ELK-1-336: elk hunt in Unit 23, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-336 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 23, December 5 to 9, with 20 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). In the 2026 draw, 70 applicants chose it first and 13 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 20 licenses sold, 18 hunters reporting, a 31% success rate, 0 bulls and 4 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landMilitary landUnit 23Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 23 |
| Licenses | 20 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 70 (13 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 31% success, 0 bulls, 4 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 63.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-336?
70 applicants chose ELK-1-336 first in the 2026 draw and 13 drew it on that choice, 18.6% of them. 20 of the 20 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 66 first-choice applicants and 12 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 | 69 | 87 | 130 | 12 | 19 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 70 | 87 | 130 | 13 | 20 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 66 | 86 | 113 | 12 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 66 | 86 | 113 | 12 | 20 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-336?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-336, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 31% (2025-26), from 18 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 20 in 2023-24 to 20 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 | 20 | 18 | 31% | 0 | 4 | 2.77 | 3.54 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 20 | 18 | 50% | 0 | 10 | 2.44 | 3.72 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 20 | 19 | 67% | 0 | 13 | 3.11 | 3.78 |
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-1-336 compare with the other Unit 23 elk hunts?
ELK-1-336 is one of 8 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 23 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (70). Its 2025-26 success rate, 31%, was the 2nd highest of the 8 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 23 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 63.1% public land (1,183,461 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-336 have?
NMDOW lists 20 licenses for ELK-1-336 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 20 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-336?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-336 a 31% success rate, from 18 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 31% to 67%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-336 in 2026?
287 applicants listed ELK-1-336 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 70 chose it first and 13 of those drew it, 18.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 66 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-336?
No. ELK-1-336 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85).