Unit 29 Elk Hunting, New Mexico
New Mexico hunting unit · 1,182 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.
What hunting Unit 29 is like
Unit 29 is gentle and rolling country, with mean slope under five degrees and almost none of the ground classed as steep or rugged. Elevations run from roughly 3,600 to 7,300 feet, and across the lower, middle, and higher bands the cover alternates between shrub and brush and grass and meadow, with no timber class listed. That mix makes for open walking and long sightlines, so still-hunting and glassing across meadows and brush flats are the practical approach rather than working dense timber.
About 86% of the unit is public land under BLM and State Trust ownership, but that figure describes who owns the ground, not where hunting is guaranteed — some parcels are closed or restricted, and State Trust land (23% of the unit) can only be used during a hunter's own hunt plus up to seven days of scouting beforehand, entered by public or established roads. The remaining 14% is private and requires written permission. Beyond the public draw hunts listed for Unit 29, landowners enrolled in the Elk Private Lands Use System separately issue authorizations that let a hunter buy a private-land elk licence, a distinct route from the draw.
New Mexico has no points system for elk, so every application each year stands on its own. Every hunt below is awarded by random draw: each application receives a random sequence number, and the computer works through applications in that order, checking that applicant's first, second, and third choices before moving to the next applicant in sequence. Because of that order, an earlier-sequenced applicant's second or third choice can be awarded before a later-sequenced applicant's first choice is ever considered.
Elk hunts in Unit 29 (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-2-398 Also valid in Unit 30 | September 1 – September 14 | Any elk | Long odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Rut Onset, Primary Rut |
| Archery ELK-2-399 Also valid in Unit 30 | September 15 – September 24 | Any elk | Long odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Primary Rut |
| Any legal weapon ELK-1-400 Also valid in Unit 30 | October 1 – October 5 | Any elk | Very long odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut |
| Any legal weapon ELK-1-401 Also valid in Unit 30 | October 10 – October 14 | Any elk | Very long odds | Very long odds | Very long odds | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut |
"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 two weeks of September are working the Rut Onset and Primary Rut phases, when breeding activity is beginning to build across the unit. With almost no steep or rugged ground, covering distance on foot between shrub and brush and grass and meadow is realistic, and the gentle terrain rewards patient glassing to locate elk before closing the distance with a bow. Any elk is legal here, under hunt code ELK-2-398, and the draw shows long odds for residents and very long odds for both nonresident pools.
Archery · Any elk · September 15 – September 24
The second archery season, September 15 through 24, sits entirely inside the Primary Rut phase, putting bowhunters into the heart of breeding-season activity. The same gentle, open mix of shrub and brush and grass and meadow across the elevation bands favors spotting elk at distance and planning a stalk rather than hunting blind through timber. Any elk may be taken under hunt code ELK-2-399, and the draw runs long odds for residents with very long odds for nonresidents whether or not they apply with an outfitter.
Any legal weapon · Any elk · October 1 – October 5
The early October any-legal-weapon hunt falls in the Late Rut / Early Post-Rut phase, when breeding is slowing and mature bulls often begin to pull away from cow groups to isolate, with the biggest bulls typically the first to leave. Smaller satellite bulls may still linger with cows that are cycling again, so both patterns are worth watching for across the open brush and meadow ground. Bulls coming off the rut can be worn down and battered, sometimes carrying broken points or beams, so hunters particular about antler condition should look animals over carefully before committing. This hunt runs any legal weapon for any elk under hunt code ELK-1-400, with very long odds in every pool.
Any legal weapon · Any elk · October 10 – October 14
Running October 10 through 14, this second any-legal-weapon season stays in the same Late Rut / Early Post-Rut phase as the hunt before it, so the pattern of isolating mature bulls and lingering satellite bulls still applies. Secluded pockets where feeding, bedding, and water sit close together are worth checking in this gentle, low-relief country, since there is little rugged terrain to funnel animals elsewhere. Bulls can still show the wear and broken antlers typical of the tail end of breeding season. Any elk is legal under hunt code ELK-1-401, and the draw shows very long odds across residents, nonresidents without an outfitter, and those applying with one.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 3,600–7,300 ft, typically around 4,700 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 87% gentle · 11% moderate · 2% steep · 0% rugged
- Public land by ownership
- ~1,015 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 brush54%
- Grass and meadow45%
Mid elevations
- Grass and meadow56%
- Shrub and brush43%
Higher elevations
- Shrub and brush53%
- Grass and meadow47%
Cover classes from the USGS National Land Cover Database. “Other cover” is the remainder — bare ground, water, agriculture and developed land.
Land & access
About 86% of Unit 29 is public land by ownership — BLM and State Trust land. Ownership is not the same as legal access: some parcels are closed or restricted.
- BLM63%
- State Trust land23%
- Private14%
Public land includes State Trust land (23% 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 90°F, lows around 63°F
- September — highs around 85°F, lows around 57°F
- October — highs around 76°F, lows around 46°F
- November — highs around 65°F, lows around 34°F
- December — highs around 56°F, lows around 28°F, about 0.5 in of snowfall
Unit 29 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter get a New Mexico elk licence for Unit 29 just by applying?
A hunter applies for one of the specific draw hunts listed for Unit 29 by its hunt code, and the licence is awarded through a random draw rather than guaranteed by applying. Outside the draw, landowners enrolled in the Elk Private Lands Use System also issue authorizations that let a hunter separately buy a private-land elk licence.
How hard is it to draw an elk hunt in Unit 29, and does it differ by pool?
Odds are given in words rather than numbers and vary by pool. Residents see long odds on both archery hunts, while nonresidents face very long odds on every hunt whether or not they apply with a registered outfitter; the two any-legal-weapon hunts in October run very long odds for every pool, including residents.
Can a nonresident hunt elk in Unit 29?
Yes, a nonresident can apply for any of the listed elk hunts in Unit 29, either without an outfitter or through the outfitter pool, which is open to both residents and nonresidents. None of the elk hunts listed for this unit are restricted to residents only.
Does New Mexico use preference 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 in a given year is treated on its own through the random draw.
Which Unit 29 elk seasons fall in the rut?
All four listed seasons touch some phase of the regional rut: both archery hunts in September span the Rut Onset and Primary Rut phases, and both any-legal-weapon hunts in October fall in the Late Rut / Early Post-Rut phase. A hunter chasing rut behavior has options across archery and any-legal-weapon seasons alike.
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.