The 922 acre Bar JA Ranch delivers what a true sporting property should: trophy elk habitat, annual tags, and genuine elevation and seclusion in the heart of Game Management Unit 9. Located on Mesa Chivato just north of 11,300-foot Mt. Taylor, the ranch holds documented bull elk exceeding 300 inches, alongside mule deer, black bear, and mountain lion, all across elevations averaging 8,400 feet through Ponderosa pine, pinon-juniper, and oakbrush hillside opening into native grass meadows.
Rain catchments with drinkers, along with five earthen ponds and natural wallows scattered across the property, keep water on the ground through the dry months and hold wildlife on the ranch through the season.
The Marquez / L-Bar Wildlife Management Area borders the ranch on three sides, north, east, and west. Bordering a managed WMA on three sides extends the ranch's functional habitat well beyond its ow...
The Marquez / L-Bar Wildlife Management Area borders the ranch on three sides, north, east, and west. Bordering a managed WMA on three sides extends the ranch's functional habitat well beyond its own 922 acres; that ground carries none of the fencing, development, and access pressure that shrinks habitat elsewhere, and wildlife moves freely across the boundary onto the ranch. A private in-holding that is thoroughly surrounded by protected habitat is rare in New Mexico, and is a primary reason the ranch holds wildlife at the density it does.
A 1,224 square foot log cabin sits on the northeast end of the property, positioned to keep the rest of the ranch undisturbed for wildlife. The cabin has two bedrooms, a loft, living area, kitchen, and bath. Built off-grid, it draws water from a cistern system and power from a solar system with propane backup, with propane also fueling the refrigerator, stove, and heat. Kiln-dried logs and an R-38 insulation factor make it a true four-season structure, not a fair-weather retreat.
The views are equally distinctive. The Continental Divide extends to the west, the Jemez Mountains and distant Colorado peaks are visible to the north, the Sandia Mountains and Albuquerque lie to the east, and the Gila country stretches to the south. At night, the lights of Albuquerque are visible on the eastern horizon, creating a striking contrast between the ranch's high-country setting and its accessibility to the city.
For the buyer looking for a working wildlife property with genuine elevation, real infrastructure, and a setting few properties in this state can match, the Bar JA Ranch stands apart.
PROPERTY ATTRIBUTES
922 deeded acres
GMU 9, McKinley County
Elevation: 8,400 feet average
Vegetation: Ponderosa pine, pinon-juniper pine, and oakbrush hillside, with open native grass meadows
Wildlife water: rain catchments with drinkers, five earthen ponds, and natural wallows
Enrolled in NMDW EPLUS program; 1 MB (Mature Bull), 1 E/S (Either Sex) Archery authorization
Bull elk exceeding 300 inches documented on the ranch
Mule deer, black bear, mountain lion, and turkey available over-the-counter (OTC)
Small game: Blue grouse, mourning dove; ducks on the water sources in fall
Bordered on three sides (north, east, west) by Marquez / L-Bar Wildlife Management Area; a large private ranch to the south
1,224 sq ft log cabin on the north end of the property: two bedrooms, loft, living area, kitchen, bath
Off-grid solar power with propane backup; water via cistern system
60 air miles / 110 road miles from Albuquerque
Primary access via BLM Road 1103 to Forest Road 239
HUNTING & WILDLIFE
Elk: The ranch functions as core elk habitat, concentrated by rain catchments, earthen ponds, and native grass meadows that hold animals through the season. Bull elk exceeding 300 inches have been documented and harvested on the ranch. The ranch is enrolled in NMDW's EPLUS program with a 1 MB and 1 E/S Archery authorization for 2026.
Mule Deer: Mule deer hunting on the ranch is over-the-counter, giving a buyer a guaranteed annual tag. Combined with the elevation, feed, bedding area, and meadow habitat, the ranch offers real mule deer opportunities every season.
Other Species: Black bear, mountain lion, and turkey are also over-the-counter, giving a buyer guaranteed annual access to all three. Blue grouse round out the big game and upland offering, and mourning dove and ducks move through the ranch's water sources in fall.
AGRICULTURE & LAND MANAGEMENT
A limited grazing program has allowed the property to maintain a strong emphasis on wildlife habitat and forage availability.
RECREATION
The Bar JA Ranch supports four-season recreation, with elk and mule deer hunting in the fall, turkey hunting in the spring, hiking across the mesa's meadows and timber, stargazing under dark high-elevation skies, and snowshoeing through the winter snowpack.
The property's elevation, surrounding habitat, and limited development create an exceptional setting for time spent outdoors, whether hunting, observing wildlife, or simply enjoying the high country.
LOCATION & ACCESS
The Bar JA Ranch sits 110 road miles north and west of Albuquerque on Mesa Chivato, 60 air miles from the city. Primary access is via BLM Road 1103 to Forest Road 239; the last 13 miles are primitive and four-wheel drive is recommended. A locked USFS gate sits roughly 10 miles from the ranch boundary, with a recorded easement granting year-round owner access. A two-mile recorded easement connects Forest Road 239 to the ranch's main entrance.
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