ELK-1-448: elk hunt in Unit 55A (Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime)), Nov 14-18
ELK-1-448 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 55A, Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime), November 14 to 18, with 30 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91). In the 2026 draw, 73 applicants chose it first and 25 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 29 licenses sold, 26 hunters reporting, a 48% success rate, 1 bull and 10 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.
National forestWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 55ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | November 14 to 18 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Licenses | 30 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | Once-in-a-Lifetime / residents only |
| NMDOW fee class | quality |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 73 (25 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 48% success, 1 bull, 10 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
NMDOW's note for ELK-1-448: Hunters may hold either an ES or an MB Once-in-a-Lifetime and Once-in-a-Youth license. In addition, hunters may hold an Antlerless Once-in-a-Lifetime and Once-in-a-Youth license.
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-448?
73 applicants chose ELK-1-448 first in the 2026 draw and 25 drew it on that choice, 34.2% of them. 30 of the 30 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 58 first-choice applicants and 15 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 | 73 | 40 | 53 | 25 | 30 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 73 | 40 | 53 | 25 | 30 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 58 | 48 | 61 | 15 | 30 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 58 | 48 | 61 | 15 | 30 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-448?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-448, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 48% (2025-26), from 26 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 30 in 2023-24 to 29 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 8-12 | 29 | 26 | 48% | 1 | 10 | 3.14 | 3.76 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 11-15 | 30 | 25 | 44% | 0 | 10 | 3.72 | 3.78 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 11-15 | 30 | 26 | 48% | 0 | 13 | 3.04 | 3.61 |
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-1-448 compare with the other Unit 55A elk hunts?
ELK-1-448 is one of 19 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 8th most first-choice applicants of the 19 drawn ones (73). Its 2025-26 success rate, 48%, was the 3rd 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-1-448 have?
NMDOW lists 30 licenses for ELK-1-448 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 30 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-448?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-448 a 48% success rate, from 26 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 44% to 48%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-448 in 2026?
166 applicants listed ELK-1-448 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 73 chose it first and 25 of those drew it, 34.2% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 58 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-448?
No. ELK-1-448 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91).