ELK-1-189: elk hunt in Unit 50, Oct 10-14
ELK-1-189 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with any legal weapon in Unit 50, October 10 to 14, with 120 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). In the 2026 draw, 100 applicants chose it first and 38 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 120 licenses sold, 105 hunters reporting, a 20% success rate, 21 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 50Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 10 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 50 |
| Licenses | 120 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 100 (38 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 20% success, 21 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 68% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-189?
100 applicants chose ELK-1-189 first in the 2026 draw and 38 drew it on that choice, 38% of them. 120 of the 120 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 144 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 | 65 | 102 | 133 | 34 | 101 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 35 | 41 | 67 | 4 | 7 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 11 | 17 | 0 | 12 |
| All applicants | 100 | 154 | 217 | 38 | 120 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 115 | 94 | 135 | 51 | 109 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 29 | 24 | 38 | 3 | 7 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| All applicants | 144 | 122 | 177 | 54 | 120 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-189?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-189, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 20% (2025-26), from 105 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 120 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 | MB | Oct 11-15 | 120 | 105 | 20% | 21 | 0 | 3.72 | 2.86 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 5-9 | 121 | 98 | 21% | 22 | 0 | 3.62 | 2.86 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 7-11 | 120 | 101 | 16% | 17 | 0 | 3.76 | 2.69 |
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-1-189 compare with the other Unit 50 elk hunts?
ELK-1-189 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 50 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (100). Its 2025-26 success rate, 20%, was the 3rd highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 50 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 68% public land (401,683 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-189 have?
NMDOW lists 120 licenses for ELK-1-189 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 121 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-189?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-189 a 20% success rate, from 105 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 16% to 21%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-189 in 2026?
471 applicants listed ELK-1-189 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 100 chose it first and 38 of those drew it, 38% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 144 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-189?
Yes. Nonresidents draw from the 6% of licenses set aside for them, or the 10% for applicants with a registered outfitter (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).