Sevilleta Hills Elk Ranch

Surrounded on three sides by the 230,000± acre Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge, Sevilleta Hills Elk Ranch presents an unparalleled hunting situation. The ranch boasts a substantial population of 360+ class bulls and outstanding mule deer. The ranch consists of 938± deeded acres, including 5± acres of irrigated farmland with 10.5± acre-feet of valuable water rights. The ranch holds strong possibilities for both solar and geothermal opportunities.

The proximity to the massive Sevilleta Wildlife Refuge is key to the phenomenal hunting on this property. Big game hunting is prohibited on the refuge, and water resources are limited. Therefore, the drinkers and farm crops on the ranch are wildlife magnets. Waterfowl and quail are abundant on the ranch. Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge is one of the largest wildlife refuges in the lower 48 states and the biggest in New Mexico. Four different biomes intersect here and support a wide array of biological diversity.

Located on the east side of Game Management Unit (GMU) 13, the ranch is in a secondary management zone, which allows unlimited landowner tags for elk. The ranch owners harvested an average of 12 bulls annually from 2021 to 2023. Many of these bulls scored more than 350. The hunter success rate is approximately 95%, with every hunter having an opportunity. This harvest does not dent the visiting bull population because of the large elk herd on the refuge.  The projected hunting income for 2025 is $130,000.

Five hunters can easily hunt the ranch at the same time. Archery Hunts are from September 1 through September 24. Any-weapon hunts are from October 1 to December 31. Hunters choose a 5-day period for their license. An elk license can coincide with mule deer season, and a hunter could hunt both at the same time.

An underground pipe irrigates the farm with water from the Alamillo ditch. The field is currently planted in alfalfa and tall fescue for the elk. Improvements are modest: a two-bed, two-bath adobe home that sleeps six and a storage barn and equipment shed. The San Acacia Water Association supplies the house water. The well also supplements the landscaping at the house. The six livestock drinkers are fed by a well that connects to a storage tank at the top of the property, and then gravity feeds back to the drinkers.