ELK-3-153: elk hunt in Unit 9 (including Water Canyon WMA), Oct 10-14
ELK-3-153 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA, October 10 to 14, with 21 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 11 applicants chose it first and 7 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 15 licenses sold, 14 hunters reporting, an 18% success rate, 2 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 | 21 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | mobility impaired only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 11 (7 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 18% success, 2 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 26.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-153?
11 applicants chose ELK-3-153 first in the 2026 draw and 7 drew it on that choice, 63.6% of them. 21 of the 21 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 16 first-choice applicants and 14 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 | 11 | 10 | 13 | 7 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 11 | 11 | 16 | 7 | 21 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 16 | 5 | 11 | 14 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 16 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 21 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-3-153 held?
ELK-3-153 is held on Water Canyon WMA, 2,844 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 9, 4 miles from Bibo. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: No camping is allowed except licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Closures: Water Canyon Wildlife Area is open year-round except during established deer and elk hunts.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-153?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-153, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 18% (2025-26), from 14 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 20 in 2023-24 to 15 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 | 15 | 14 | 18% | 2 | 0 | 3.82 | 3.82 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 5-9 | 21 | 19 | 7% | 1 | 0 | 4.14 | 2.36 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 7-11 | 20 | 19 | 18% | 3 | 0 | 3.88 | 2.12 |
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-3-153 compare with the other Unit 9 elk hunts?
ELK-3-153 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 9 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 10th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (11). Its 2025-26 success rate, 18%, was the 5th 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-3-153 have?
NMDOW lists 21 licenses for ELK-3-153 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 21 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-153?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-153 a 18% success rate, from 14 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 7% to 18%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-153 in 2026?
38 applicants listed ELK-3-153 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 11 chose it first and 7 of those drew it, 63.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 16 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-153?
Yes. Nonresidents draw from the 6% of licenses set aside for them, or the 10% for applicants with a registered outfitter (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).