Quick Tips
- Excellent black bear numbers here
- Backpack hunting very productive in Manzano Mountains
- Wear good boots topography is steep
- Keep food sealed and out of bears reach
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 160"+ |
| Elk | 300"-330" | 330"+ |
On The Ground
This unit is southeast of New Mexico’s largest city Albuquerque and contains lands in the Sandia ranger district and the Cibola National Forest. Very limited mule deer and elk hunting in this unit.
Good numbers of deer, elk, and black bear are found here and hunters who work hard generally find good oddcs for success
Terrain
The highest Mountains in the unit run down the center between I-25 and highway 41. The Manzano Mountains within the Cibola national forest have several high elevation points including Gallo Peak at 10,003 feet and Guadalupe peak at 8,749 feet. At the top of the unit in an extension off the Sandia Mountains is Manzano peak, which is 10,098 feet. Elevations run from just under 5,000 feet at the bases to just over 10,000 feet on the highest peaks.
Roughly 1,656 square miles
20.8% public land
Elevations range from 5,000 - 10,000 feet
Vegetation
The flatter plains within the unit are covered in sagebrush and sandy arroyos. The middle elevations extend up off the valley floor to rolling pinyon/juniper and sagebrush foothills and deep canyons. The higher elevations are densely vegetated with pinyon pine and juniper woodlands and ponderosa pines on southern dryer slopes and Vegetation on cooler north slopes is a predominantly aspen, spruce and fir tree.
Access
Most public access is in the Cibola National Forest on dirt roads and trail access leading into the Manzano Wilderness area. State highway 337 cuts through the northern section of the Sandia ranger district in the Manzano peak area. State highway 131 south of Torreon leads to public access to the Cibola Forest.
Camping and Lodging
Camping available at Manzano State Park and Red Canyon campground at Torreon. Motels in Albuquerque range from economical to deluxe. There is also the Isleta Casino and Resort near Los Lunas.
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