ELK-1-166: elk hunt in Unit 4 (Sargent WMA only), Oct 17-21
ELK-1-166 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull or an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 4, Sargent WMA only, October 17 to 21, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). In the 2026 draw, 97 applicants chose it first and 6 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 7 hunters reporting, a 71% success rate, 7 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landState parkTribal landUnit 4Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull or antlerless elk. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 4 |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| NMDOW fee class | quality |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 97 (6 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 71% success, 7 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 11.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-166?
97 applicants chose ELK-1-166 first in the 2026 draw and 6 drew it on that choice, 6.2% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 86 first-choice applicants and 4 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 | 94 | 196 | 76 | 6 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 97 | 207 | 79 | 6 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 83 | 194 | 68 | 4 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 13 | 4 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 86 | 207 | 72 | 4 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-1-166 held?
ELK-1-166 is held on Edward Sargent WMA, 20,057 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 4, next to Chama. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Camping is allowed only in the Designated Camping Area and only from July 1-Nov. 15. Licensed hunters and their guests may camp in this designated area during their hunt. Closures: -From May 15-June 30: GAIN activities (wildlife viewing, photograpy, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, skiing, snowshoeing, etc) are restricted to the Sargent Main Road, Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and The Elk Viewing Trail. -During published deer and elk hunts: GAIN activities are restricted to the Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and the Elk Viewing Trail; the Sargent Main Road is closed to GAIN activities during this time.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-166?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-166, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 71% (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 | MB/A | Oct 18-22 | 10 | 7 | 71% | 7 | 0 | 1.86 | 4.71 |
| 2024-25 | MB/A | Oct 12-16 | 10 | 9 | 88% | 8 | 0 | 2.63 | 4.25 |
| 2023-24 | MB/A | Oct 14-18 | 10 | 8 | 75% | 8 | 0 | 2.5 | 4.25 |
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-1-166 compare with the other Unit 4 elk hunts?
ELK-1-166 is one of 15 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 4 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 15 drawn ones (97). Its 2025-26 success rate, 71%, was the 3rd highest of the 15 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 4 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 11.7% public land (51,905 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-166 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-1-166 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-166?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-166 a 71% success rate, from 7 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 71% to 88%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-166 in 2026?
383 applicants listed ELK-1-166 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 97 chose it first and 6 of those drew it, 6.2% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 86 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-166?
No. ELK-1-166 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75).