ELK-1-185: elk hunt in Unit 5B, Nov 14-18
ELK-1-185 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 5B, November 14 to 18, with 59 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77). In the 2026 draw, 67 applicants chose it first and 27 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 59 licenses sold, 54 hunters reporting, a 35% success rate, 0 bulls and 19 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landMilitary landTribal landUnit 5BNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 14 to 18 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 5B |
| Licenses | 59 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 67 (27 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 35% success, 0 bulls, 19 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 81% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-185?
67 applicants chose ELK-1-185 first in the 2026 draw and 27 drew it on that choice, 40.3% of them. 59 of the 59 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 99 first-choice applicants and 33 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 | 61 | 101 | 170 | 23 | 54 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| All applicants | 67 | 103 | 170 | 27 | 59 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 94 | 107 | 193 | 29 | 54 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 5 |
| All applicants | 99 | 111 | 193 | 33 | 59 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-185?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-185, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 35% (2025-26), from 54 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 59 in 2023-24 to 59 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 8-12 | 59 | 54 | 35% | 0 | 19 | 3.57 | 3.78 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 9-13 | 59 | 49 | 38% | 0 | 18 | 3.46 | 3.77 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 11-15 | 59 | 57 | 37% | 0 | 20 | 3.82 | 3.88 |
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-1-185 compare with the other Unit 5B elk hunts?
ELK-1-185 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 5B in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 8th most first-choice applicants of the 9 drawn ones (67). Its 2025-26 success rate, 35%, was the 3rd highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 5B elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 81% public land (214,294 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-185 have?
NMDOW lists 59 licenses for ELK-1-185 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 59 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-185?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-185 a 35% success rate, from 54 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 35% to 38%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-185 in 2026?
340 applicants listed ELK-1-185 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 67 chose it first and 27 of those drew it, 40.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 99 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-185?
No. ELK-1-185 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77).