ELK-3-154: elk hunt in Unit 9 (including Water Canyon WMA), Oct 17-21
ELK-3-154 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA, October 17 to 21, with 35 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 45 applicants chose it first and 20 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 35 licenses sold, 33 hunters reporting, a 13% success rate, 4 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79. 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 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Licenses | 35 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 45 (20 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 13% success, 4 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 26.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-154?
45 applicants chose ELK-3-154 first in the 2026 draw and 20 drew it on that choice, 44.4% of them. 35 of the 35 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 44 first-choice applicants and 21 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 | 41 | 24 | 46 | 20 | 31 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 4 | 5 | 19 | 0 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 45 | 29 | 67 | 20 | 35 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 42 | 32 | 56 | 20 | 33 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 2 | 4 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 44 | 36 | 73 | 21 | 35 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-3-154 held?
ELK-3-154 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-3-154?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-154, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 13% (2025-26), from 33 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 36 in 2023-24 to 35 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 | 35 | 33 | 13% | 4 | 0 | 4.27 | 3.1 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 12-16 | 35 | 32 | 27% | 9 | 0 | 4 | 3.3 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 14-18 | 36 | 32 | 14% | 5 | 0 | 3.86 | 2.86 |
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-3-154 compare with the other Unit 9 elk hunts?
ELK-3-154 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 9 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (45). Its 2025-26 success rate, 13%, was the 9th 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-3-154 have?
NMDOW lists 35 licenses for ELK-3-154 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 35 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-154?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-154 a 13% success rate, from 33 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 13% to 27%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-154 in 2026?
141 applicants listed ELK-3-154 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 45 chose it first and 20 of those drew it, 44.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 44 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-154?
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).