ELK-3-271: elk hunt in Unit 15, Dec 12-16
ELK-3-271 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 15, December 12 to 16, with 250 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 105 applicants chose it first and 53 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 250 licenses sold, 236 hunters reporting, a 44% success rate, 1 bull and 96 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 12 to 16 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 15 |
| Licenses | 250 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 105 (53 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 44% success, 1 bull, 96 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 77.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-271?
105 applicants chose ELK-3-271 first in the 2026 draw and 53 drew it on that choice, 50.5% of them. 250 of the 250 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 101 first-choice applicants and 62 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 | 105 | 433 | 394 | 53 | 250 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 105 | 435 | 394 | 53 | 250 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 101 | 369 | 387 | 62 | 249 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 101 | 369 | 388 | 62 | 250 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-271?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-271, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 44% (2025-26), from 236 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 252 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 13-17 | 250 | 236 | 44% | 1 | 96 | 3.46 | 3.97 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 14-18 | 250 | 240 | 38% | 1 | 80 | 3.65 | 3.71 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 9-13 | 252 | 237 | 27% | 0 | 56 | 3.72 | 3.48 |
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-3-271 compare with the other Unit 15 elk hunts?
ELK-3-271 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 15 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 8th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (105). Its 2025-26 success rate, 44%, was the 5th 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-3-271 have?
NMDOW lists 250 licenses for ELK-3-271 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-3-271?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-271 a 44% success rate, from 236 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 27% to 44%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-271 in 2026?
934 applicants listed ELK-3-271 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 105 chose it first and 53 of those drew it, 50.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 101 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-271?
No. ELK-3-271 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80).