ELK-1-198: elk hunt in Units 51A and 51B, Nov 7-11
ELK-1-198 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Units 51A and 51B, November 7 to 11, with 251 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). In the 2026 draw, 607 applicants chose it first and 175 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 251 licenses sold, 230 hunters reporting, a 27% success rate, 2 bulls and 58 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 landUnits 51A and 51BUnit linesLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 7 to 11 (2026-27) |
| Units | Unit 51A, Unit 51B |
| Licenses | 251 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 607 (175 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 27% success, 2 bulls, 58 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 82.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-198?
607 applicants chose ELK-1-198 first in the 2026 draw and 175 drew it on that choice, 28.8% of them. 251 of the 251 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 658 first-choice applicants and 170 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 | 607 | 474 | 578 | 175 | 249 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 607 | 475 | 580 | 175 | 251 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 658 | 440 | 603 | 170 | 251 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 658 | 440 | 604 | 170 | 251 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-198?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-198, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 27% (2025-26), from 230 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 252 in 2023-24 to 251 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 | 251 | 230 | 27% | 2 | 58 | 3.76 | 3.21 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 2-6 | 251 | 226 | 27% | 0 | 61 | 3.42 | 3.46 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 4-8 | 252 | 226 | 25% | 3 | 52 | 3.67 | 3.34 |
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-1-198 compare with the other Units 51A and 51B elk hunts?
ELK-1-198 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Units 51A and 51B in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 9 drawn ones (607). Its 2025-26 success rate, 27%, was the 8th highest of the 11 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Units 51A and 51B elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 82.3% public land (522,891 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-198 have?
NMDOW lists 251 licenses for ELK-1-198 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 251 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-198?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-198 a 27% success rate, from 230 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 25% to 27%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-198 in 2026?
1,662 applicants listed ELK-1-198 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 607 chose it first and 175 of those drew it, 28.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 658 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-198?
No. ELK-1-198 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88).
New Mexico hunting New Mexico elk Units 51A and 51B elk Unit 51A Unit 51B