ELK-1-161: elk hunt in Unit 10, Nov 14-18
ELK-1-161 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 10, November 14 to 18, with 120 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 83 applicants chose it first and 59 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 120 licenses sold, 109 hunters reporting, a 30% success rate, 0 bulls and 32 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landState parkNational Park ServiceMilitary landTribal landUnit 10Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 14 to 18 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 10 |
| Licenses | 120 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / youth only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 83 (59 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 30% success, 0 bulls, 32 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 31.2% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-161?
83 applicants chose ELK-1-161 first in the 2026 draw and 59 drew it on that choice, 71.1% of them. 120 of the 120 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 61 first-choice applicants and 54 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 | 83 | 35 | 69 | 59 | 120 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 83 | 35 | 69 | 59 | 120 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 61 | 39 | 46 | 54 | 120 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 61 | 39 | 46 | 54 | 120 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-161?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-161, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 30% (2025-26), from 109 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 121 in 2023-24 to 120 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 | Nov 15-19 | 120 | 109 | 30% | 0 | 32 | 3.26 | 3.43 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 9-13 | 121 | 108 | 20% | 0 | 20 | 3.33 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 11-15 | 121 | 109 | 23% | 3 | 21 | 3.53 | 3.65 |
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-1-161 compare with the other Unit 10 elk hunts?
ELK-1-161 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 10 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (83). Its 2025-26 success rate, 30%, was the 3rd highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 10 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 31.2% public land (447,239 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-161 have?
NMDOW lists 120 licenses for ELK-1-161 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 121 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-161?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-161 a 30% success rate, from 109 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 20% to 30%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-161 in 2026?
187 applicants listed ELK-1-161 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 83 chose it first and 59 of those drew it, 71.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 61 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-161?
No. ELK-1-161 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79).