ELK-3-156: elk hunt in Unit 9 (including Water Canyon WMA), Oct 31-Nov 4
ELK-3-156 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA, October 31 to November 4, with 21 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 21 applicants chose it first and 14 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 21 licenses sold, 19 hunters reporting, a 20% success rate, 3 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 31 to November 4 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Licenses | 21 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 21 (14 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 20% success, 3 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 26.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-156?
21 applicants chose ELK-3-156 first in the 2026 draw and 14 drew it on that choice, 66.7% of them. 21 of the 21 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 23 first-choice applicants and 10 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 | 20 | 5 | 24 | 14 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 21 | 10 | 30 | 14 | 21 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 22 | 9 | 35 | 10 | 20 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 1 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 23 | 11 | 40 | 10 | 21 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-3-156 held?
ELK-3-156 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-3-156?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-156, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 20% (2025-26), from 19 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 22 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 | Nov 1-5 | 21 | 19 | 20% | 3 | 0 | 3.67 | 2.8 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 26-30 | 22 | 21 | 6% | 1 | 0 | 3.56 | 2.69 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 28-Nov 1 | 22 | 19 | 11% | 2 | 0 | 4.11 | 2.79 |
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-3-156 compare with the other Unit 9 elk hunts?
ELK-3-156 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 9 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (21). Its 2025-26 success rate, 20%, was the 4th 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-3-156 have?
NMDOW lists 21 licenses for ELK-3-156 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 22 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-156?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-156 a 20% success rate, from 19 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 6% to 20%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-156 in 2026?
61 applicants listed ELK-3-156 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 21 chose it first and 14 of those drew it, 66.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 23 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-156?
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).