New Mexico Elk Season 2026-27
New Mexico elk season dates start with Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027. The table below keeps every listed elk row together with zones and notes where available.
Quick answer
New Mexico's listed 2026-27 elk season runs Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027.
Valle Vidal - Once in a Lifetime Elk opens Sep 1, 2026 and closes Nov 25, 2026.
General Firearm Elk opens Oct 1, 2026 and closes Nov 4, 2026.
The tables below keep the rest of the listed seasons together by species, with source links back to New Mexico NMDGF.
Elk
14 listed rowsElk
Premium Statewide
Premium statewide elk hunt, 1 license, any legal sporting arm.
Zone: Statewide any unit (ELK-1-700)
Elk
Valle Vidal - Once in a Lifetime
Valle Vidal once-in-a-lifetime hunts: bow Sept. 1-14 and Sept. 15-24; muzzle Oct. 10-14; any legal Oct. 17-21 and Oct. 24-28; youth Oct. 31-Nov. 4; antlerless Nov. 7-11, 14-18, 21-25. Q/HD fee type.
Zone: Unit 55A Valle Vidal
Elk
General Firearm
Any legal sporting arm elk hunts vary widely by unit. Common periods: Oct. 1-5, Oct. 10-14, Oct. 17-21, Oct. 24-28, Oct. 31-Nov. 4.
Zone: Multiple units
Elk
Private Land - Primary Zone - Any Legal
Any legal sporting arm ranch-only licenses limited to any 5 consecutive days within season. Dates vary by unit from Oct. 1 through Feb. 10, 2027 (antlerless only).
Zone: Primary Management Zone
Elk
Private Land - Secondary/Special Zone - Any Legal
Any legal sporting arms hunts limited to any 5 consecutive days from Oct. 1-Dec. 31. Antlerless only in Unit 34 Oct. 1-Feb. 10, 2027; Unit 36 antlerless only Oct. 1-Jan. 31, 2027.
Zone: Secondary/Special Management Zone
Elk
Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader elk hunts primarily Oct. 10-14 and Oct. 17-21 in various units. Some units have Nov. or Dec. muzzleloader hunts.
Zone: Multiple units
Elk
Private Land - Primary Zone - Muzzleloader
Muzzleloader ranch-only any 5 consecutive days within Oct. 10-14 (most units) or Oct. 17-Dec. 31 (units 9,13,15,17).
Zone: Primary Management Zone
Elk
Antlerless
Antlerless elk hunts primarily Nov.-Dec. in various units. Some late antlerless hunts extend to Feb. 2027 in Units 34, 36.
Zone: Multiple units - NM Residents Only
Elk
Youth Encouragement
Youth encouragement antlerless elk hunts Nov. 28-Dec. 2 and Dec. 26-30 in multiple units. License fee $67 resident, $563 non-resident.
Zone: Multiple units - Youth Only
Elk
Antlerless - Late Season
Late antlerless elk hunts: Unit 34 Jan. 23-27 and Feb. 6-10, 2027; Unit 36 Jan. 23-27, 2027.
Zone: Units 34, 36 - NM Residents Only
Elk
Archery - Early
Early archery elk hunts in most units Sept. 1-14.
Zone: Statewide draw hunts (varies by unit)
Elk
Private Land - Primary Zone - Archery
Ranch-only bow hunts Sept. 1-14 or Sept. 15-24 (license valid for either season). Unit-wide bow same dates.
Zone: Primary Management Zone
| Season | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| ElkPrivate Land - Secondary/Special Zone - Archery · Secondary/Special Management ZoneBow-only hunts limited to Sept. 1-24. | Closed | |
| ElkArchery - Late · Statewide draw hunts (varies by unit)Late archery elk hunts Sept. 15-24 in most units. | Closed |
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Nearby elk seasons
New Mexico Elk Season FAQ
When does elk season open in New Mexico?
September 1, 2026 is the earliest listed elk opener in New Mexico — archery - early elk runs Sep 1-14, 2026. Confirm zone and permit details with New Mexico NMDGF.
What are the 2026-27 elk season dates in New Mexico?
New Mexico lists 14 elk season windows: Archery - Early Elk (Sep 1-14, 2026); Premium Statewide Elk (Sep 1, 2026-Jan 31, 2027); Valle Vidal - Once in a Lifetime Elk (Sep 1-Nov 25, 2026); Private Land - Primary Zone - Archery Elk (Sep 1-24, 2026); Private Land - Secondary/Special Zone - Archery Elk (Sep 1-24, 2026); Archery - Late Elk (Sep 15-24, 2026); General Firearm Elk (Oct 1-Nov 4, 2026); Private Land - Primary Zone - Any Legal Elk (Oct 1-Dec 31, 2026); and more. Always verify against New Mexico NMDGF before hunting.
Are there different elk seasons in New Mexico?
Yes — New Mexico lists separate elk seasons for Archery - Early Elk, Premium Statewide Elk, Valle Vidal - Once in a Lifetime Elk, Private Land - Primary Zone - Archery Elk, Private Land - Secondary/Special Zone - Archery Elk, Archery - Late Elk. Each can carry its own dates, zones, and weapon rules; see the table above and New Mexico NMDGF.
Do I need a license to hunt elk in New Mexico?
Yes. New Mexico generally requires the appropriate hunting license, and elk hunting may also require tags, permits, stamps, or zone authorizations. Confirm requirements with New Mexico NMDGF.