ELK-1-289: elk hunt in Unit 16C, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-289 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16C, December 5 to 9, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 141 applicants chose it first and 33 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 44 hunters reporting, a 31% success rate, 0 bulls and 13 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 16CNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16C |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 141 (33 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 31% success, 0 bulls, 13 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 83.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-289?
141 applicants chose ELK-1-289 first in the 2026 draw and 33 drew it on that choice, 23.4% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 159 first-choice applicants and 33 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 | 140 | 174 | 193 | 32 | 49 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 141 | 174 | 193 | 33 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 159 | 158 | 234 | 33 | 49 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 159 | 158 | 239 | 33 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-289?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-289, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 31% (2025-26), from 44 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 50 in 2023-24 to 50 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 | 50 | 44 | 31% | 0 | 13 | 3.69 | 3.23 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 50 | 40 | 18% | 0 | 8 | 3.79 | 2.53 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-9 | 50 | 48 | 23% | 0 | 9 | 3.25 | 2.8 |
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-1-289 compare with the other Unit 16C elk hunts?
ELK-1-289 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (141). Its 2025-26 success rate, 31%, was the 2nd highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16C elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 83.3% public land (255,480 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-289 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for ELK-1-289 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 50 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-289?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-289 a 31% success rate, from 44 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 18% to 31%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-289 in 2026?
508 applicants listed ELK-1-289 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 141 chose it first and 33 of those drew it, 23.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 159 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-289?
No. ELK-1-289 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81).