ELK-2-152: elk hunt in Unit 9 (including Water Canyon WMA), Sep 15-24
ELK-2-152 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 9, including Water Canyon WMA, September 15 to 24, with 82 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 57 applicants chose it first and 28 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 83 licenses sold, 74 hunters reporting, a 15% success rate, 9 bulls and 2 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeState parkNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 9Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 9 |
| Licenses | 82 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 57 (28 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 15% success, 9 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 26.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-152?
57 applicants chose ELK-2-152 first in the 2026 draw and 28 drew it on that choice, 49.1% of them. 82 of the 82 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 63 first-choice applicants and 25 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 | 36 | 66 | 86 | 25 | 70 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 21 | 13 | 23 | 3 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| All applicants | 57 | 81 | 114 | 28 | 82 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 24 | 60 | 123 | 20 | 75 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 39 | 19 | 39 | 5 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 63 | 79 | 164 | 25 | 82 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-2-152 held?
ELK-2-152 is held on Water Canyon WMA, 2,844 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 9, 4 miles from Bibo. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: No camping is allowed except licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Closures: Water Canyon Wildlife Area is open year-round except during established deer and elk hunts.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-152?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-152, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 15% (2025-26), from 74 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 83 in 2023-24 to 83 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 | 83 | 74 | 15% | 9 | 2 | 5.62 | 3.03 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 83 | 76 | 15% | 9 | 1 | 6.23 | 2.92 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 83 | 78 | 9% | 5 | 1 | 6.3 | 2.69 |
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-2-152 compare with the other Unit 9 elk hunts?
ELK-2-152 is one of 11 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 9 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (57). Its 2025-26 success rate, 15%, was the 6th highest of the 11 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 9 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 26.7% public land (567,834 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-152 have?
NMDOW lists 82 licenses for ELK-2-152 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 83 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-152?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-152 a 15% success rate, from 74 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 9% to 15%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-152 in 2026?
252 applicants listed ELK-2-152 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 57 chose it first and 28 of those drew it, 49.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 63 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-152?
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).