ELK-1-303: elk hunt in Unit 16E, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-303 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16E, December 5 to 9, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 61 applicants chose it first and 25 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 65 hunters reporting, a 23% success rate, 0 bulls and 15 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 16ENeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16E |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 61 (25 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 23% success, 0 bulls, 15 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 62.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-303?
61 applicants chose ELK-1-303 first in the 2026 draw and 25 drew it on that choice, 41% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 77 first-choice applicants and 31 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 | 61 | 109 | 145 | 25 | 75 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 61 | 110 | 146 | 25 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 77 | 95 | 182 | 31 | 75 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 77 | 95 | 182 | 31 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-303?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-303, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 23% (2025-26), from 65 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 6-10 | 75 | 65 | 23% | 0 | 15 | 3.38 | 2.84 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 75 | 68 | 18% | 0 | 11 | 3.42 | 3.04 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 75 | 65 | 32% | 2 | 18 | 2.98 | 3.64 |
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-1-303 compare with the other Unit 16E elk hunts?
ELK-1-303 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16E in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (61). Its 2025-26 success rate, 23%, was the 6th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16E elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 62.7% public land (385,211 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-303 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-1-303 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-303?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-303 a 23% success rate, from 65 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 18% to 32%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-303 in 2026?
317 applicants listed ELK-1-303 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 61 chose it first and 25 of those drew it, 41% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 77 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-303?
No. ELK-1-303 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81).