ELK-1-338: elk hunt in Unit 23 (South of NM 78), Dec 19-27
ELK-1-338 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 23, South of NM 78, December 19 to 27, with 20 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). In the 2026 draw, 15 applicants chose it first and 5 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 20 licenses sold, 16 hunters reporting, an 8% success rate, 0 bulls and 1 cow 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 19 to 27 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 23 |
| Licenses | 20 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 15 (5 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 8% success, 0 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 63.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-338?
15 applicants chose ELK-1-338 first in the 2026 draw and 5 drew it on that choice, 33.3% of them. 20 of the 20 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 25 first-choice applicants and 5 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 | 15 | 19 | 57 | 5 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 15 | 20 | 57 | 5 | 20 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 25 | 28 | 45 | 5 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 25 | 28 | 45 | 5 | 20 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-338?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-338, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 8% (2025-26), from 16 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 20-28 | 20 | 16 | 8% | 0 | 1 | 4.62 | 3.15 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 21-29 | 20 | 18 | 20% | 0 | 3 | 4.13 | 2.73 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 16-24 | 20 | 19 | 44% | 0 | 7 | 4.25 | 3.13 |
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-1-338 compare with the other Unit 23 elk hunts?
ELK-1-338 is one of 8 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 23 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (15). Its 2025-26 success rate, 8%, was the 6th 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-1-338 have?
NMDOW lists 20 licenses for ELK-1-338 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-1-338?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-338 a 8% success rate, from 16 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 8% to 44%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-338 in 2026?
92 applicants listed ELK-1-338 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 15 chose it first and 5 of those drew it, 33.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 25 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-338?
No. ELK-1-338 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85).