267 Negro Canyon Road, Aragon, NM 87820 - Catron County

In the late 1800s, Fort Tularosa was established in present-day Aragon during the Apache Wars. At the end of the war, a regiment of "Buffalo Soldiers" was sent to help secure the fort. Local lore suggests that one of these soldiers later homesteaded what is now known as Negrito Springs. This 160-acre forest inholding is truly off-gridone of the most extreme parcels on the market in New Mexico today. It is isolated, remote, and wild. What makes it so attractive to sportsmenits isolation, rugged topography, natural water source, and remotenessalso makes it a haven for wildlife.

Infrastructure

- 120 acres fenced; 40 acres unfenced

- 3,000 sq. ft. cabin with 4 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms

The cabin has been built and worked on for decades. Its original frame was constructed on-site using a portable sawmill. The large exposed beams were sawn from felled ponderosa pines milled on the property. Recent upgrades include a new kitchen, updated bathrooms, and beautiful interior woodworking. A new solar system with battery storage powers the home, and a Starlink system provides reliable internet despite the remote location.

Hunting

Unit 15 is considered one of New Mexico's premier elk hunting units, with a high elk density and quality bulls scoring 330350". As a primitive weapon-only unit, only bow and open-sight muzzleloaders are permitted. Elk are present year-roundpre-rut, rut, and post-rut. The steep slopes are covered in forage, attracting bulls after they separate from cows.

2024 Season Dates:

- Archery

- Sept 114 and Sept 1524

- Muzzleloader

- Oct 1115 (Youth Only Hunt)

- Oct 1822 (First Adult Muzzleloader Hunt)

- Oct 2529 (Second Adult Muzzleloader Hunt)

- Nov 1519 (Third Adult Muzzleloader Hunt)

For 2024, the property was enrolled in the E-Plus system and received a Unit-Wide Archery Tag for Unit 15. These tags may be used by the owner or sold and are in high demand.

Other wildlife includes mule deer, javelina, turkey, and black bearall of which can be hunted with over-the-counter licenses. The natural spring and riparian bottom also attract a variety of birds and small mammals.

Water

Negrito Springs is named after the year-round spring that feeds the creek bottom and supplies water to the cabin. A recent estimate from a well driller confirmed the potential for a well in the canyon bottom, which would provide ample water for domestic and wildlife use.

Area

The property is located roughly 45 minutes to an hour off Hwy 32 via a rough dirt road. Travel in and out is slow and time-consumingthis isn't a parcel you’ll want to commute from daily. However, the surrounding area includes hundreds of miles of two-track roads for endless side-by-side exploring, hiking, or horseback riding.

- Quemado (75 min): gas, groceries, restaurants, mechanic

- Apache Creek (75 min): small convenience store

- Springerville, AZ (2 hrs): hospital, groceries, hardware, restaurants, shops

Taxes

- $950 annually