If you don’t draw in New Mexico, you are not out of luck. A large share of the state’s elk hunting happens on private land, through a program called EPLUS (the Elk Private Lands Use System). Landowners receive elk authorizations, and hunters use those authorizations to buy a license from the state. Many guided New Mexico elk hunts are built around these tags.
This page explains how private-land elk licenses work, what they cost, and what to watch out for.
The basics
- An authorization is not a license. The landowner gives, sells, or trades you an authorization number and hunt code. You then buy the actual elk license from the New Mexico Department of Wildlife.
- The deal is between you and the landowner. The department sets the rules but does not step in on price or disputes.
- One elk license per year. You can’t hold both a public-draw elk license and a private-land elk license in the same license year, and you can’t swap one for the other.
- You still need the basics: a game-hunting license, the HMAV, and a Habitat Stamp if you will be on Forest Service or BLM land.
The three management zones
New Mexico divides elk country into zones, and the rules differ in each.
| Zone | How private-land tags work |
|---|---|
| Primary zone | Landowners get a set number of authorizations based on acreage and habitat. These are the main source of landowner tags. |
| Special zone | Authorizations are negotiated ranch by ranch. Includes GMU 55A and part of GMU 54. |
| Secondary zone | Private-land licenses are unlimited and sold over the counter with a ranch code from a registered landowner and written permission. |
Unit-wide vs. ranch-only
In the primary zone, landowner authorizations come in two types:
- Unit-wide. You can hunt the landowner’s ranch, other participating unit-wide ranches, and any legally accessible public land in the same unit. These are the most valuable private-land tags because they open up the whole unit, including national forest.
- Ranch-only. You can hunt only on that ranch. Ranch-only licenses are never good on public land.
Unit-wide hunters can scout up to two days before their hunt starts.
Over-the-counter private-land elk (secondary zone)
This is the closest thing New Mexico has to an over-the-counter elk tag. In secondary management zones, there is no cap on private-land licenses. If a registered landowner gives you a ranch code and written permission, you can buy the license over the counter. Licenses for the 2026–27 year became available July 1.
Two cautions: secondary-zone licenses are not valid on any public land, and the department does not publish a list of participating ranches. You have to find the landowner yourself, often through an outfitter.
Private-land elk license fees
These are the state’s license fees as listed on the department’s EPLUS page, which does not state a license year, so confirm the current amounts before you buy. They do not include whatever the landowner or outfitter charges for the authorization.
| Private-land elk license | Resident | Nonresident |
|---|---|---|
| Antlerless | $79 | $582 |
| Mature bull or either sex | $109 | $782 |
| Quality antlerless | $79 | $1,007 |
| Quality mature bull or either sex | $109 | $1,007 |
Junior and senior licenses are for residents only.
Timing
- Landowners apply for primary-zone authorizations by early January, and authorizations are typically issued in late May and June.
- The department posts lists of participating primary- and special-zone landowners in June (the 2026 list went up July 2).
- If you buy your license online or by phone, do it at least 14 days before your hunt so the tag can be mailed.
What about leftover licenses?
New Mexico sells leftover draw licenses first come, first served in summer, with residents getting the first 24 hours. Elk rarely shows up. The 2026 sale on July 8 was deer only. Don’t plan a hunt around elk leftovers.
There is also a Youth Encouragement sale of antlerless elk licenses for youth 17 and under who applied in the draw and didn’t draw. Resident youth get the first 14 days of the sale (in 2026, July 22 to August 5), so check the department’s announcement for who can buy after that.
Is a landowner tag worth it?
| Public draw | Landowner (EPLUS) tag | |
|---|---|---|
| Guaranteed? | No, pure luck | Yes, once you buy the authorization |
| Cost of the tag | State license fee only | State license fee plus the landowner’s price |
| Where you hunt | The unit on your license | The ranch, or the whole unit with a unit-wide tag |
| Season choice | Fixed hunt dates | Often longer windows on private land |
| Best for | Hunters who can wait | Hunters on a schedule, or after a specific unit |
Landowner tags are expensive. One outfitter we reviewed listed landowner authorizations at $10,000 to $30,000 for archery or rifle and $8,000 to $12,000 for muzzleloader, on top of the hunt price. In return, you get a guaranteed hunt in a unit that might take years to draw.
Tips before you buy
- Ask what kind of authorization it is. Unit-wide or ranch-only makes a huge difference.
- Get the hunt code and dates in writing. Private-land seasons can differ from the public draw dates.
- Confirm the price includes the authorization. Many outfitters quote the hunt and the tag separately.
- Use an outfitter you trust. Most nonresidents find landowner tags through registered outfitters who lease or manage ranches.
Hunt private land
Find New Mexico outfitters with landowner tags
Compare hunts and reviews, then contact outfitters directly. Also see hunting leases.
Related: How New Mexico draw points work · Draw odds by unit · New Mexico Elk Hunting Guide · How to apply for the elk draw · Cost of a New Mexico elk hunt
Private-land rules and fees are from the New Mexico Department of Wildlife’s EPLUS program and 2026–27 rules. They change often, so confirm in the current Hunting Rules and Info booklet before you buy.