Known by locals as the gateway to the Gila National Forest, Unit 24 has mule deer, Coues deer, elk and antelope. Most of the northern third is in the Gila National Forest, including part of the Gila Wilderness. The southern two-thirds is mostly desert grassland.

This is a good place to hunt trophy class Coues deer. Elk are not numerous, but some bulls reach trophy class. Most antelope are on private land.

Most land is mountainous with some flat, low-lying desert grasslands with isolated peaks. The northern half is rough and has high mountains with deep canyons running toward the Gila River and the Mimbres River. Tadpole Ridge in the northwest averages 8,000 feet above sea level.

Low elevations have flat to rolling desert grassland with some rabbit brush and soap tree yuccas. Middle elevations consist of foothills and mountains covered with alligator junipers and scrub oak brush and some dense stands of pinyon pines. High elevations have high mountains with long canyons covered with ponderosa pines, Gambel oaks, mountain mahoganies and silver leaf oak brush. High north slopes have Douglas firs and aspens.

Interior roads range from unmaintained dirt roads to maintained gravel routes. Highway 15 north out of Silver City leads to the north border at Sapillo Creek. Highway 35 passes Lake Roberts to Mimbres, where access to the Black Range leads to Emory Pass. Trails penetrate the roadless Aldo Leopold Wilderness.

Most hunters camp along forest roads or in campgrounds near Lake Robert. Lodging can be arranged in Silver City and Deming.