ELK-1-290: elk hunt in Unit 16C, Dec 12-16
ELK-1-290 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16C, December 12 to 16, with 48 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 39 applicants chose it first and 11 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 48 licenses sold, 46 hunters reporting, a 21% success rate, 0 bulls and 8 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 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16C |
| Licenses | 48 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 39 (11 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 21% success, 0 bulls, 8 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 83.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-290?
39 applicants chose ELK-1-290 first in the 2026 draw and 11 drew it on that choice, 28.2% of them. 48 of the 48 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 42 first-choice applicants and 10 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 | 39 | 126 | 139 | 11 | 48 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 39 | 127 | 143 | 11 | 48 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 42 | 119 | 148 | 10 | 48 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 42 | 119 | 148 | 10 | 48 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-290?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-290, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 21% (2025-26), from 46 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 48 in 2023-24 to 48 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 | 48 | 46 | 21% | 0 | 8 | 3.62 | 2.79 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 14-18 | 48 | 40 | 50% | 0 | 22 | 3.69 | 3.25 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 48 | 46 | 18% | 1 | 6 | 3.88 | 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-1-290 compare with the other Unit 16C elk hunts?
ELK-1-290 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (39). Its 2025-26 success rate, 21%, was the 4th 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-1-290 have?
NMDOW lists 48 licenses for ELK-1-290 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 48 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-290?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-290 a 21% success rate, from 46 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 18% to 50%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-290 in 2026?
309 applicants listed ELK-1-290 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 39 chose it first and 11 of those drew it, 28.2% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 42 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-290?
No. ELK-1-290 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81).