DIY in New Mexico.
There are TONS of cow elk tags in the Youth encouragement hunts. Every year so far there are tags that go unsold. After the first 14 days any unsold tags will be available to any youth on a first come first served basis.
Copy/paste from page 41 of the proclamation.
Youth Encouragement Hunts - Online Application Only
? Only New Mexico resident youth hunters that successfully fulfilled all application requirements and responsibilities for draw hunts
for deer, elk, antelope, ibex, oryx, or bighorn sheep in the current license year and were unsuccessful in drawing any licenses or
permits will be eligible to apply for these hunts for the first fourteen (14) days of the posting on the Department's website.
? After fourteen days, all remaining licenses shall be available to ANY (resident and nonresident) youth hunter eligible to purchase
an elk license. Youth hunters that hold any current elk license, either draw or private land, are ineligible to purchase a Youth
Encouragement Elk License.
? These hunts will be offered first-come, first-served through an Internet registration process and web sale, rather than the
random draw process. To receive information about how to obtain one of these licenses, visit the Department's website.
? The number of licenses available for these hunts may be adjusted due to changes in population levels, harvest rates and
available habitat.
Any Legal Sporting Arm Hunts
Hunt Area Hunt Dates Hunt Code Fee Type Licenses Bag Limit
Unit 5B Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-401 S 20 A
Unit 6A Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-402 S 50 A
Unit 6A Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-403 S 50 A
Unit 6C Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-404 S 50 A
Unit 6C Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-405 S 50 A
Unit 10 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-408 S 35 A
Unit 16A Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-413 S 75 A
Unit 16A Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-414 S 75 A
Unit 16C Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-415 S 75 A
Unit 16C Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-416 S 75 A
Unit 16D Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-417 S 75 A
Unit 16D Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-418 S 75 A
Unit 16E Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-419 S 75 A
Unit 16E Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-420 S 75 A
Unit 34 (Some animals in this unit have tested positive for CWD) Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-423 S 80 A
Unit 36 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-424 S 60 A
Unit 36 Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-425 S 60 A
Unit 49 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-426 S 50 A
Unit 50 Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-427 S 60 A
Unit 51 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-428 S 75 A
Unit 51 Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-429 S 75 A
Unit 52 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-430 S 50 A
Unit 53 except Cerro portion Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-1-431 S 60 A
Unit 53 except Cerro portion Dec. 26-30 ELK-1-432 S 60 A
Muzzleloader Hunts
Unit 9 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-3-406 S 75 A
Unit 9 Dec. 26-30 ELK-3-407 S 75 A
Unit 13 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-3-409 S 60 A
Unit 13 Dec. 26-30 ELK-3-410 S 60 A
Unit 15 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-3-411 S 75 A
Unit 15 Dec. 26-30 ELK-3-412 S 75 A
Unit 17 Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ELK-3-421 S 60 A
Unit 17 Dec. 26-30 ELK-3-422 S 60 A