ELK-1-449: elk hunt in Unit 55A (Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime)), Nov 21-25
ELK-1-449 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 21 to 25, with 30 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91). In the 2026 draw, 40 applicants chose it first and 19 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 30 licenses sold, 30 hunters reporting, a 45% success rate, 0 bulls and 13 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 21 to 25 (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 | 40 (19 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 45% success, 0 bulls, 13 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
NMDOW's note for ELK-1-449: 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-1-449?
40 applicants chose ELK-1-449 first in the 2026 draw and 19 drew it on that choice, 47.5% of them. 30 of the 30 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 41 first-choice applicants and 18 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 | 40 | 44 | 47 | 19 | 30 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 40 | 44 | 47 | 19 | 30 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 41 | 48 | 77 | 18 | 30 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 41 | 48 | 77 | 18 | 30 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-449?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-449, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 45% (2025-26), from 30 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 30 in 2023-24 to 30 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 15-19 | 30 | 30 | 45% | 0 | 13 | 3.41 | 3.97 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 18-22 | 30 | 29 | 59% | 0 | 17 | 2.67 | 4.15 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 18-22 | 30 | 26 | 50% | 0 | 13 | 3 | 4.05 |
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-1-449 compare with the other Unit 55A elk hunts?
ELK-1-449 is one of 19 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 9th most first-choice applicants of the 19 drawn ones (40). Its 2025-26 success rate, 45%, was the 5th 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-1-449 have?
NMDOW lists 30 licenses for ELK-1-449 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-1-449?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-449 a 45% success rate, from 30 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 45% to 59%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-449 in 2026?
131 applicants listed ELK-1-449 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 40 chose it first and 19 of those drew it, 47.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 41 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-449?
No. ELK-1-449 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 91).