ELK-1-417: elk hunt in Unit 56, Oct 17-21
ELK-1-417 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 56, October 17 to 21, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91). In the 2026 draw, 14 applicants chose it first and 3 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 9 hunters reporting, a 38% success rate, 0 bulls and 3 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
BLMState trust landUnit 56Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 56 |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 14 (3 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 38% success, 0 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 21.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-417?
14 applicants chose ELK-1-417 first in the 2026 draw and 3 drew it on that choice, 21.4% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 21 first-choice applicants and 6 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 | 14 | 22 | 20 | 3 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 14 | 22 | 20 | 3 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 21 | 25 | 21 | 6 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 21 | 26 | 21 | 6 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-417?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-417, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 38% (2025-26), from 9 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 10 in 2023-24 to 10 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 | Oct 18-22 | 10 | 9 | 38% | 0 | 3 | 2.38 | 3.25 |
| 2024-25 | A | Oct 12-16 | 10 | 10 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 4.11 | 3.11 |
| 2023-24 | A | Oct 14-18 | 10 | 10 | 20% | 1 | 1 | 3.4 | 3.5 |
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-1-417 compare with the other Unit 56 elk hunts?
ELK-1-417 is one of 4 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 56 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 4 drawn ones (14). Its 2025-26 success rate, 38%, was the 3rd highest of the 4 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 56 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 21.7% public land (247,202 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-417 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-1-417 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-417?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-417 a 38% success rate, from 9 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 0% to 38%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-417 in 2026?
56 applicants listed ELK-1-417 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 14 chose it first and 3 of those drew it, 21.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 21 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-417?
No. ELK-1-417 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91).