Quick Tips
- Visit Mescalero Sand North Dune OHV Area
- Look for mollusc fossils at The Caprock
- Prairie chickens can be seen here
- Carry extra spare tires and a GPS unit
- Spotting scope on a tripod is helpful, especially from the tops of the dunes that offer a good vantage point
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 140"-160" | 170"+ |
| Antelope | 65"-75" | 75"+ |
On The Ground
East of Artesia, this mainly flat portion of land is home to The Caprock formation and has good numbers of mule deer and pronghorn antelope. Also called the Mescalero Escarpment or Mescalero Ridge, the Caprock formation separates flatlands from higher plains and sand hills to the east.
Mule deer here have been improving in quality in recent years. Antelope habitat is limited which can conentrate hunting pressure at times.. The area is mainly public land with large private holdings. Public land is evenly distributed between state trust land and BLM land.
Terrain
This area mainly consists of flat prairies west of The Caprock, which has a steep rise from 150-300 feet to a vast mesa that runs east into Unit 31. Animals water in stock tanks and troughs fed by springs or windmills, as well as intermittent streams in some arroyos. In wet years some lowlands form shallow lakes or marshes. A few private crop fields are near Artesia in the southwest and Hagerman in the west, but most irrigated alfalfa and hay fields in the area are just west of this unit. There is a long riverbed that runs north-south in the center of this unit which offers the highest concentration of vegetation in the unit. This riverbed holds some water, though not flowing.
Roughly 2,272 square miles
57.8% public land
Elevations from about 3,300-4,500 feet
Vegetation
Lots of brush such as shinnery oak and mesquite, and prairie grasses grow throughout the unit. Cholla cactus grows above The Caprock, while some mature cottonwood trees grow below the escarpment in and near Mescalero Sand North Dune OHV area, where ATV riders can enjoy exposed sand dunes. Scattered junipers and a few ponderosa pines grow along the escarpment as well.
Access
Public access is good. Few public roads are blocked by private landowners.
Primary routes include US Highways 380, 82 and 70
Most of the land above Highway 380 is private with some State and BLM to the northwest
Many dirt and gravel roads branch from highways
Mescalero Sand North Dune OHV area closed to hunting
Camping and Lodging
Most hunters camp on public land, but some get a motel in Roswell to the west, or in Artesia at the southwest corner. Camping is allowed on the sand dunes OHV area. Some hunters camp at a rest area on US 380 in the middle of the unit. A developed campground with 32 campsites is at Bottomless Lakes State Park, southeast of Roswell.
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