ELK-1-391 · antlerlessRES

Unit 53 elk,Unit 53: excluding Cerro portion

Season Any Legal - Excluding Cerro portion / NM Nov 21–Nov 25·Units: 53·94 tags in 2026·Who can apply: residents

Odds for:Nonresident · 0 pts

Answer card2026 draw · Resident

94 tags, 25 applied, 96% drew in 2026. 516th hardest of 521 New Mexico elk draws in 2026.

Draw result · 2026

96%

24 of 25 drew

Harvest success

8–33%

Range, 2023–2025

Tags · 2026

Applicants · 2026

0.3 per tag

Draw results · whole hunt

Year	Who	Applicants	Drew
2026	Resident	25	24

New Mexico prints whole-hunt figures, not results by point level.

Draw history

Year	Who	Draw	Applicants	Drew	Share drawn
2026	Resident	24 of 25 drew	25	24	96%
2025	Resident	40 of 45 drew	45	40	89%
2024	Resident	28 of 34 drew	34	28	82%
2023	Resident	25 of 29 drew	29	25	86%
2022	Resident	10 of 10 drew	10	10	100%
2021	Resident	22 of 29 drew	29	22	76%
2020	Resident	19 of 32 drew	32	19	59%
2019	Resident	14 of 19 drew	19	14	74%

What it is

Season dates, 2026

Check the regulations for boundaries and restrictions.

Harvest success, ELK-1-391

2019–2025

1919%209%2110%2211%238%2413%2533%

Other elk hunts in Unit 53

Ask FarWide

Answers use the same figures as this page.

Before you apply

Leftovers: “Licenses remaining after 14 days shall be available to any youth hunter eligible to purchase an elk license, whether they applied for draw hunts or not. Hunts will only be offered online on a first-come, first-served basis.”
Tag fee: “A $70 Not issued”
Tag fee: “ES $100 $998”
Points: “New Mexico does not grant preference to previously unsuccessful applicants.”

Rules for 2026.

Source: NMDGF · Updated Nov 13, 2026