ELK-1-378: elk hunt in Unit 48, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-378 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 48, December 5 to 9, with 54 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). In the 2026 draw, 88 applicants chose it first and 28 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 54 licenses sold, 49 hunters reporting, a 50% success rate, 0 bulls and 25 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landUnit 48Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 48 |
| Licenses | 54 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 88 (28 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 50% success, 0 bulls, 25 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 29.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-378?
88 applicants chose ELK-1-378 first in the 2026 draw and 28 drew it on that choice, 31.8% of them. 54 of the 54 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 94 first-choice applicants and 36 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 | 88 | 115 | 140 | 28 | 54 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 88 | 115 | 140 | 28 | 54 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 94 | 123 | 130 | 36 | 54 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 94 | 123 | 130 | 36 | 54 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-378?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-378, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 50% (2025-26), from 49 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 54 in 2023-24 to 54 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 | 54 | 49 | 50% | 0 | 25 | 2.96 | 3.76 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 55 | 54 | 61% | 0 | 31 | 2.31 | 4.02 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 54 | 46 | 63% | 0 | 32 | 3.3 | 3.93 |
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-1-378 compare with the other Unit 48 elk hunts?
ELK-1-378 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 48 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (88). Its 2025-26 success rate, 50%, was the highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 48 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 29.1% public land (70,473 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-378 have?
NMDOW lists 54 licenses for ELK-1-378 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 55 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-378?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-378 a 50% success rate, from 49 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 50% to 63%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-378 in 2026?
343 applicants listed ELK-1-378 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 88 chose it first and 28 of those drew it, 31.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 94 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-378?
No. ELK-1-378 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88).