ELK-3-148: elk hunt in Unit 9 (Marquez/LBar WMA only), Oct 10-14
ELK-3-148 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 9, Marquez/LBar WMA only, October 10 to 14, with 15 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 95 applicants chose it first and 10 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 21 licenses sold, 21 hunters reporting, a 24% success rate, 4 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeState parkNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 9Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | October 10 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Licenses | 15 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 95 (10 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 24% success, 4 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 26.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-148?
95 applicants chose ELK-3-148 first in the 2026 draw and 10 drew it on that choice, 10.5% of them. 15 of the 15 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 69 first-choice applicants and 13 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 | 95 | 60 | 42 | 10 | 14 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 95 | 60 | 43 | 10 | 15 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 69 | 47 | 39 | 13 | 15 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 69 | 47 | 39 | 13 | 15 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-3-148 held?
ELK-3-148 is held on Marquez/L-Bar WMA, 68,259 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 9, 7 miles from Seboyeta. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Camping is not allowed on the WMA; it is day use only, with no campfires. Closures: The WMA is closed during its draw hunts for turkey, deer and elk, except to people holding those draw licenses and their guests. The upper portion is closed to all access November 15 through June 30, and the lower portion November 15 through May 15. It stays open to general recreation during draw bear hunts.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-148?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-148, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 24% (2025-26), from 21 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 15 in 2023-24 to 21 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 11-15 | 21 | 21 | 24% | 4 | 0 | 3.35 | 2.12 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 5-9 | 15 | 14 | 36% | 4 | 0 | 4.18 | 3.45 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 7-11 | 15 | 14 | 45% | 5 | 0 | 3.18 | 3.09 |
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-3-148 compare with the other Unit 9 elk hunts?
ELK-3-148 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 9 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (95). Its 2025-26 success rate, 24%, was the 3rd highest of the 11 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 9 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 26.7% public land (567,834 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-148 have?
NMDOW lists 15 licenses for ELK-3-148 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 15 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-148?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-148 a 24% success rate, from 21 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 24% to 45%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-148 in 2026?
198 applicants listed ELK-3-148 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 95 chose it first and 10 of those drew it, 10.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 69 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-148?
No. ELK-3-148 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78).