ELK-3-443: elk hunt in Unit 55A (Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime)), Oct 10-14
ELK-3-443 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for a mature bull elk with a muzzleloader in Unit 55A, Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime), October 10 to 14, with 20 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). In the 2026 draw, 301 applicants chose it first and 17 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 20 licenses sold, 18 hunters reporting, a 29% success rate, 6 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 55ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Mature bull. A spike bull is not legal |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Muzzleloader |
| Dates | October 10 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Licenses | 20 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | Once-in-a-Lifetime |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 301 (17 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 29% success, 6 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
NMDOW's note for ELK-3-443: Hunters may hold either an ES or an MB Once-in-a-Lifetime and Once-in-a-Youth license. In addition, hunters may hold an Antlerless Once-in-a-Lifetime and Once-in-a-Youth license.
How many hunters applied for ELK-3-443?
301 applicants chose ELK-3-443 first in the 2026 draw and 17 drew it on that choice, 5.6% of them. 20 of the 20 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 294 first-choice applicants and 17 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 | 154 | 44 | 55 | 14 | 17 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 111 | 55 | 51 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 36 | 27 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| All applicants | 301 | 126 | 121 | 17 | 20 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 157 | 44 | 65 | 15 | 17 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 110 | 71 | 46 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 27 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 2 |
| All applicants | 294 | 129 | 132 | 17 | 20 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-3-443?
NMDGF's results for ELK-3-443, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 29% (2025-26), from 18 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 20 in 2023-24 to 20 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 11-15 | 20 | 18 | 29% | 6 | 0 | 4.41 | 3.24 |
| 2024-25 | MB | Oct 7-11 | 20 | 20 | 37% | 7 | 0 | 3.74 | 3.95 |
| 2023-24 | MB | Oct 7-11 | 20 | 19 | 42% | 8 | 0 | 3.95 | 3.21 |
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-3-443 compare with the other Unit 55A elk hunts?
ELK-3-443 is one of 19 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 19 drawn ones (301). Its 2025-26 success rate, 29%, was the 9th highest of the 19 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 55A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 13.2% public land (132,899 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-3-443 have?
NMDOW lists 20 licenses for ELK-3-443 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 20 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-3-443?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-3-443 a 29% success rate, from 18 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 29% to 42%.
How many people applied for ELK-3-443 in 2026?
548 applicants listed ELK-3-443 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 301 chose it first and 17 of those drew it, 5.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 294 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-3-443?
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).