ELK-1-135: elk hunt in Unit 2C, Dec 5-9
ELK-1-135 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with any legal weapon in Unit 2C, December 5 to 9, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). In the 2026 draw, 275 applicants chose it first and 35 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 72 hunters reporting, a 53% success rate, 1 bull and 34 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landBureau of ReclamationTribal landUnit 2CNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Any legal weapon |
| Dates | December 5 to 9 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 2C |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 275 (35 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 53% success, 1 bull, 34 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 89.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-1-135?
275 applicants chose ELK-1-135 first in the 2026 draw and 35 drew it on that choice, 12.7% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 245 first-choice applicants and 43 drawn on first choice. These are NMDOW's results for those draws, not a forecast.
| Pool, 2026 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 272 | 451 | 625 | 32 | 68 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 7 |
| All applicants | 275 | 464 | 628 | 35 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 240 | 464 | 598 | 41 | 70 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 5 |
| All applicants | 245 | 469 | 602 | 43 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-1-135?
NMDGF's results for ELK-1-135, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 53% (2025-26), from 72 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 75 in 2023-24 to 75 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bulls | Cows | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | A | Dec 6-10 | 75 | 72 | 53% | 1 | 34 | 2.83 | 4.09 |
| 2024-25 | A | Dec 7-11 | 75 | 69 | 50% | 0 | 35 | 2.61 | 3.86 |
| 2023-24 | A | Dec 2-6 | 75 | 70 | 57% | 1 | 38 | 2.72 | 3.95 |
Source: NMDGF 2025-26 elk harvest report, NMDGF 2024-25 elk harvest report and NMDGF 2023-24 elk harvest report and earlier NMDOW elk harvest reports.
How does ELK-1-135 compare with the other Units 2A, 2B and 2C elk hunts?
ELK-1-135 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Units 2A, 2B and 2C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (275). Its 2025-26 success rate, 53%, was the 2nd highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Units 2A, 2B and 2C elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 89.8% public land (463,488 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-1-135 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-1-135 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-1-135?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-1-135 a 53% success rate, from 72 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 50% to 57%.
How many people applied for ELK-1-135 in 2026?
1,367 applicants listed ELK-1-135 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 275 chose it first and 35 of those drew it, 12.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 245 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-1-135?
No. ELK-1-135 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75).
New Mexico hunting New Mexico elk Units 2A, 2B and 2C elk Unit 2C