ELK-1-252: elk hunt in Unit 12, Nov 21-25
ELK-1-252 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 12, November 21 to 25, with 60 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 145 applicants chose it first and 43 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 60 licenses sold, 54 hunters reporting, a 37% success rate, 0 bulls and 21 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 12Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 21 to 25 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 12 |
| Licenses | 60 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 145 (43 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 37% success, 0 bulls, 21 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 38.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-252?
145 applicants chose ELK-1-252 first in the 2026 draw and 43 drew it on that choice, 29.7% of them. 60 of the 60 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 191 first-choice applicants and 45 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 | 145 | 78 | 126 | 43 | 59 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 145 | 78 | 127 | 43 | 60 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 191 | 110 | 118 | 45 | 59 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 191 | 110 | 119 | 45 | 60 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-252?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-252, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 37% (2025-26), from 54 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 60 in 2023-24 to 60 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 22-26 | 60 | 54 | 37% | 0 | 21 | 3.47 | 4.12 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 16-20 | 60 | 53 | 29% | 0 | 16 | 3.51 | 3.33 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 18-22 | 60 | 54 | 48% | 1 | 23 | 3.39 | 3.8 |
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-1-252 compare with the other Unit 12 elk hunts?
ELK-1-252 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 12 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 10 drawn ones (145). Its 2025-26 success rate, 37%, was the 6th highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 12 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 38.8% public land (642,998 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-252 have?
NMDOW lists 60 licenses for ELK-1-252 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 60 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-252?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-252 a 37% success rate, from 54 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 29% to 48%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-252 in 2026?
350 applicants listed ELK-1-252 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 145 chose it first and 43 of those drew it, 29.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 191 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-252?
No. ELK-1-252 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79).