ELK-1-277: elk hunt in Unit 16A, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-277 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16A, December 5 to 9, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 452 applicants chose it first and 59 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 76 licenses sold, 71 hunters reporting, a 48% success rate, 0 bulls and 33 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestState trust landUnit 16ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16A |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 452 (59 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 48% success, 0 bulls, 33 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 97% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-277?
452 applicants chose ELK-1-277 first in the 2026 draw and 59 drew it on that choice, 13.1% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 498 first-choice applicants and 56 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 | 447 | 351 | 518 | 56 | 68 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 7 |
| All applicants | 452 | 354 | 520 | 59 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 493 | 404 | 465 | 51 | 69 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 6 |
| All applicants | 498 | 405 | 465 | 56 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-277?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-277, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 48% (2025-26), from 71 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 76 in 2023-24 to 76 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 | Dec 6-10 | 76 | 71 | 48% | 0 | 33 | 2.89 | 3.86 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 75 | 69 | 58% | 0 | 38 | 2.87 | 3.7 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 76 | 67 | 43% | 1 | 28 | 3.28 | 3.9 |
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-1-277 compare with the other Unit 16A elk hunts?
ELK-1-277 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (452). Its 2025-26 success rate, 48%, was the 5th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 97% public land (399,885 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-277 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-1-277 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-277?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-277 a 48% success rate, from 71 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 43% to 58%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-277 in 2026?
1,326 applicants listed ELK-1-277 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 452 chose it first and 59 of those drew it, 13.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 498 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-277?
No. ELK-1-277 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80).