ELK-1-391: elk hunt in Unit 53 (excluding Cerro portion), Nov 21-25
ELK-1-391 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 53, excluding Cerro portion, November 21 to 25, with 94 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). In the 2026 draw, 25 applicants chose it first and 24 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 94 licenses sold, 78 hunters reporting, a 33% success rate, 0 bulls and 27 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90. 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 21 to 25 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 53 |
| Licenses | 94 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 25 (24 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 33% success, 0 bulls, 27 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 47.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-391?
25 applicants chose ELK-1-391 first in the 2026 draw and 24 drew it on that choice, 96% of them. 94 of the 94 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 45 first-choice applicants and 40 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 | 25 | 49 | 84 | 24 | 94 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 25 | 49 | 84 | 24 | 94 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 45 | 49 | 87 | 40 | 94 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 45 | 49 | 87 | 40 | 94 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-391?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-391, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 33% (2025-26), from 78 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 22-26 | 94 | 78 | 33% | 0 | 27 | 3.52 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 16-20 | 95 | 82 | 13% | 0 | 10 | 3.53 | 2.56 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 18-22 | 94 | 76 | 8% | 0 | 6 | 3.87 | 2.44 |
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-1-391 compare with the other Unit 53 elk hunts?
ELK-1-391 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 53 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (25). Its 2025-26 success rate, 33%, was the 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-1-391 have?
NMDOW lists 94 licenses for ELK-1-391 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 95 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-391?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-391 a 33% success rate, from 78 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 8% to 33%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-391 in 2026?
158 applicants listed ELK-1-391 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 25 chose it first and 24 of those drew it, 96% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 45 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-391?
No. ELK-1-391 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90).