New Mexico Elk — GMU 54
New Mexico GMU 54 covers 220,069 acres and lies 13 miles east of Angel Fire and 31 miles east of Taos. 11% of it is public land, mostly state land (11%). In 2025, 147 people hunted elk here and took 110 — 33% of them killed something.
Your chance of drawing here
Every elk license type on offer in GMU 54, with the prior-draw chance for a first-choice nonresident applicant. Type your points in to see your own number.
Chances are from the 2026 draw (the most recent) for a first-choice nonresident. "Points needed" = the cut in the last draw.
Simple view Odds at every point level-
ELK-1-428 Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 17-21 0 tags · 0 applicants · Standard— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-1-428 Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 17-21 0 tags · 0 applicants · Outfitter— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-1-429 Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 24-28 0 tags · 0 applicants · Standard— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-1-429 Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 24-28 0 tags · 0 applicants · Outfitter— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-1-430 Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — antlerless — Any Legal — Nov. 7-11 0 tags · 0 applicants · Standard— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-1-430 Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — antlerless — Any Legal — Nov. 7-11 0 tags · 0 applicants · Outfitter— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-2-425 Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 1-14 0 tags · 0 applicants · Standard— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-2-425 Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 1-14 0 tags · 0 applicants · Outfitter— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-2-426 Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 15-24 0 tags · 0 applicants · Standard— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-2-426 Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 15-24 0 tags · 0 applicants · Outfitter— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-3-427 Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Muzzle — Oct. 10-14 0 tags · 0 applicants · Standard— Not open to nonresidents
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ELK-3-427 Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Muzzle — Oct. 10-14 0 tags · 0 applicants · Outfitter— Not open to nonresidents
| Hunt | Your odds | Points needed | Tags / applicants | License | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELK-1-428 ↗ Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 17-21 Rifle | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Standard | Oct 17–21, 2026 |
| ELK-1-428 ↗ Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 17-21 Rifle | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Outfitter | Oct 17–21, 2026 |
| ELK-1-429 ↗ Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 24-28 Rifle | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Standard | Oct 24–28, 2026 |
| ELK-1-429 ↗ Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Any Legal — Oct. 24-28 Rifle | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Outfitter | Oct 24–28, 2026 |
| ELK-1-430 ↗ Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — antlerless — Any Legal — Nov. 7-11 Rifle | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Standard | Nov 7–11, 2026 |
| ELK-1-430 ↗ Unit 54/55: Colin Neblett WMA only — antlerless — Any Legal — Nov. 7-11 Rifle | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Outfitter | Nov 7–11, 2026 |
| ELK-2-425 ↗ Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 1-14 Archery | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Standard | Sep 1–14, 2026 |
| ELK-2-425 ↗ Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 1-14 Archery | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Outfitter | Sep 1–14, 2026 |
| ELK-2-426 ↗ Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 15-24 Archery | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Standard | Sep 15–24, 2026 |
| ELK-2-426 ↗ Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — either sex — Bow — Sept. 15-24 Archery | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Outfitter | Sep 15–24, 2026 |
| ELK-3-427 ↗ Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Muzzle — Oct. 10-14 Muzzleloader | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Standard | Oct 10–14, 2026 |
| ELK-3-427 ↗ Unit 54/55A: Colin Neblett WMA only — mature bull — Muzzle — Oct. 10-14 Muzzleloader | Not open to nonresidents | — | 0 / 0 | Outfitter | Oct 10–14, 2026 |
What these columns mean
- Your odds —
- the share of applicants at your point level who drew this tag in the 2026 draw. Not a forecast: quotas and demand move every year.
- The badge —
- plain language for that number. Likely draw 75% or better · Real chance 40%+ · Long shot 15%+ · Point builder below that, so you are applying mainly to bank a point · Undersubscribed means fewer first-choice applicants than tags, so everyone who applied drew.
- Points needed —
- the lowest point total that still got a tag in the 2026 draw, and how that cut has moved since the earliest draw we hold.
- Tags / applicants —
- tags on offer and first-choice applicants for them, as the agency published them. Under five tags we print counts instead of a percentage, because one applicant either way swings it.
What it costs to apply (2026 nonresident fees)
| License | Up front | Gone if you miss | If you draw |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard license | $867 | $107 | $877 |
| Outfitter license | $867 | $107 | $877 |
Application window: closes Mar 18, 2027 (expected). Full fee breakdown.
The country
Boundaries are drawn for orientation only — the written boundary description in the regulations governs.
How the hunting has gone
What New Mexico Department of Game and Fish publishes for this area after each season — harvest statistics for everyone who hunted it, not draw odds and not a forecast.
| Season | Hunters | Harvest | Success |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 147 | 110 | 33% |
| 2024 | 151 | 105 | 27% |
| 2023 | 211 | 201 | 24% |
| 2022 | 312 | 196 | 42% |
| 2021 | 321 | 215 | 43% |
What people carried (2025 harvest)
- Rifle 13 · 33% · 61 hunters, 21% success
- Archery 20 · 50% · 68 hunters, 29% success
- Muzzleloader 7 · 18% · 25 hunters, 28% success
What the agency says about the area
GMU 54: Beginning at the intersection of the south boundary of the Maxwell grant and NM 434 and running north along NM 434 to its junction with US 64, then north and east along US 64 to its junction with NM 21 west of Cimarron then south and east along NM 21 to its junction with I-25 south of Springer, then south along I-25 to its intersection with the south boundary of the Maxwell grant, then...
Source: NM Game Management Units (NMDGF_Game_Management_Units_I_E__v2_WFL1), layer 0
Boundary: NM Game Management Units (NMDGF_Game_Management_Units_I_E__v2_WFL1), layer 0
Harvest: 2025-2026 Elk Harvest Report
Harvest: 2024-2025 Elk Harvest Report