ELK-1-173: elk hunt in Unit 4 (Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only), Oct 10-14
ELK-1-173 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull or an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only, October 10 to 14, with 15 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76). In the 2026 draw, 170 applicants chose it first and 8 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 15 licenses sold, 14 hunters reporting, a 54% success rate, 8 bulls and 0 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 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 10 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 4 |
| Licenses | 15 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 170 (8 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 54% success, 8 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 11.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-173?
170 applicants chose ELK-1-173 first in the 2026 draw and 8 drew it on that choice, 4.7% of them. 15 of the 15 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 175 first-choice applicants and 6 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 | 162 | 166 | 100 | 8 | 14 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 170 | 170 | 102 | 8 | 15 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 172 | 120 | 90 | 5 | 14 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 175 | 127 | 92 | 6 | 15 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-1-173 held?
ELK-1-173 is held on W.A. Humphries WMA, 11,078 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 4, 7 miles from Lumberton. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Primitive camping is allowed Memorial Day weekend-November 15 in designated areas only. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Closures: Bill Humphries Wildlife Area is closed November 16 until Memorial Day weekend except for established deer and elk hunts.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-173?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-173, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 54% (2025-26), from 14 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 15 in 2023-24 to 15 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 11-15 | 15 | 14 | 54% | 8 | 0 | 3 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | MB/A | Oct 5-9 | 15 | 14 | 62% | 8 | 1 | 3.38 | 4.38 |
| 2023-24 | MB/A | Oct 7-11 | 15 | 13 | 75% | 9 | 1 | 2.58 | 4.33 |
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-1-173 compare with the other Unit 4 elk hunts?
ELK-1-173 is one of 15 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 4 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 15 drawn ones (170). Its 2025-26 success rate, 54%, was the 9th 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-1-173 have?
NMDOW lists 15 licenses for ELK-1-173 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 15 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-173?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-173 a 54% success rate, from 14 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 54% to 75%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-173 in 2026?
442 applicants listed ELK-1-173 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 170 chose it first and 8 of those drew it, 4.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 175 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-173?
No. ELK-1-173 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76).