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Sportsman’sIllustrated
Hunts/New Mexico/Elk

2026 / Worth understanding

ELK-1-396

Unit 28 McGregor Range Only1 (CWD detected in this area, see page 28) - Any Legal - Dec. 12-16

Sportsman’s Illustrated field note

A New Mexico elk opportunity where the tag path, access, and a realistic recovery plan all need to be settled well before opening day.

Regulatory record verified 2026-09-03
Tag pathBig Game Drawing

restricted elk opportunity

Legal animalHD 10 ES

Check license eligibility

2026 quota10

Tags or permitted hunters

game management units and hunt areasUnit 28 McGregor Range Only1 (CWD detected in this area, see page 28)

Unit 28 McGregor Range Only1 (CWD detected in this area, see page 28)

01 / Season structure

When and how.

General methodsUnit 28 McGregor Range Only1 (CWD detected in this area, see page 28) - Any Legal - Dec. 12-16 season in Unit 28 McGregor Range Only1 (CWD detected in this area, see page 28)

Dec 12, 2026 to Dec 16, 2026

Do not stop at the dates.

Confirm tag availability, current regulations, boundaries, legal methods, ammunition rules, closures, and access before you act. The agency source and your issued tag control.

02 / Sportsman’s Illustrated notes

What to solve before opening day.

Access

A hunt boundary does not establish legal access. Confirm ownership, entry, closures, road conditions, and property-specific rules with the current land manager.

Plan

The 2026 drawing deadline has passed. Use this record to understand the opportunity, then review current drawing statistics and next year's digest before applying.

Complexity

More moving parts, usually because the draw, timing, or season structure requires earlier decisions.

03 / Regulatory record

Read the official material.

These sources establish the hunt record above. They can be updated after our verification date.

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish2026-2027 New Mexico Hunting Rules and InformationOpen official source ↗