Unit 9 Elk Hunting, New Mexico
New Mexico hunting unit · 3,328 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 9 is like
Unit 9 is gentle and rolling country overall, with mean slope under six degrees and almost none of its ground classed as rugged — most of the unit is gentle, with only a small steep fraction. Elevation runs from under 5,000 feet up to over 11,000 feet, and cover shifts with that climb: lower and mid elevations are dominated by shrub and brush with small pockets of grass and meadow, while higher elevations carry a mix of shrub and brush with conifer and pinyon-juniper woodland and some grass and meadow. Because the terrain itself rarely forces a hard climb, this is foot country where distance and access matter more than vertical gain — a hunter can cover ground, but working through dense shrub and brush or timber takes time regardless of slope.
Public land by ownership covers about a quarter of the unit, a mix of BLM, National Forest, State Trust land (usable only during a hunter's own hunt, plus up to seven days of scouting beforehand) and the named wildlife management areas. Tribal land closed to state-licensed hunting makes up roughly a quarter of the unit, and private land, which requires written permission, covers close to half — so legal access, not terrain, is what actually limits where a hunter can go. On the west side, the Triple Nickel fire of 2019 burned about 8,100 acres, a small share of the unit; seasons here fall five to eight years after that burn, when regrowth is thick enough to hide animals and deadfall has built up, so checking current fire-closure status before heading out is worthwhile.
Hunts here split between archery seasons on Marquez/LBar WMA and seasons that include Water Canyon WMA, plus muzzleloader seasons for mature bull later in the fall. The draw hunts listed require an application, but landowners enrolled in the Elk Private Lands Use System separately issue authorizations that let a hunter buy a private-land elk licence as another route onto this unit.
Elk hunts in Unit 9 (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-2-146 Marquez/LBar WMA only | September 1 – September 14 | Any elk | Long odds | Residents only | Residents only | Rut Onset, Primary Rut |
| Archery ELK-2-151 Including Water Canyon WMA | September 1 – September 14 | Any elk | Good odds | Long odds | — | Rut Onset, Primary Rut |
| Archery ELK-2-147 Marquez/LBar WMA only | September 15 – September 24 | Any elk | Long odds | Residents only | Residents only | Primary Rut |
| Archery ELK-2-152 Including Water Canyon WMA | September 15 – September 24 | Any elk | Good odds | Long odds | — | Primary Rut |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-148 Marquez/LBar WMA only | October 10 – October 14 | Mature bull | Long odds | Residents only | Residents only | Late Rut / Early Post-Rut |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-149 Marquez/LBar WMA only | October 17 – October 21 | Mature bull | Fair odds | Residents only | Residents only | Post-Rut Recovery |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-154 Including Water Canyon WMA | October 17 – October 21 | Mature bull | Fair odds | — | — | Post-Rut Recovery |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-150 Marquez/LBar WMA only | October 24 – October 28 | Mature bull | Long odds | Residents only | Residents only | Post-Rut Recovery |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-155 Including Water Canyon WMA | October 24 – October 28 | Mature bull | Good odds | Very long odds | — | Post-Rut Recovery |
| Muzzleloader ELK-3-156 Including Water Canyon WMA | October 31 – November 4 | Mature bull | Good odds | — | — | Migration Transition |
"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
This early-September hunt opens during the Rut Onset phase and runs into the Primary Rut phase, so bull activity is building through the two weeks. It is limited to Marquez/LBar WMA, a smaller slice of the unit, and any elk is legal, which widens opportunity for whoever draws. The draw band here runs Long odds for residents, and the hunt is closed to both nonresident pools in the draw. Hunters working this WMA should expect shrub and brush dominated lower ground giving way to timbered high country, with the legal-animal rule making this a straightforward any-elk archery hunt rather than a bull-only pursuit.
Archery · Any elk · September 1 – September 14
Running the same two weeks but opening the broader area that includes Water Canyon WMA, this hunt spans the Rut Onset and Primary Rut phases, putting hunters in the field as breeding activity ramps up. Any elk is legal, so archers can fill a tag with either sex, which helps given the physical demands of working shrub-and-brush country on foot. The draw is comparatively favorable, with Good odds for residents and Long odds for nonresidents applying without an outfitter. With more ground open than the LBar-only option, hunters have more room to find unpressured elk working through brush and timber at the higher elevations.
