ELK-3-262: elk hunt in Unit 13, Dec 5-9
ELK-3-262 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 13, December 5 to 9, with 117 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 108 applicants chose it first and 64 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 117 licenses sold, 110 hunters reporting, a 30% success rate, 0 bulls and 30 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 13Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 13 |
| Licenses | 117 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 108 (64 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 30% success, 0 bulls, 30 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 41.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-262?
108 applicants chose ELK-3-262 first in the 2026 draw and 64 drew it on that choice, 59.3% of them. 117 of the 117 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 102 first-choice applicants and 60 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 | 108 | 123 | 160 | 64 | 117 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 108 | 123 | 160 | 64 | 117 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 102 | 103 | 169 | 60 | 117 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 102 | 103 | 169 | 60 | 117 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-262?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-262, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 30% (2025-26), from 110 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 117 in 2023-24 to 117 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 | Dec 6-10 | 117 | 110 | 30% | 0 | 30 | 3.53 | 3.41 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 117 | 105 | 27% | 0 | 27 | 3.26 | 3.61 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 117 | 106 | 27% | 2 | 26 | 3.38 | 3.24 |
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-3-262 compare with the other Unit 13 elk hunts?
ELK-3-262 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 13 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (108). Its 2025-26 success rate, 30%, was the 5th highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 13 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 41.6% public land (1,185,020 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-262 have?
NMDOW lists 117 licenses for ELK-3-262 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 117 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-262?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-262 a 30% success rate, from 110 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 27% to 30%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-262 in 2026?
391 applicants listed ELK-3-262 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 108 chose it first and 64 of those drew it, 59.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 102 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-262?
No. ELK-3-262 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80).