6–16 and 9–16 respectively. Pronghorn antelope (AG) is Unit 16 only, Navajo-only — removed from Unit 1 species list. Bighorn sheep BHS is Navajo-only, once-in-a-lifetime; specific unit presence within Unit 1 not confirmed by proclamation. Mule deer hunter success: 55% archery (DA-1), 43% rifle (DG-1). Ute Mountain Ute portion of GMU 1 manages hunting separately; no permit data obtainable for that portion. NMDGF 2025-26 rules booklet not applicable — state does not issue big-game tags in this unit. CWD detected adjacent to Navajo Nation in Four Corners; mandatory sampling for DG-11 hunters.