Bear hunters planning a fall trip into Carson country need to check the map before they go. In its October 9, 2026 harvest update, the New Mexico Department of Wildlife lists Bear Management Zone 3 as closed for the season, after the harvest limit was met. Zone 3 covers Game Management Units 49, 50 and 53, the units that include much of the high country around Taos, Questa and Red River in the Carson National Forest.
According to the department's update, Zone 3 closed on September 8, 2026. The zone's sustainable harvest limit was 65 bears in total, including 26 females, and reported harvest reached 60 bears, including 23 females, before closure. The department explains that zones close when 90 percent of the total or female sustainable harvest limit is reached, whichever comes first, allowing for the time between a harvest and its reporting.
Zone 3 is not the only closure in the state. The same October 9 update lists Zones 2, 9, 10 and 12 as also closed for the season because harvest limits were met. Zone 10, covering units in the south-central and southwestern part of the state, closed on October 9 itself. Zones 8 and 14 were listed as closed until October 15 for the general season, a different situation from a season-ending closure, so hunters headed there should confirm the current status before hunting.
For northern New Mexico hunters, there is still open country nearby, but it comes with a caution. Zone 1, covering GMUs 4 through 7, 51 and 52 to the west and north, was listed as open in the October 9 update. Zone 4 and Zone 5 were also listed as open. Open status can change quickly during the season, however, as reported harvests are added and zones approach their limits. A zone that is open this week may not remain open.
That is why the department's standing advice matters on every trip: before hunting, verify that the zone is open, either on the department's website or by calling the Bear and Cougar Closure and Harvest Hotline at 877-950-5466. Checking takes only a few minutes and should be part of the routine alongside licenses, tags and the current Rules and Information Booklet, which the department points hunters to for specific regulations.
For Carson country, the practical takeaway is straightforward. Do not plan a bear hunt in Units 49, 50 or 53 this season, and do not assume a neighboring zone will stay open without a fresh check. Hunters who shift plans to an open zone should confirm its status the day they travel, follow all booklet regulations, and report harvests as required. Careful checking protects both hunters and the management system that sets sustainable limits for New Mexico's bear population.