ELK-1-344: elk hunt in Unit 24 (including Ft. Bayard Mgmt. Area), Oct 24-28
ELK-1-344 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 24, including Ft. Bayard Mgmt. Area, October 24 to 28, with 5 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). In the 2026 draw, 15 applicants chose it first and 3 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 5 licenses sold, 5 hunters reporting, a 50% success rate, 0 bulls and 2 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 landOther federal (closed)Unit 24Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 24 to 28 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 24 |
| Licenses | 5 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only / youth only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 15 (3 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 50% success, 0 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 63.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-344?
15 applicants chose ELK-1-344 first in the 2026 draw and 3 drew it on that choice, 20% of them. 5 of the 5 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 13 first-choice applicants and 1 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 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 15 | 24 | 16 | 3 | 5 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 13 | 30 | 15 | 1 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 13 | 30 | 15 | 1 | 5 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-344?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-344, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 50% (2025-26), from 5 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 5 in 2023-24 to 5 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 | Oct 25-29 | 5 | 5 | 50% | 0 | 2 | 2.5 | 3.5 |
| 2024-25 | A | Oct 19-23 | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0 | 4 | 3.25 | 4.25 |
| 2023-24 | A | Oct 21-25 | 5 | 5 | 100% | 0 | 5 | 2.8 | 4.2 |
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-1-344 compare with the other Unit 24 elk hunts?
ELK-1-344 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 24 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (15). Its 2025-26 success rate, 50%, was the highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 24 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 (610,510 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-344 have?
NMDOW lists 5 licenses for ELK-1-344 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 5 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-344?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-344 a 50% success rate, from 5 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 50% to 100%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-344 in 2026?
55 applicants listed ELK-1-344 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 15 chose it first and 3 of those drew it, 20% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 13 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-344?
No. ELK-1-344 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85).