Unit 15 Elk Hunting, New Mexico
New Mexico hunting unit · 1,634 sq mi
Draw hunts — random, no points
New Mexico has no preference or bonus points: every hunt here with draw odds is a random draw, with its own hunt code. Residents, nonresidents applying without an outfitter, and applicants applying with a registered outfitter (a pool open to residents and nonresidents) are drawn in separate pools, and the table gives each pool's odds in words. Some hunts here are for New Mexico residents only; a nonresident is not eligible for them.
What hunting Unit 15 is like
Unit 15 is rolling country, with some steeper breaks, running from about 5,700 feet up to 10,200 feet; the mean slope across the unit is gentle enough that most of the ground is walkable, though the pockets of moderate and steep terrain near the higher reaches ask more of a hunter's legs and lungs. Lower elevations mix shrub and brush with conifer and pinyon-juniper and open grass and meadow, giving good glassing edges where timber meets open feed. Climbing toward mid and higher elevations, conifer and pinyon-juniper closes in, eventually covering the large majority of the highest ground, so hunting up top becomes more a matter of working timber edges and benches on foot than glassing long distances.
About 79% of Unit 15 is public land under National Forest, BLM, and State Trust ownership, but that ownership figure is not a promise of easy access — some parcels are closed or restricted, and State Trust land (6% of the unit) can only be used during a hunter's own hunt plus up to a week of scouting beforehand, entered by public or established roads. The remaining roughly 21% is private and requires written permission to hunt. Two fires have burned on the unit's east side: the Antone fire in 2024 burned about 12,000 acres, and the Bear fire in 2026 burned about 7,800 acres; hunters working those areas should check for current fire closures before heading out.
The draw hunts listed here require an application, while landowners enrolled in the Elk Private Lands Use System separately issue authorizations allowing purchase of a private-land elk licence, a distinct route into the unit. New Mexico has no points system for elk of any kind, so every application stands on its own in a given year's random draw.
Elk hunts in Unit 15 (2026–27)
Each row is a hunt a hunter selects by its hunt code. Draw difficulty is a band in words from the 2026 first-choice results — good, fair, long or very long odds — for each pool; a dash means too few applicants to give a fair band. It is not a published percentage. The outfitter pool is open to both residents and nonresidents.
| Hunt | Dates | Legal elk | Resident | Nonresident, no outfitter | With an outfitter | Rut phase |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archery ELK-2-264 | September 1 – September 14 | Any elk | Fair odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Rut Onset, Primary Rut |
| ArcheryQuality hunt ELK-2-265 | September 15 – September 24 | Any elk | Long odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Primary Rut |
| MuzzleloaderQuality hunt ELK-3-267 | October 17 – October 21 | Mature bull | Long odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Post-Rut Recovery |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-268 | October 24 – October 28 | Mature bull | Fair odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Post-Rut Recovery |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-269 | November 14 – November 18 | Mature bull | Fair odds | Long odds | Long odds | Migration Transition |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-270 | December 5 – December 9 | Antlerless elk | Fair odds | Residents only | Residents only | Winter Range |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-271 | December 12 – December 16 | Antlerless elk | Fair odds | Residents only | Residents only | Winter Range |
"Residents only" hunts (antlerless elk, and hunts held only on state wildlife areas) are closed to nonresidents. "Unlimited" hunts are private-land hunts: no quota, no draw, valid on private land only with the landowner's written permission. A "Quality hunt" is a State Wildlife Commission designation for hunts meant to improve the chance of a successful harvest, offer a wider selection of mature animals, or give a better experience through timing or hunter density. Youth, mobility-impaired, military and other special-eligibility hunts are not listed.
Archery · Any elk · September 1 – September 14
Archery hunters in the first half of September are working the unit right as the rut onset phase gives way into the primary rut phase, so bull activity can be building through these two weeks. The lower-elevation mix of shrub and brush, timber, and grass and meadow offers edge country worth working on foot, while higher ground is thick with conifer and pinyon-juniper and demands closer-range tactics. This hunt allows any elk under hunt code ELK-2-264, and residents draw it at Fair odds while nonresidents, with or without an outfitter, face Very long odds.
