ELK-3-311: elk hunt in Unit 17, Nov 21-25
ELK-3-311 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 17, November 21 to 25, with 25 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). In the 2026 draw, 44 applicants chose it first and 17 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 25 licenses sold, 24 hunters reporting, a 13% success rate, 0 bulls and 2 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landNational wildlife refugeUnit 17Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | November 21 to 25 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 17 |
| Licenses | 25 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 44 (17 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 13% success, 0 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 73.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-311?
44 applicants chose ELK-3-311 first in the 2026 draw and 17 drew it on that choice, 38.6% of them. 25 of the 25 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 43 first-choice applicants and 11 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 | 44 | 37 | 62 | 17 | 25 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 44 | 37 | 62 | 17 | 25 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 43 | 25 | 58 | 11 | 24 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 43 | 25 | 59 | 11 | 25 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-311?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-311, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 13% (2025-26), from 24 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 26 in 2023-24 to 25 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 | Nov 22-26 | 25 | 24 | 13% | 0 | 2 | 3.13 | 3.25 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 18-22 | 25 | 23 | 11% | 0 | 2 | 3.39 | 3.06 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 18-22 | 26 | 23 | 5% | 0 | 1 | 3.89 | 3.47 |
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-3-311 compare with the other Unit 17 elk hunts?
ELK-3-311 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 17 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 9 drawn ones (44). Its 2025-26 success rate, 13%, was the 11th highest of the 11 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 17 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 73.8% public land (778,238 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-311 have?
NMDOW lists 25 licenses for ELK-3-311 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 25 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-311?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-311 a 13% success rate, from 24 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 5% to 13%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-311 in 2026?
143 applicants listed ELK-3-311 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 44 chose it first and 17 of those drew it, 38.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 43 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-311?
No. ELK-3-311 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84).