ELK-1-244: elk hunt in Unit 7, Oct 17-21
ELK-1-244 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with any legal weapon in Unit 7, October 17 to 21, with 30 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 78 applicants chose it first and 14 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 46 hunters reporting, an 18% success rate, 0 bulls and 8 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landBureau of ReclamationNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 7Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 7 |
| Licenses | 30 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 78 (14 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 18% success, 0 bulls, 8 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 36% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-244?
78 applicants chose ELK-1-244 first in the 2026 draw and 14 drew it on that choice, 17.9% of them. 30 of the 30 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 63 first-choice applicants and 13 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 | 69 | 99 | 174 | 13 | 26 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 8 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 3 |
| All applicants | 78 | 114 | 211 | 14 | 30 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 48 | 131 | 169 | 9 | 26 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 8 | 12 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 7 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 3 |
| All applicants | 63 | 144 | 187 | 13 | 30 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-244?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-244, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 18% (2025-26), from 46 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 30 in 2023-24 to 50 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bulls | Cows | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MB | Oct 18-22 | 50 | 46 | 18% | 0 | 8 | 3.75 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 12-16 | 30 | 25 | 18% | 5 | 0 | 3.91 | 3 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 14-18 | 30 | 27 | 35% | 10 | 0 | 3.5 | 3.88 |
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-1-244 compare with the other Unit 7 elk hunts?
ELK-1-244 is one of 5 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 7 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (78). Its 2025-26 success rate, 18%, was the 4th highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 7 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 36% public land (789,010 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-244 have?
NMDOW lists 30 licenses for ELK-1-244 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 30 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-244?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-244 a 18% success rate, from 46 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 18% to 35%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-244 in 2026?
403 applicants listed ELK-1-244 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 78 chose it first and 14 of those drew it, 17.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 63 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-244?
Yes. Nonresidents draw from the 6% of licenses set aside for them, or the 10% for applicants with a registered outfitter (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).