ELK-3-371: elk hunt in Unit 45, Nov 14-18
ELK-3-371 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 45, November 14 to 18, with 49 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). In the 2026 draw, 63 applicants chose it first and 25 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 49 licenses sold, 43 hunters reporting, an 8% success rate, 0 bulls and 3 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landState parkNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 45Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | November 14 to 18 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 45 |
| Licenses | 49 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 63 (25 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 8% success, 0 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 74.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-371?
63 applicants chose ELK-3-371 first in the 2026 draw and 25 drew it on that choice, 39.7% of them. 49 of the 49 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 68 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 | 62 | 54 | 96 | 24 | 47 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| All applicants | 63 | 54 | 98 | 25 | 49 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 66 | 69 | 77 | 22 | 45 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| All applicants | 68 | 69 | 79 | 24 | 49 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-371?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-371, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 8% (2025-26), from 43 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 49 in 2023-24 to 49 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 15-19 | 49 | 43 | 8% | 0 | 3 | 3.67 | 2.53 |
| 2024-25 | A | Nov 9-13 | 49 | 44 | 27% | 0 | 10 | 3.36 | 3.18 |
| 2023-24 | A | Nov 11-15 | 49 | 45 | 2% | 0 | 1 | 3.79 | 2.14 |
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-3-371 compare with the other Unit 45 elk hunts?
ELK-3-371 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 45 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 6th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (63). Its 2025-26 success rate, 8%, was the 6th highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 45 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 74.3% public land (725,646 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-371 have?
NMDOW lists 49 licenses for ELK-3-371 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 49 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-371?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-371 a 8% success rate, from 43 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 2% to 27%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-371 in 2026?
215 applicants listed ELK-3-371 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 63 chose it first and 25 of those drew it, 39.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 68 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-371?
No. ELK-3-371 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87).