ELK-3-270: elk hunt in Unit 15, Dec 5-9
ELK-3-270 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 15, December 5 to 9, with 250 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 498 applicants chose it first and 154 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 250 licenses sold, 232 hunters reporting, a 45% success rate, 1 bull and 98 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 landUnit 15Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 15 |
| Licenses | 250 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 498 (154 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 45% success, 1 bull, 98 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 77.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-270?
498 applicants chose ELK-3-270 first in the 2026 draw and 154 drew it on that choice, 30.9% of them. 250 of the 250 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 417 first-choice applicants and 136 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 | 497 | 394 | 433 | 153 | 249 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 498 | 394 | 433 | 154 | 250 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 417 | 358 | 454 | 136 | 250 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 417 | 358 | 454 | 136 | 250 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-270?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-270, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 45% (2025-26), from 232 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 250 in 2023-24 to 250 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 | 250 | 232 | 45% | 1 | 98 | 3.38 | 4.06 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 250 | 232 | 29% | 2 | 61 | 3.61 | 3.76 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 250 | 227 | 30% | 1 | 65 | 3.7 | 3.59 |
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-3-270 compare with the other Unit 15 elk hunts?
ELK-3-270 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 15 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (498). Its 2025-26 success rate, 45%, was the 4th highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 15 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 77.6% public land (810,996 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-270 have?
NMDOW lists 250 licenses for ELK-3-270 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 250 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-270?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-270 a 45% success rate, from 232 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 29% to 45%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-270 in 2026?
1,325 applicants listed ELK-3-270 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 498 chose it first and 154 of those drew it, 30.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 417 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-270?
No. ELK-3-270 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80).