Luera Ranch

At 7,651 deeded acres, Luera Ranch features exceptional trophy big game hunting along with a solid large-scale cattle operation.

Situated about 40 miles southwest of Magdalena in Catron County, NM, Luera Ranch lies in the east-central portion of thePlains of San Agustin, along the northern and eastern sides of the imposing Luera Peak (elevation 9,420 ft.), which rises conspicuously from the surrounding open prairie. The property is characterized by rolling blue grama grasslands and timbered hillsides along the eastern and northern stretches of Luera Peak. Timber species include Ponderosa, aspen, mahogany, Arizona white, gambel, and emory oak, pinion and juniper. Elevations on the deeded property run from 6,500 to 7,500 feet.

The ranch is currently running 500 cow/calf pairs year-round. Luera Ranch is well known for its outstanding trophy elk and antelope hunting. Bulls in the 320” to 350” range are common, and 380”+ bulls have been seen on the property. The ranch is home to world-class pronghorn antelope; indeed the last two world-record pronghorn bucks were killed on a neighboring ranch. The ranch generally receives 15 landowner elk permits and 2 antelope permits per year.

Improvements

Improvements include a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom manager’s house (kitchen remodeled in 2015), a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom guest house built in 2003, and a new 16×76 3 bed, 2 bath single-wide trailer house. Outbuildings include a horse barn, equipment shed, and game cooler. The ranch is perimeter and cross-fenced into 5 pastures. There are nice working corrals and handling facilities at the headquarters. The property is well watered with wells and earthen tanks. The interior ranch roads are all in excellent condition.

Hunting

Luera Ranch is an extraordinary trophy elk and pronghorn property. The ranch lies in unit 16E, which is only a few miles north of the famed Gila National Forest and Wilderness areas. The timbered mountain topography of Luera Peak provides ideal cover for an impressive elk herd. The elk tend to migrate daily between the timbered bedding areas surrounding Luera Peak and the grassy feeding areas of the lower country. Bulls in the 320” to 350” range are common, and 380”+ bulls have been seen on the property. The ranch generally receives 15 transferable landowner elk permits per year. Method of take may be adjusted each year. In 2015, Luera received 6 archery either sex elk, 9 rifle/muzzleloader either sex elk, and 6 cow elk licenses. Archery elk season is the most productive; there are two 14-day archery elk seasons: Sept. 1-14 and Sept. 15-24. Hunters may choose either 14-day season for hunting. Muzzleloader elk season is any 5 consecutive days between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31. Rifle elk season is any 5 consecutive days between Oct. 22 and Dec. 31.

The open lower grasslands are home to world-class pronghorn antelope; indeed the last two world-record pronghorn bucks were killed on a neighboring ranch. The property has historically been allocated 2 transferable landowner buck antelope permits per year. Season dates are Oct. 1-14.

Luera Ranch is also home to bears, turkeys, javelinas, and a few mule deer. Private land deer licenses are unlimited and available through online sales. Archery deer seasons are Sept. 1-14, and rifle deer seasons are Oct. 22-26, and Oct. 29-Nov. 2.

Ranch Operations

Luera Ranch is currently running 500 cow/calf pairs year-round during normal moisture years. The property includes a 35,759-acre NM State grazing lease, and a 3860-acre BLM grazing lease. The property is fenced into 5 separate pastures, and ample stock water is available through adjudicated wells and earthen tanks. There is a good set of handling facilities at the headquarters.