ELK-1-437: elk hunt in Unit 55A (Urraca WMA only), Oct 17-21
ELK-1-437 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with any legal weapon in Unit 55A, Urraca WMA only, October 17 to 21, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). In the 2026 draw, 26 applicants chose it first and 7 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 7 hunters reporting, a 14% success rate, 1 bull and 0 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 forestWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 55ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | October 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 26 (7 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 14% success, 1 bull, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-437?
26 applicants chose ELK-1-437 first in the 2026 draw and 7 drew it on that choice, 26.9% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 22 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 | 26 | 30 | 34 | 7 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 26 | 30 | 34 | 7 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 22 | 25 | 26 | 6 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 22 | 25 | 26 | 6 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-1-437 held?
ELK-1-437 is held on Urraca WMA, 13,303 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 55A, 5 miles from Costilla. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. Closures: Urraca is closed to all access December 15-March 31 and again from May 15-June 30.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-437?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-437, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 14% (2025-26), from 7 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 | MB | Oct 18-22 | 10 | 7 | 14% | 1 | 0 | 4.57 | 2.29 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 14-18 | 10 | 9 | 29% | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4.14 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 14-18 | 10 | 7 | 25% | 1 | 0 | 4.25 | 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-1-437 compare with the other Unit 55A elk hunts?
ELK-1-437 is one of 19 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 11th most first-choice applicants of the 19 drawn ones (26). Its 2025-26 success rate, 14%, was the 13th highest of the 19 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 55A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 13.2% public land (132,899 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-437 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-1-437 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-437?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-437 a 14% success rate, from 7 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 14% to 29%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-437 in 2026?
90 applicants listed ELK-1-437 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 26 chose it first and 7 of those drew it, 26.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 22 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-437?
No. ELK-1-437 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90).