ELK-1-210: elk hunt in Unit 52, Nov 21-25
ELK-1-210 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 52, November 21 to 25, with 56 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 46 applicants chose it first and 31 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 55 licenses sold, 51 hunters reporting, a 56% success rate, 0 bulls and 27 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 21 to 25 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 52 |
| Licenses | 56 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / mobility impaired only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 46 (31 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 56% success, 0 bulls, 27 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-210?
46 applicants chose ELK-1-210 first in the 2026 draw and 31 drew it on that choice, 67.4% of them. 56 of the 56 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 38 first-choice applicants and 31 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 | 46 | 40 | 31 | 31 | 55 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 46 | 40 | 32 | 31 | 56 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 38 | 34 | 40 | 31 | 56 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 38 | 34 | 40 | 31 | 56 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-210?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-210, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 56% (2025-26), from 51 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 57 in 2023-24 to 55 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 22-26 | 55 | 51 | 56% | 0 | 27 | 3.04 | 3.56 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 16-20 | 59 | 56 | 41% | 0 | 20 | 3.2 | 3.13 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 18-22 | 57 | 53 | 24% | 0 | 12 | 3.39 | 2.57 |
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-1-210 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-1-210 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 10th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (46). Its 2025-26 success rate, 56%, was the 3rd 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-1-210 have?
NMDOW lists 56 licenses for ELK-1-210 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 59 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-210?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-210 a 56% success rate, from 51 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 24% to 56%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-210 in 2026?
118 applicants listed ELK-1-210 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 46 chose it first and 31 of those drew it, 67.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 38 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-210?
No. ELK-1-210 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89).