Unit 15: elk, mature buck/bull, muzzleloader

Hunt code
ELK-3-267
Unit
15
Weapon
Muzzleloader
Season
muzzleloader
Draw years
2023–2026

In 2026, 143 of 1,174 residents drew (12%).

In 2026, 5 of 399 nonresidents drew (1%).

Harvest success in 2025 was 27%.

Year by year

YearPermitsResidentsNonresidents
AppliedDrewAppliedDrew
2026–1,1741433995
2025–1,3111454089
2024–1,3001474858
2023–1,3811404068

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
20252005027%
20242005228%
20231995329%

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.

  • 2026200 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): 193 first-choice applicants, 14 drawn.
  • 2025200 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): 168 first-choice applicants, 7 drawn.
  • 2024200 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): 160 first-choice applicants, 8 drawn.
  • 2023200 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): 166 first-choice applicants, 8 drawn.

Sources

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Other hunts in unit 15

Units listed next to it

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