ELK-1-207: elk hunt in Unit 52, Oct 17-21
ELK-1-207 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with any legal weapon in Unit 52, October 17 to 21, with 230 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 1,286 applicants chose it first and 161 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 231 licenses sold, 209 hunters reporting, a 34% success rate, 71 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 52Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 52 |
| Licenses | 230 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 1,286 (161 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 34% success, 71 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-207?
1,286 applicants chose ELK-1-207 first in the 2026 draw and 161 drew it on that choice, 12.5% of them. 230 of the 230 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 1,234 first-choice applicants and 164 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 | 960 | 789 | 758 | 136 | 194 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 184 | 163 | 213 | 11 | 13 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 142 | 162 | 154 | 14 | 23 |
| All applicants | 1,286 | 1,114 | 1,125 | 161 | 230 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 940 | 811 | 751 | 147 | 194 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 173 | 221 | 224 | 10 | 13 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 121 | 147 | 166 | 7 | 23 |
| All applicants | 1,234 | 1,179 | 1,141 | 164 | 230 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-207?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-207, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 34% (2025-26), from 209 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 234 in 2023-24 to 231 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 18-22 | 231 | 209 | 34% | 71 | 0 | 3.69 | 3.69 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 12-16 | 231 | 212 | 29% | 58 | 0 | 3.77 | 3.57 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 14-18 | 234 | 206 | 20% | 42 | 0 | 3.92 | 3.4 |
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-1-207 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-1-207 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (1,286). Its 2025-26 success rate, 34%, was the 5th highest of the 12 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 52 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 92.1% public land (247,713 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-207 have?
NMDOW lists 230 licenses for ELK-1-207 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 231 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-207?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-207 a 34% success rate, from 209 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 20% to 34%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-207 in 2026?
3,525 applicants listed ELK-1-207 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 1,286 chose it first and 161 of those drew it, 12.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 1,234 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-207?
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).