ELK-1-209: elk hunt in Unit 52, Nov 14-18
ELK-1-209 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 52, November 14 to 18, with 80 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 105 applicants chose it first and 44 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 80 licenses sold, 77 hunters reporting, a 25% success rate, 0 bulls and 19 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: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 14 to 18 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 52 |
| Licenses | 80 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / youth only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 105 (44 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 25% success, 0 bulls, 19 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-209?
105 applicants chose ELK-1-209 first in the 2026 draw and 44 drew it on that choice, 41.9% of them. 80 of the 80 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 87 first-choice applicants and 36 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 | 104 | 95 | 115 | 43 | 79 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 105 | 95 | 116 | 44 | 80 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 87 | 50 | 112 | 36 | 80 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 87 | 50 | 115 | 36 | 80 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-209?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-209, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 25% (2025-26), from 77 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 80 in 2023-24 to 80 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 15-19 | 80 | 77 | 25% | 0 | 19 | 3.06 | 3.62 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 9-13 | 80 | 74 | 60% | 0 | 44 | 2.71 | 4.24 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 11-15 | 80 | 74 | 32% | 1 | 23 | 3.49 | 3.37 |
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-1-209 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-1-209 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 8th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (105). Its 2025-26 success rate, 25%, was the 8th 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-1-209 have?
NMDOW lists 80 licenses for ELK-1-209 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 80 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-209?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-209 a 25% success rate, from 77 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 25% to 60%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-209 in 2026?
316 applicants listed ELK-1-209 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 105 chose it first and 44 of those drew it, 41.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 87 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-209?
No. ELK-1-209 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89).