Unit 52: elk, mature buck/bull, muzzleloader

Hunt code
ELK-3-205
Unit
52
Weapon
Muzzleloader
Season
muzzleloader
Draw years
2023–2026

In 2026, 71 of 241 residents drew (29%).

In 2026, 5 of 88 nonresidents drew (6%).

Harvest success in 2025 was 20%.

Year by year

YearPermitsResidentsNonresidents
AppliedDrewAppliedDrew
2026–24171885
2025–245691005
2024–268551092
2023–27277886

Harvest

NMDGF counts licenses sold as hunters, and the harvest is NMDGF's estimate from hunter reports, public land only. The success rate is NMDGF's own printed figure, not harvest divided by licenses sold.

YearHuntersHarvestSuccess
20251192220%
20241212625%
20231202626%

Reading these numbers

New Mexico has no points: every application has the same chance every year. Each hunt's licenses are split by law, at least 84% to residents, 6% to nonresidents without an outfitter and 10% to applicants (resident or not) who contracted with an outfitter. Counts here are first-choice applicants and first-choice draws.

  • 2026120 licenses in all; by law at least 84% go to residents, 6% to nonresidents without an outfitter, 10% to an outfitter pool. Outfitter pool (residents or nonresidents who contracted with an outfitter; not counted with the residents or nonresidents above): 41 first-choice applicants, 11 drawn.
  • 2025120 licenses in all; by law at least 84% go to residents, 6% to nonresidents without an outfitter, 10% to an outfitter pool. Outfitter pool (residents or nonresidents who contracted with an outfitter; not counted with the residents or nonresidents above): 67 first-choice applicants, 11 drawn.
  • 2024120 licenses in all; by law at least 84% go to residents, 6% to nonresidents without an outfitter, 10% to an outfitter pool. Outfitter pool (residents or nonresidents who contracted with an outfitter; not counted with the residents or nonresidents above): 47 first-choice applicants, 8 drawn.
  • 2023120 licenses in all; by law at least 84% go to residents, 6% to nonresidents without an outfitter, 10% to an outfitter pool. Outfitter pool (residents or nonresidents who contracted with an outfitter; not counted with the residents or nonresidents above): 35 first-choice applicants, 3 drawn.

Sources

See a number that doesn't match the report? Tell us.

Other hunts in unit 52

Units listed next to it

In NMDGF's unit order, which often but not always means nearby.