ELK-1-212: elk hunt in Unit 52, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-212 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 52, December 5 to 9, with 115 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 379 applicants chose it first and 85 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 115 licenses sold, 106 hunters reporting, a 61% success rate, 1 bull and 64 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 | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 52 |
| Licenses | 115 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 379 (85 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 61% success, 1 bull, 64 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-212?
379 applicants chose ELK-1-212 first in the 2026 draw and 85 drew it on that choice, 22.4% of them. 115 of the 115 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 345 first-choice applicants and 91 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 | 376 | 425 | 565 | 82 | 112 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| All applicants | 379 | 427 | 565 | 85 | 115 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 341 | 411 | 504 | 87 | 111 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 4 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| All applicants | 345 | 414 | 505 | 91 | 115 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-212?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-212, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 61% (2025-26), from 106 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 115 in 2023-24 to 115 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 | Dec 6-10 | 115 | 106 | 61% | 1 | 64 | 2.71 | 3.97 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 115 | 104 | 58% | 1 | 62 | 2.76 | 4.26 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 115 | 105 | 54% | 1 | 57 | 3.05 | 3.81 |
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-1-212 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-1-212 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (379). Its 2025-26 success rate, 61%, was the 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-1-212 have?
NMDOW lists 115 licenses for ELK-1-212 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 115 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-212?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-212 a 61% success rate, from 106 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 54% to 61%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-212 in 2026?
1,371 applicants listed ELK-1-212 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 379 chose it first and 85 of those drew it, 22.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 345 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-212?
No. ELK-1-212 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89).