ELK-1-245: elk hunt in Unit 7, Oct 24-28
ELK-1-245 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 7, October 24 to 28, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 37 applicants chose it first and 7 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 30 licenses sold, 25 hunters reporting, a 20% success rate, 5 bulls and 0 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: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 24 to 28 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 7 |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 37 (7 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 20% success, 5 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 36% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-245?
37 applicants chose ELK-1-245 first in the 2026 draw and 7 drew it on that choice, 18.9% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 54 first-choice applicants and 19 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 | 37 | 92 | 119 | 7 | 50 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 37 | 92 | 119 | 7 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 54 | 75 | 149 | 19 | 50 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 54 | 76 | 149 | 19 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-245?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-245, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 20% (2025-26), from 25 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 51 in 2023-24 to 30 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 | Oct 25-29 | 30 | 25 | 20% | 5 | 0 | 3.95 | 3.25 |
| 2024-25 | A | Oct 19-23 | 50 | 43 | 11% | 0 | 5 | 4.13 | 2.89 |
| 2023-24 | A | Oct 21-25 | 51 | 45 | 16% | 0 | 7 | 3.71 | 3.37 |
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-1-245 compare with the other Unit 7 elk hunts?
ELK-1-245 is one of 5 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 7 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (37). Its 2025-26 success rate, 20%, was the 3rd 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-1-245 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for ELK-1-245 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 50 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-245?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-245 a 20% success rate, from 25 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 11% to 20%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-245 in 2026?
248 applicants listed ELK-1-245 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 37 chose it first and 7 of those drew it, 18.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 54 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-245?
No. ELK-1-245 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78).