ELK-2-129: elk hunt in Units 2A, 2B and 2C, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-129 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Units 2A, 2B and 2C, September 1 to 14, with 120 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). In the 2026 draw, 204 applicants chose it first and 71 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 120 licenses sold, 106 hunters reporting, a 22% success rate, 19 bulls and 6 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 ReclamationNational Park ServiceTribal landUnits 2A, 2B and 2CUnit linesLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 1 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Units | Unit 2A, Unit 2B, Unit 2C |
| Licenses | 120 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 204 (71 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 22% success, 19 bulls, 6 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 80.2% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-129?
204 applicants chose ELK-2-129 first in the 2026 draw and 71 drew it on that choice, 34.8% of them. 120 of the 120 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 184 first-choice applicants and 56 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 | 142 | 166 | 191 | 63 | 101 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 48 | 64 | 90 | 5 | 7 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 14 | 22 | 83 | 3 | 12 |
| All applicants | 204 | 252 | 364 | 71 | 120 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 131 | 161 | 176 | 50 | 101 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 41 | 42 | 85 | 5 | 7 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 12 | 11 | 65 | 1 | 12 |
| All applicants | 184 | 214 | 326 | 56 | 120 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-129?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-129, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 22% (2025-26), from 106 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 120 in 2023-24 to 120 in 2025-26.
| Season | Bag | Dates | Licenses sold | Hunters reporting | Success rate | Bulls | Cows | Days hunted, average | Hunter satisfaction, 1 to 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 120 | 106 | 22% | 19 | 6 | 7.83 | 3.26 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 121 | 113 | 30% | 29 | 4 | 7.33 | 3.66 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 120 | 110 | 19% | 15 | 5 | 7.63 | 3.37 |
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-2-129 compare with the other Units 2A, 2B and 2C elk hunts?
ELK-2-129 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 6th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (204). Its 2025-26 success rate, 22%, was the 6th 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 80.2% public land (1,198,807 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-129 have?
NMDOW lists 120 licenses for ELK-2-129 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 121 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-129?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-129 a 22% success rate, from 106 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 19% to 30%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-129 in 2026?
820 applicants listed ELK-2-129 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 204 chose it first and 71 of those drew it, 34.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 184 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-129?
Yes. Nonresidents draw from the 6% of licenses set aside for them, or the 10% for applicants with a registered outfitter (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 18).
New Mexico hunting New Mexico elk Units 2A, 2B and 2C elk Unit 2A Unit 2B Unit 2C