Archery · Any elk · September 15 – September 24
The back half of September falls squarely in the primary rut phase, and this Quality hunt under hunt code ELK-2-265 is built around that timing to give archers a better experience in the field. Still-hunting the timbered mid and upper elevations or working the edges where grass and meadow meets conifer and pinyon-juniper gives an archer a chance to close distance on any elk, which is the legal animal here. Residents face Long odds in the draw while both nonresident pools face Very long odds, reflecting how few tags this short window offers.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 17 – October 21
By mid-to-late October bulls have slipped into the post-rut recovery phase, becoming far less visible and settling into secluded pockets where they can meet their needs without moving much. This Quality muzzleloader hunt for mature bull only, hunt code ELK-3-267, rewards a mule-deer style approach: glass feeding openings in the grass and meadow and shrub and brush at first and last light, then spend the slower midday hours walking likely cover on foot checking for tracks and droppings. When sign turns up, the better play is to stay patient and keep working that ground rather than move on. Residents draw Long odds while both nonresident pools face Very long odds.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 24 – October 28
The late-October mature bull hunt under hunt code ELK-3-268 falls in the same post-rut recovery phase as the Quality hunt just before it, so bulls remain scattered and hard to pattern, holding tight to cover rather than showing in the open. The same approach applies here: glass openings early and late, then use the daylight lull to walk timber and brush edges looking for fresh sign, and stick with an area once sign confirms elk are using it. Residents see Fair odds in the draw, a step better than the Quality hunt, while nonresident applicants in either pool face Very long odds.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · November 14 – November 18
Mid-November puts this mature bull hunt, code ELK-3-269, into the migration transition phase, when bulls may regroup into bachelor bunches and elk generally begin shifting toward wintering ground, breaking up the larger cow groups seen earlier in fall. Average snowfall for the month runs light at under an inch with lows near 24°F, so a hunter should read current snow accumulation on the ground and focus effort where fresh tracks or droppings show elk are actually moving through, rather than relying on old sign alone. Working transition routes between higher timber and lower feed makes sense as animals drift. Residents hold Fair odds while both nonresident pools face Long odds.
Muzzleloader · Antlerless elk · December 5 – December 9
Early December places this antlerless hunt, code ELK-3-270, in the winter range phase, when elk settle onto wintering ground that often sees repeated use year after year. With roughly 3.5 inches of average snowfall and lows near 18°F, a hunter should factor in how much snow has actually built up when deciding where to focus, concentrating time wherever fresh tracks, droppings, or direct sightings turn up. This hunt is limited to antlerless elk and is open to residents only, with nonresidents ineligible to apply; resident applicants see Fair odds in the draw.
Muzzleloader · Antlerless elk · December 12 – December 16
The mid-December antlerless hunt, code ELK-3-271, runs through the same winter range phase a week later, with elk again likely concentrated on familiar wintering ground. Snowfall averages around 3.5 inches for the month with lows near 18°F, so checking how much has actually accumulated before committing to an area is worthwhile, and patience pays off wherever current sign shows elk present. This hunt is for antlerless elk only and is restricted to residents, who draw it at Fair odds; nonresidents are not eligible to apply.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 5,700–10,200 ft, typically around 7,700 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 67% gentle · 27% moderate · 6% steep · 0% rugged
- Public land by ownership
- ~1,287 sq mi
Habitat & cover
What grows here, by elevation. Each band adds to 100% on its own — these are shares of that band, not of the unit.
Lower elevations
- Shrub and brush44%
- Conifer and pinyon-juniper30%
- Grass and meadow25%
- Other cover1%
Mid elevations
- Conifer and pinyon-juniper58%
- Shrub and brush32%
- Grass and meadow10%
Higher elevations
- Conifer and pinyon-juniper87%
- Shrub and brush8%
- Grass and meadow5%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database. “Other cover” is the remainder — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land.
