ELK-1-390: elk hunt in Unit 53 (excluding Cerro portion), Nov 14-18
ELK-1-390 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 53, excluding Cerro portion, November 14 to 18, with 94 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 71 applicants chose it first and 45 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 94 licenses sold, 83 hunters reporting, an 18% success rate, 1 bull and 12 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 53Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 14 to 18 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 53 |
| Licenses | 94 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 71 (45 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 18% success, 1 bull, 12 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 47.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-390?
71 applicants chose ELK-1-390 first in the 2026 draw and 45 drew it on that choice, 63.4% of them. 94 of the 94 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 58 first-choice applicants and 38 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 | 71 | 68 | 106 | 45 | 94 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 71 | 68 | 106 | 45 | 94 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 58 | 75 | 98 | 38 | 94 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 58 | 75 | 98 | 38 | 94 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-390?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-390, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 18% (2025-26), from 83 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 94 in 2023-24 to 94 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 | Nov 15-19 | 94 | 83 | 18% | 1 | 12 | 4.04 | 3.07 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 9-13 | 94 | 82 | 19% | 0 | 14 | 3.9 | 3.11 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 11-15 | 94 | 78 | 8% | 0 | 6 | 3.8 | 2.8 |
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-1-390 compare with the other Unit 53 elk hunts?
ELK-1-390 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 53 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (71). Its 2025-26 success rate, 18%, was the 4th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 53 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 47.6% public land (208,437 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-390 have?
NMDOW lists 94 licenses for ELK-1-390 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 94 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-390?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-390 a 18% success rate, from 83 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 8% to 19%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-390 in 2026?
245 applicants listed ELK-1-390 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 71 chose it first and 45 of those drew it, 63.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 58 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-390?
No. ELK-1-390 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89).