Archery · Any elk · September 15 – September 24
By mid-to-late September this Marquez/LBar WMA hunt sits squarely in the Primary Rut phase, with bull activity in full swing across the two-week season. Any elk remains legal, so archers are not limited to bulls. The draw is tight, with Long odds for residents, and the hunt is closed to both nonresident draw pools. Covering the WMA's shrub-and-brush lower ground and working up into pinyon-juniper and conifer at higher elevations is the approach here, since the WMA-only boundary means less ground to search than the broader-area hunts.
Archery · Any elk · September 15 – September 24
This hunt covers the same mid-to-late September dates but opens the larger area including Water Canyon WMA, placing it in the Primary Rut phase throughout. Any elk is legal, giving archers flexibility during a period when bull activity is at its height. Draw odds favor residents with a Good odds band, while nonresidents applying without an outfitter face Long odds. The wider boundary means more shrub-and-brush and timbered ground to work compared with the WMA-only option, useful for archers willing to cover distance on foot in gentle terrain.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 10 – October 14
Opening in mid-October, this muzzleloader hunt for mature bull falls in the Late Rut / Early Post-Rut phase, when breeding is slowing and mature bulls may be pulling away from cow groups to isolate, often with the larger bulls leaving first. Smaller satellite bulls may still linger with cows as some continue cycling. Bulls coming off the rut can be worn down and carrying broken antlers, so hunters focused on antler condition should look bulls over carefully. This Marquez/LBar WMA-only hunt draws Long odds for residents and is closed to both nonresident pools, so finding secluded pockets where feeding, bedding and water sit close together is the game within a limited footprint.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 17 – October 21
A week later, this Marquez/LBar WMA mature-bull muzzleloader hunt sits in the Post-Rut Recovery phase, when bulls may have settled into secluded areas to meet their needs without moving far, making them behave more like mule deer in how rarely they show in the open. Glassing feeding openings at the edges of the day and still-hunting through likely cover during the slower hours, then working any fresh sign patiently rather than abandoning it, fits this phase well. The draw improves to Fair odds for residents on this hunt, though it remains closed to both nonresident pools.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 17 – October 21
Covering the same week but opening the area including Water Canyon WMA, this mature-bull muzzleloader hunt also falls in the Post-Rut Recovery phase, with bulls likely holed up in secluded pockets and showing themselves infrequently. The same mule-deer-like approach applies: glass openings early and late, and spend slower midday hours checking cover for tracks and droppings before committing to still-hunt an area. Residents draw this hunt at Fair odds; no nonresident band is listed for it, so the larger boundary here is the main difference from the LBar-only version run the same week.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 24 – October 28
Late October brings another Marquez/LBar WMA mature-bull muzzleloader hunt, still within the Post-Rut Recovery phase and still built around bulls that may be tucked into secluded, resource-rich pockets rather than moving widely. The same patient approach applies — glass early and late, walk likely cover through the day, and stay on areas showing fresh sign rather than moving off too soon. This particular hunt draws Long odds for residents and remains closed to both nonresident pools, making it the tightest of the WMA-only late-season options.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 24 – October 28
Running the same late-October week but opening the area including Water Canyon WMA, this mature-bull muzzleloader hunt is also in the Post-Rut Recovery phase, with bulls likely holding in quiet pockets and showing limited daylight activity. The broader boundary gives more ground to search using the same glass-then-still-hunt approach as the WMA-only version. Residents see a Good odds band here, a notable step up from the LBar-only hunt that week, while nonresidents applying without an outfitter face Very long odds.
