ELK-1-297: elk hunt in Unit 16D, Dec 12-16
ELK-1-297 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16D, December 12 to 16, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 76 applicants chose it first and 17 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 49 hunters reporting, a 60% success rate, 1 bull and 27 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 16DNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16D |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 76 (17 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 60% success, 1 bull, 27 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 88.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-297?
76 applicants chose ELK-1-297 first in the 2026 draw and 17 drew it on that choice, 22.4% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 65 first-choice applicants and 19 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 | 75 | 202 | 211 | 16 | 49 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 76 | 207 | 212 | 17 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 64 | 222 | 204 | 18 | 49 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 65 | 223 | 204 | 19 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-297?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-297, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 60% (2025-26), from 49 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 51 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 13-17 | 50 | 49 | 60% | 1 | 27 | 2.42 | 4.13 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec14-18 | 50 | 45 | 33% | 0 | 14 | 3.08 | 3.7 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 51 | 49 | 65% | 0 | 31 | 2.91 | 4.02 |
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-1-297 compare with the other Unit 16D elk hunts?
ELK-1-297 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16D in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (76). Its 2025-26 success rate, 60%, was the 6th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16D elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 88.3% public land (266,069 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-297 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for ELK-1-297 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-1-297?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-297 a 60% success rate, from 49 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 33% to 65%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-297 in 2026?
495 applicants listed ELK-1-297 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 76 chose it first and 17 of those drew it, 22.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 65 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-297?
No. ELK-1-297 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81).