ELK-1-143: elk hunt in Unit 5A (Public Land only), Oct 24-28
ELK-1-143 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 5A, Public Land only, October 24 to 28, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76). In the 2026 draw, 14 applicants chose it first and 4 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 7 hunters reporting, a 33% success rate, 0 bulls and 3 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landTribal landUnit 5ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 24 to 28 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 5A |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 14 (4 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 33% success, 0 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 16.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-143?
14 applicants chose ELK-1-143 first in the 2026 draw and 4 drew it on that choice, 28.6% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 11 first-choice applicants and 5 drawn on first choice. These are NMDOW's results for those draws, not a forecast.
| Pool, 2026 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 14 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 14 | 15 | 22 | 4 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 11 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 11 | 9 | 15 | 5 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-143?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-143, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 33% (2025-26), from 7 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 10 in 2023-24 to 10 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bulls | Cows | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | A | Oct 25-29 | 10 | 7 | 33% | 0 | 3 | 3.33 | 3.67 |
| 2024-25 | A | Oct 19-23 | 10 | 6 | 40% | 0 | 3 | 4 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | A | Oct 21-25 | 10 | 8 | 38% | 0 | 4 | 2.63 | 3 |
Source: NMDGF 2025-26 elk harvest report, NMDGF 2024-25 elk harvest report and NMDGF 2023-24 elk harvest report and earlier NMDOW elk harvest reports.
How does ELK-1-143 compare with the other Unit 5A elk hunts?
ELK-1-143 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 5A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 10 drawn ones (14). Its 2025-26 success rate, 33%, was the 2nd highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 5A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 16.3% public land (23,914 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-143 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-1-143 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-143?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-143 a 33% success rate, from 7 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 33% to 40%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-143 in 2026?
51 applicants listed ELK-1-143 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 14 chose it first and 4 of those drew it, 28.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 11 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-143?
No. ELK-1-143 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76).