Muzzleloader · Mature bull · October 31 – November 4
Closing out the muzzleloader lineup in early November, this hunt including Water Canyon WMA falls in the Migration Transition phase, when bulls may regroup into bachelor bands and elk generally begin shifting toward wintering country, with large cow groups becoming less concentrated. November averages around half an inch of snowfall with lows near 25°F, and if snow has accumulated by the hunt's dates it is worth watching how it affects movement toward wintering ground; in lighter conditions elk may still be settling in more gradually. Fresh sign along likely transition routes is the key, since sign from prior years only flags a place worth checking rather than confirming elk are there now. Residents draw this hunt at Good odds; no nonresident band is listed for it.
Terrain & elevation
- Elevation
- 4,900–11,300 ft, typically around 6,400 ft
- Slope breakdown
- 83% gentle · 13% moderate · 3% steep · 0% rugged
- Public land by ownership
- ~815 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 brush82%
- Other cover13%
- Grass and meadow4%
- Riparian1%
Mid elevations
- Shrub and brush92%
- Conifer and pinyon-juniper3%
- Grass and meadow3%
- Other cover2%
Higher elevations
- Shrub and brush60%
- Conifer and pinyon-juniper34%
- Grass and meadow5%
- Other cover1%
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 9. 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.
- Triple Nickel fire, 2019 — about 8,100 acres in the unit, mostly on its west side.
Fire perimeters from the National Interagency Fire Center.
Land & access
About 24% of Unit 9 is public land by ownership — BLM, National Forest, State Trust land and State Wildlife Management Area. Ownership is not the same as legal access: some parcels are closed or restricted.
- BLM11%
- National Forest9%
- State Trust land4%
- State Wildlife Management Area<1%
- National Park Service<1%
- tribal land26%
- Unclassified ownership2%
- Private48%
Public land includes State Trust land (4% 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.
Hunting is allowed on some National Park Service land (a national preserve, for example) but not in national parks, monuments or historical parks — check where it is allowed.
Tribal land requires the tribe's own permission and licence — a New Mexico elk licence is not valid there.
Fall weather
- August — highs around 86°F, lows around 55°F
- September — highs around 80°F, lows around 48°F
- October — highs around 69°F, lows around 36°F, about 0.7 in of snowfall
- November — highs around 56°F, lows around 25°F, about 0.5 in of snowfall
- December — highs around 46°F, lows around 17°F, about 2.8 in of snowfall
Unit 9 elk hunting FAQ
Can a hunter get an elk licence for Unit 9 without going through the state draw?
The listed hunts all require a draw application submitted by hunt code. Separately, landowners enrolled in the Elk Private Lands Use System (EPLUS) issue their own authorizations that let a hunter buy a private-land elk licence, which is a different route onto parts of the unit with access rights that vary by ranch. A hunter interested in that option would need to contact participating landowners directly rather than apply through the public draw.
How hard are these hunts to draw, and does it differ by pool?
Difficulty varies a lot by hunt and pool: resident bands here range from Long odds up to Good odds depending on the specific season and area, while nonresidents applying without an outfitter see bands from Long odds down to Very long odds on the hunts open to them. Several hunts are residents-only, meaning no nonresident band applies at all. The outfitter pool is open to both residents and nonresidents, not nonresidents alone, though no band is listed for it on most of these hunts.
Can a nonresident hunt every season offered in Unit 9?
No. Nonresidents may apply in the draw for the archery any-elk hunts and muzzleloader mature-bull hunts that include Water Canyon WMA, but they are ineligible for the Marquez/LBar WMA-only hunts, which are restricted to residents. That split applies hunt by hunt, not by weapon type, so a nonresident needs to check the specific hunt code before applying.
Does New Mexico use preference points or bonus points for elk hunters applying to Unit 9?
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 assigned a random sequence number and processed in that order, with each applicant's first, second, and third choices considered before the next application is taken up.
How much of Unit 9 is public land, and does State Trust land work like other public ground?
Public land by ownership covers about a quarter of the unit, combining BLM, National Forest, State Trust land, and the named wildlife management areas, while roughly a quarter is tribal land closed to state-licensed hunting and nearly half is private land needing written permission. State Trust land, which makes up a small share 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, and some parcels are withdrawn from access entirely. Ownership alone does not guarantee a parcel is open, so checking current access rules before relying on any public section is worthwhile.
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.