Recent fires
Wildfires in the last several seasons that burned a meaningful share of Unit 15. Fire perimeters show where a fire burned, not how hot — and closures change through the year, so check current fire closures and restrictions before you go.
- Antone fire, 2024 — about 12,000 acres in the unit (1%), mostly on its east side.
- Bear fire, 2026 — about 7,800 acres in the unit, mostly on its east side.
Fire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center.
Land & access
About 79% of Unit 15 is public land by ownership — National Forest, BLM and State Trust land. Ownership is not the same as legal access: some parcels are closed or restricted.
- National Forest58%
- BLM15%
- State Trust land6%
- Private21%
Public land includes State Trust land (6% of this unit). You may use it only during your own hunt, plus up to 7 days of scouting beforehand, entering by public or established roads (NM State Land Office / Game Commission easement). Some parcels are withdrawn; check the State Land Office's hunting-access map.
Fall weather
- August — highs around 78°F, lows around 49°F
- September — highs around 74°F, lows around 43°F
- October — highs around 65°F, lows around 33°F, about 0.5 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 55°F, lows around 24°F, about 0.9 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 47°F, lows around 18°F, about 3.5 in of snowfall
Unit 15 elk hunting FAQ
How does a hunter get an elk licence for Unit 15?
A hunter applies for one of the public draw hunts listed for Unit 15 by hunt code, choosing up to three hunt choices on the application. Separately, landowners enrolled in the Elk Private Lands Use System issue authorizations that let a hunter buy a private-land elk licence, which is another licensing route into the unit. Both paths exist independently of each other.
How hard are the Unit 15 elk hunts to draw, and does it differ by pool?
Yes, odds vary by pool and by hunt. Residents see Fair odds on most hunts and Long odds on the two Quality hunts, while nonresident applicants, whether applying with or without a registered outfitter, generally face Long odds or Very long odds across the board. No pool's odds are guaranteed, and the bands describe per-application results, not per-person outcomes.
Can a nonresident hunt every season in Unit 15?
No. Nonresidents may apply for the two archery any-elk hunts and all three mature bull muzzleloader hunts. The two antlerless muzzleloader hunts in December are residents only, and a nonresident is ineligible to apply for them, not simply unlikely to draw.
Does New Mexico use preference points or bonus points for elk?
No. New Mexico has no points system of any kind for elk, so there is nothing to build or hold from year to year. Every application is treated on its own in that year's random draw, given a sequence number the computer works through in order.
How much of Unit 15 is public land, and what is the rule on State Trust land?
About 79% of the unit's roughly 1,634 square miles is public land under National Forest, BLM, and State Trust ownership, with the remaining roughly 21% private and requiring written permission to hunt. That public figure is ownership, not guaranteed access, since some parcels are closed or restricted. State Trust land makes up 6% of the unit and may only be used during a hunter's own hunt plus up to seven days of scouting beforehand, entered by public or established roads.
Data sources & methodology
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — Hunting Rules & Info booklet (2026-27) — season dates, legal animals, hunt codes and the rules for each hunt
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — How the New Mexico draw works — the random draw, the choices a hunter ranks and how licences are split among the draw pools
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — Applications and draw information — the draw results behind the draw-difficulty bands for each pool
- New Mexico Department of Game and Fish — Game management unit maps — unit boundaries and the official unit maps
- USGS / MRLC — National Land Cover Database — habitat and cover classes by elevation band
- USGS PAD-US — Protected Areas Database of the United States — land ownership and access
- Daymet daily climate, 1991–2020 (Oak Ridge National Laboratory) — fall weather
- National Interagency Fire Center — wildfire perimeters — recent fires, their size and where they burned
Draw difficulty is a qualitative band from first-choice results for each pool, not published odds. Rut phases are regional timing, not New Mexico-specific dates. Land shares are separate, non-overlapping categories. Confirm current dates and rules in the New Mexico Hunting Rules & Info booklet before you hunt. Unit data last updated October 21, 2026.