ELK-1-278: elk hunt in Unit 16A, Dec 12-16
ELK-1-278 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16A, December 12 to 16, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 125 applicants chose it first and 33 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 66 hunters reporting, a 40% success rate, 0 bulls and 26 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 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16A |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 125 (33 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 40% success, 0 bulls, 26 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 97% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-278?
125 applicants chose ELK-1-278 first in the 2026 draw and 33 drew it on that choice, 26.4% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 130 first-choice applicants and 30 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 | 121 | 301 | 274 | 29 | 69 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 4 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| All applicants | 125 | 301 | 281 | 33 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 130 | 354 | 326 | 30 | 73 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 130 | 354 | 329 | 30 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-278?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-278, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 40% (2025-26), from 66 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 75 in 2023-24 to 75 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 13-17 | 75 | 66 | 40% | 0 | 26 | 3.39 | 3.72 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 14-18 | 75 | 67 | 53% | 0 | 37 | 3.16 | 3.61 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 75 | 67 | 56% | 0 | 36 | 2.93 | 4.1 |
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-1-278 compare with the other Unit 16A elk hunts?
ELK-1-278 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (125). Its 2025-26 success rate, 40%, was the 7th 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-1-278 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-1-278 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-1-278?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-278 a 40% success rate, from 66 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 40% to 56%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-278 in 2026?
707 applicants listed ELK-1-278 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 125 chose it first and 33 of those drew it, 26.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 130 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-278?
No. ELK-1-278 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80).