ELK-2-172: elk hunt in Unit 4 (Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only, Humphries/Rio Chama WMAs only), Sep 15-24
ELK-2-172 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 4, Humphries and Rio Chama WMAs only, Humphries/Rio Chama WMAs only, September 15 to 24, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76). In the 2026 draw, 44 applicants chose it first and 6 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 7 hunters reporting, a 43% success rate, 4 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76. 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 4 |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 44 (6 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 43% success, 4 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 11.7% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-172?
44 applicants chose ELK-2-172 first in the 2026 draw and 6 drew it on that choice, 13.6% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 41 first-choice applicants and 7 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 | 43 | 46 | 44 | 5 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 44 | 47 | 46 | 6 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 41 | 45 | 35 | 7 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 41 | 45 | 35 | 7 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-2-172 held?
ELK-2-172 is held on W.A. Humphries WMA, 11,078 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 4, 7 miles from Lumberton. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Primitive camping is allowed Memorial Day weekend-November 15 in designated areas only. Licensed hunters may camp during their hunt. Closures: Bill Humphries Wildlife Area is closed November 16 until Memorial Day weekend except for established deer and elk hunts.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-172?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-172, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 43% (2025-26), from 7 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 15-24 | 10 | 7 | 43% | 4 | 0 | 4.86 | 3.57 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 10 | 10 | 30% | 3 | 0 | 6.3 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 10 | 9 | 38% | 3 | 0 | 5.5 | 3.25 |
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-2-172 compare with the other Unit 4 elk hunts?
ELK-2-172 is one of 15 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 4 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 9th most first-choice applicants of the 15 drawn ones (44). Its 2025-26 success rate, 43%, was the 11th 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-2-172 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-2-172 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-172?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-172 a 43% success rate, from 7 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 30% to 43%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-172 in 2026?
137 applicants listed ELK-2-172 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 44 chose it first and 6 of those drew it, 13.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 41 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-172?
No. ELK-2-172 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 76).