ELK-2-130: elk hunt in Units 2A, 2B and 2C, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-130 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Units 2A, 2B and 2C, September 15 to 24, with 120 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). In the 2026 draw, 366 applicants chose it first and 70 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 120 licenses sold, 114 hunters reporting, a 17% success rate, 15 bulls and 3 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Units | Unit 2A, Unit 2B, Unit 2C |
| Licenses | 120 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 366 (70 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 17% success, 15 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 80.2% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-130?
366 applicants chose ELK-2-130 first in the 2026 draw and 70 drew it on that choice, 19.1% of them. 120 of the 120 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 443 first-choice applicants and 90 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 | 284 | 259 | 243 | 65 | 101 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 54 | 64 | 84 | 3 | 7 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 28 | 72 | 78 | 2 | 12 |
| All applicants | 366 | 395 | 405 | 70 | 120 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 333 | 306 | 235 | 84 | 101 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 75 | 81 | 116 | 2 | 7 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 35 | 46 | 119 | 4 | 12 |
| All applicants | 443 | 433 | 470 | 90 | 120 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-130?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-130, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 17% (2025-26), from 114 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 15-24 | 120 | 114 | 17% | 15 | 3 | 6.41 | 3.58 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 120 | 110 | 20% | 21 | 1 | 6.46 | 3.73 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 120 | 115 | 29% | 26 | 6 | 6.4 | 3.85 |
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-2-130 compare with the other Units 2A, 2B and 2C elk hunts?
ELK-2-130 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 4th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (366). Its 2025-26 success rate, 17%, was the 7th 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-2-130 have?
NMDOW lists 120 licenses for ELK-2-130 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 120 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-130?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-130 a 17% success rate, from 114 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 17% to 29%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-130 in 2026?
1,166 applicants listed ELK-2-130 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 366 chose it first and 70 of those drew it, 19.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 443 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-130?
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