ELK-1-354: elk hunt in Unit 34, Dec 12-16
ELK-1-354 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 34, December 12 to 16, with 350 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86). In the 2026 draw, 295 applicants chose it first and 97 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 350 licenses sold, 315 hunters reporting, a 49% success rate, 2 bulls and 159 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landState parkMilitary landTribal landUnit 34Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 34 |
| Licenses | 350 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 295 (97 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 49% success, 2 bulls, 159 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 67.5% |
| Chronic wasting disease | NMDOW notes CWD has been detected in this area (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 28) |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-354?
295 applicants chose ELK-1-354 first in the 2026 draw and 97 drew it on that choice, 32.9% of them. 350 of the 350 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 326 first-choice applicants and 113 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 | 294 | 616 | 1,310 | 96 | 349 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 295 | 618 | 1,314 | 97 | 350 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 321 | 626 | 1,229 | 108 | 342 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 |
| All applicants | 326 | 630 | 1,237 | 113 | 350 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-354?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-354, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 49% (2025-26), from 315 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 350 in 2023-24 to 350 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 | 350 | 315 | 49% | 2 | 159 | 3.26 | 3.69 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 14-18 | 352 | 318 | 42% | 1 | 132 | 3.21 | 3.69 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 350 | 297 | 51% | 1 | 156 | 3.07 | 4.01 |
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-1-354 compare with the other Unit 34 elk hunts?
ELK-1-354 is one of 14 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 34 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 9th most first-choice applicants of the 13 drawn ones (295). Its 2025-26 success rate, 49%, was the 5th highest of the 14 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 34 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 67.5% public land (732,620 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-354 have?
NMDOW lists 350 licenses for ELK-1-354 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 352 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-354?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-354 a 49% success rate, from 315 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 42% to 51%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-354 in 2026?
2,227 applicants listed ELK-1-354 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 295 chose it first and 97 of those drew it, 32.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 326 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-354?
No. ELK-1-354 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86).