ELK-2-163: elk hunt in Unit 4 (Sargent WMA only), Sep 1-14
ELK-2-163 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 4, Sargent WMA only, September 1 to 14, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). In the 2026 draw, 63 applicants chose it first and 6 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 9 hunters reporting, a 44% success rate, 3 bulls and 1 cow 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 landState parkTribal landUnit 4Neighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 1 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 4 |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| NMDOW fee class | quality |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 63 (6 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 44% success, 3 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 11.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-163?
63 applicants chose ELK-2-163 first in the 2026 draw and 6 drew it on that choice, 9.5% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 78 first-choice applicants and 6 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 | 59 | 43 | 15 | 5 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 4 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 63 | 46 | 20 | 6 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 78 | 55 | 22 | 6 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 78 | 58 | 22 | 6 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-2-163 held?
ELK-2-163 is held on Edward Sargent WMA, 20,057 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 4, next to Chama. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Camping is allowed only in the Designated Camping Area and only from July 1-Nov. 15. Licensed hunters and their guests may camp in this designated area during their hunt. Closures: -From May 15-June 30: GAIN activities (wildlife viewing, photograpy, hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, skiing, snowshoeing, etc) are restricted to the Sargent Main Road, Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and The Elk Viewing Trail. -During published deer and elk hunts: GAIN activities are restricted to the Parking Area, Designated Camping Area, and the Elk Viewing Trail; the Sargent Main Road is closed to GAIN activities during this time.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-163?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-163, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 44% (2025-26), from 9 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 10 in 2023-24 to 10 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 | 10 | 9 | 44% | 3 | 1 | 6.67 | 4.22 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 10 | 9 | 56% | 4 | 1 | 5.11 | 4.67 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 10 | 10 | 60% | 4 | 2 | 6.8 | 4.1 |
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-2-163 compare with the other Unit 4 elk hunts?
ELK-2-163 is one of 15 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 4 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 15 drawn ones (63). Its 2025-26 success rate, 44%, was the 10th highest of the 15 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 4 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 11.7% public land (51,905 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-163 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-2-163 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-163?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-163 a 44% success rate, from 9 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 44% to 60%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-163 in 2026?
129 applicants listed ELK-2-163 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 63 chose it first and 6 of those drew it, 9.5% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 78 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-163?
No. ELK-2-163 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 75).