ELK-1-319: elk hunt in Unit 21A, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-319 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 21A, December 5 to 9, with 30 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). In the 2026 draw, 80 applicants chose it first and 20 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 30 licenses sold, 30 hunters reporting, a 37% success rate, 0 bulls and 10 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 21ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 21A |
| Licenses | 30 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 80 (20 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 37% success, 0 bulls, 10 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 97.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-319?
80 applicants chose ELK-1-319 first in the 2026 draw and 20 drew it on that choice, 25% of them. 30 of the 30 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 58 first-choice applicants and 15 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 | 80 | 62 | 102 | 20 | 29 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 80 | 62 | 103 | 20 | 30 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 57 | 48 | 90 | 14 | 29 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 58 | 48 | 90 | 15 | 30 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-319?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-319, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 37% (2025-26), from 30 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 30 in 2023-24 to 30 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 | 30 | 30 | 37% | 0 | 10 | 3.74 | 3.3 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 30 | 29 | 44% | 0 | 12 | 3.33 | 3.74 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 30 | 25 | 47% | 0 | 10 | 3.06 | 3.35 |
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-1-319 compare with the other Unit 21A elk hunts?
ELK-1-319 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 21A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (80). Its 2025-26 success rate, 37%, was the 2nd highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 21A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 97.9% public land (292,681 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-319 have?
NMDOW lists 30 licenses for ELK-1-319 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 30 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-319?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-319 a 37% success rate, from 30 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 37% to 47%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-319 in 2026?
245 applicants listed ELK-1-319 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 80 chose it first and 20 of those drew it, 25% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 58 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-319?
No. ELK-1-319 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84).