ELK-1-211: elk hunt in Unit 52, Nov 21-25
ELK-1-211 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 52, November 21 to 25, with 73 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 317 applicants chose it first and 50 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 73 licenses sold, 64 hunters reporting, a 35% success rate, 0 bulls and 23 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 | 73 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 317 (50 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 35% success, 0 bulls, 23 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-211?
317 applicants chose ELK-1-211 first in the 2026 draw and 50 drew it on that choice, 15.8% of them. 73 of the 73 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 354 first-choice applicants and 67 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 | 315 | 482 | 431 | 48 | 71 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| All applicants | 317 | 482 | 431 | 50 | 73 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 349 | 469 | 464 | 62 | 68 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| All applicants | 354 | 469 | 464 | 67 | 73 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-211?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-211, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 35% (2025-26), from 64 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 73 in 2023-24 to 73 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 | 73 | 64 | 35% | 0 | 23 | 3.22 | 3.57 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 16-20 | 73 | 66 | 37% | 1 | 23 | 3.23 | 3.5 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 18-22 | 73 | 65 | 19% | 0 | 13 | 3.44 | 3.35 |
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-1-211 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-1-211 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (317). Its 2025-26 success rate, 35%, was the 4th 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-1-211 have?
NMDOW lists 73 licenses for ELK-1-211 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 73 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-211?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-211 a 35% success rate, from 64 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 19% to 37%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-211 in 2026?
1,230 applicants listed ELK-1-211 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 317 chose it first and 50 of those drew it, 15.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 354 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-211?
No. ELK-1-211 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89).