ELK-1-253: elk hunt in Unit 12, Nov 28-Dec 2
ELK-1-253 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 12, November 28 to December 2, with 60 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 46 applicants chose it first and 26 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 60 licenses sold, 56 hunters reporting, a 60% success rate, 0 bulls and 31 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 28 to December 2 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 12 |
| Licenses | 60 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 46 (26 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 60% success, 0 bulls, 31 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 38.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-253?
46 applicants chose ELK-1-253 first in the 2026 draw and 26 drew it on that choice, 56.5% of them. 60 of the 60 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 28 first-choice applicants and 21 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 | 46 | 166 | 115 | 26 | 60 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 46 | 166 | 115 | 26 | 60 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 28 | 178 | 119 | 21 | 60 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 28 | 178 | 119 | 21 | 60 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-253?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-253, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 60% (2025-26), from 56 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 29 - Dec 3 | 60 | 56 | 60% | 0 | 31 | 2.92 | 4.04 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 23-27 | 60 | 55 | 43% | 0 | 22 | 3.26 | 3.43 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 25-29 | 60 | 48 | 44% | 0 | 24 | 3.14 | 3.74 |
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-1-253 compare with the other Unit 12 elk hunts?
ELK-1-253 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 12 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 9th most first-choice applicants of the 10 drawn ones (46). Its 2025-26 success rate, 60%, was the 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-1-253 have?
NMDOW lists 60 licenses for ELK-1-253 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-1-253?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-253 a 60% success rate, from 56 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 43% to 60%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-253 in 2026?
327 applicants listed ELK-1-253 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 46 chose it first and 26 of those drew it, 56.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 28 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-253?
No. ELK-1-253 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79).