ELK-1-406: elk hunt in Unit 37, Nov 28-Dec 2
ELK-1-406 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 37, November 28 to December 2, with 45 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). In the 2026 draw, 70 applicants chose it first and 17 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 45 licenses sold, 35 hunters reporting, a 67% success rate, 0 bulls and 23 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 37Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 28 to December 2 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 37 |
| Licenses | 45 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 70 (17 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 67% success, 0 bulls, 23 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 38.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-406?
70 applicants chose ELK-1-406 first in the 2026 draw and 17 drew it on that choice, 24.3% of them. 45 of the 45 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 69 first-choice applicants and 20 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 | 70 | 96 | 194 | 17 | 45 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 70 | 96 | 194 | 17 | 45 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 67 | 72 | 193 | 18 | 43 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| All applicants | 69 | 72 | 194 | 20 | 45 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-406?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-406, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 67% (2025-26), from 35 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 45 in 2023-24 to 45 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 | 45 | 35 | 67% | 0 | 23 | 2.59 | 3.78 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 23-27 | 45 | 41 | 32% | 0 | 13 | 3.24 | 3.14 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 25-29 | 45 | 39 | 28% | 0 | 12 | 2.53 | 2.86 |
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-1-406 compare with the other Unit 37 elk hunts?
ELK-1-406 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 37 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (70). Its 2025-26 success rate, 67%, was the 2nd highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 37 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 38.8% public land (409,272 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-406 have?
NMDOW lists 45 licenses for ELK-1-406 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 45 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-406?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-406 a 67% success rate, from 35 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 28% to 67%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-406 in 2026?
360 applicants listed ELK-1-406 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 70 chose it first and 17 of those drew it, 24.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 69 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-406?
No. ELK-1-406 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87).