ELK-3-263: elk hunt in Unit 13, Dec 12-16
ELK-3-263 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 13, December 12 to 16, with 116 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 48 applicants chose it first and 36 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 116 licenses sold, 109 hunters reporting, a 24% success rate, 0 bulls and 24 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 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 13 |
| Licenses | 116 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 48 (36 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 24% success, 0 bulls, 24 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 41.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-263?
48 applicants chose ELK-3-263 first in the 2026 draw and 36 drew it on that choice, 75% of them. 116 of the 116 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 27 first-choice applicants and 24 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 | 48 | 116 | 184 | 36 | 116 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 48 | 116 | 184 | 36 | 116 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 27 | 88 | 173 | 24 | 116 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 27 | 88 | 173 | 24 | 116 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-263?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-263, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 24% (2025-26), from 109 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 117 in 2023-24 to 116 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 13-17 | 116 | 109 | 24% | 0 | 24 | 3.44 | 3.4 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 14-18 | 116 | 106 | 23% | 0 | 21 | 3.69 | 3.43 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 117 | 108 | 23% | 1 | 23 | 3.35 | 3.79 |
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-3-263 compare with the other Unit 13 elk hunts?
ELK-3-263 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 13 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 8th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (48). Its 2025-26 success rate, 24%, was the 7th 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-3-263 have?
NMDOW lists 116 licenses for ELK-3-263 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 116 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-263?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-263 a 24% success rate, from 109 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 23% to 24%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-263 in 2026?
348 applicants listed ELK-3-263 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 48 chose it first and 36 of those drew it, 75% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 27 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-263?
No. ELK-3-263 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80).