ELK-1-229: elk hunt in Unit 6B (Valles Caldera, hunter orientation required), Oct 31-Nov 4
ELK-1-229 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 6B, Valles Caldera, hunter orientation required, October 31 to November 4, with 35 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77). In the 2026 draw, 158 applicants chose it first and 25 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 35 licenses sold, 31 hunters reporting, a 45% success rate, 1 bull and 15 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 6BNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 31 to November 4 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 6B |
| Licenses | 35 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / youth only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 158 (25 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 45% success, 1 bull, 15 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 99.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-229?
158 applicants chose ELK-1-229 first in the 2026 draw and 25 drew it on that choice, 15.8% of them. 35 of the 35 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 155 first-choice applicants and 26 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 | 157 | 99 | 63 | 24 | 34 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 158 | 99 | 63 | 25 | 35 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 155 | 91 | 68 | 26 | 33 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 155 | 91 | 70 | 26 | 35 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-229?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-229, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 45% (2025-26), from 31 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 35 in 2023-24 to 35 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 1-5 | 35 | 31 | 45% | 1 | 15 | 2.97 | 3.77 |
| 2024-25 | A | Oct 26-30 | 35 | 31 | 41% | 0 | 12 | 3.07 | 4.11 |
| 2023-24 | A | Oct 28- Nov 1 | 35 | 31 | 41% | 0 | 12 | 2.96 | 4.07 |
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-1-229 compare with the other Unit 6B elk hunts?
ELK-1-229 is one of 15 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 6B in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 15 drawn ones (158). Its 2025-26 success rate, 45%, was the 9th highest of the 15 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 6B elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 99.9% public land (88,748 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-229 have?
NMDOW lists 35 licenses for ELK-1-229 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 35 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-229?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-229 a 45% success rate, from 31 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 41% to 45%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-229 in 2026?
320 applicants listed ELK-1-229 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 158 chose it first and 25 of those drew it, 15.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 155 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-229?
No. ELK-1-229 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77).