ELK-2-188: elk hunt in Unit 50, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-188 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 50, September 15 to 24, with 55 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). In the 2026 draw, 17 applicants chose it first and 10 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 55 licenses sold, 49 hunters reporting, a 20% success rate, 8 bulls and 2 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 50Neighboring 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 50 |
| Licenses | 55 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 17 (10 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 20% success, 8 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 68% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-188?
17 applicants chose ELK-2-188 first in the 2026 draw and 10 drew it on that choice, 58.8% of them. 55 of the 55 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 16 first-choice applicants and 5 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 | 11 | 27 | 62 | 9 | 49 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 6 | 7 | 33 | 1 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| All applicants | 17 | 34 | 98 | 10 | 55 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 5 | 29 | 53 | 5 | 49 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 11 | 25 | 43 | 0 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| All applicants | 16 | 54 | 100 | 5 | 55 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-188?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-188, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 20% (2025-26), from 49 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 56 in 2023-24 to 55 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 | 55 | 49 | 20% | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2.52 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 55 | 52 | 9% | 4 | 0 | 5.66 | 2.61 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 56 | 48 | 13% | 5 | 1 | 5.55 | 2.63 |
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-2-188 compare with the other Unit 50 elk hunts?
ELK-2-188 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 50 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (17). Its 2025-26 success rate, 20%, was the 3rd highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 50 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 68% public land (401,683 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-188 have?
NMDOW lists 55 licenses for ELK-2-188 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 55 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-188?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-188 a 20% success rate, from 49 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 9% to 20%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-188 in 2026?
149 applicants listed ELK-2-188 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 17 chose it first and 10 of those drew it, 58.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 16 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-188?
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).