ELK-1-304: elk hunt in Unit 16E, Dec 12-16
ELK-1-304 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 16E, December 12 to 16, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 48 applicants chose it first and 18 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 72 hunters reporting, a 42% success rate, 0 bulls 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 16ENeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 16E |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 48 (18 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 42% success, 0 bulls, 27 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 62.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-304?
48 applicants chose ELK-1-304 first in the 2026 draw and 18 drew it on that choice, 37.5% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 28 first-choice applicants and 21 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 | 48 | 82 | 163 | 18 | 75 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 48 | 82 | 163 | 18 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 28 | 95 | 131 | 21 | 75 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 28 | 95 | 131 | 21 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-304?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-304, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 42% (2025-26), from 72 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 | 72 | 42% | 0 | 27 | 3.18 | 3.42 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 14-18 | 75 | 71 | 25% | 1 | 15 | 3.37 | 3.15 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 75 | 63 | 29% | 0 | 19 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
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-1-304 compare with the other Unit 16E elk hunts?
ELK-1-304 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16E in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (48). Its 2025-26 success rate, 42%, was the 4th 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-1-304 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-1-304 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-1-304?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-304 a 42% success rate, from 72 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 25% to 42%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-304 in 2026?
293 applicants listed ELK-1-304 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 48 chose it first and 18 of those drew it, 37.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 28 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-304?
No. ELK-1-304 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81).