ELK-3-334: elk hunt in Unit 23, Oct 17-21
ELK-3-334 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 23, October 17 to 21, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). In the 2026 draw, 72 applicants chose it first and 19 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 71 hunters reporting, a 15% success rate, 10 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landMilitary landUnit 23Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | October 17 to 21 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 23 |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 72 (19 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 15% success, 10 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 63.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-334?
72 applicants chose ELK-3-334 first in the 2026 draw and 19 drew it on that choice, 26.4% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 58 first-choice applicants and 19 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 | 39 | 68 | 103 | 15 | 63 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 24 | 57 | 63 | 2 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 9 | 5 | 32 | 2 | 7 |
| All applicants | 72 | 130 | 198 | 19 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 35 | 88 | 103 | 15 | 63 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 20 | 36 | 66 | 4 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 8 | 46 | 0 | 7 |
| All applicants | 58 | 132 | 215 | 19 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-334?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-334, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 15% (2025-26), from 71 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 75 in 2023-24 to 75 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bulls | Cows | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | MB | Oct 18-22 | 75 | 71 | 15% | 10 | 0 | 3.92 | 2.92 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 12-16 | 75 | 72 | 14% | 9 | 0 | 4.2 | 3.08 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 14-18 | 75 | 72 | 23% | 15 | 0 | 3.81 | 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-3-334 compare with the other Unit 23 elk hunts?
ELK-3-334 is one of 8 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 23 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (72). Its 2025-26 success rate, 15%, was the 3rd highest of the 8 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 23 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 63.1% public land (1,183,461 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-334 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-3-334 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-334?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-334 a 15% success rate, from 71 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 14% to 23%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-334 in 2026?
400 applicants listed ELK-3-334 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 72 chose it first and 19 of those drew it, 26.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 58 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-334?
Yes. Nonresidents draw from the 6% of licenses set aside for them, or the 10% for applicants with a registered outfitter (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).