ELK-2-202: elk hunt in Unit 52, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-202 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 52, September 1 to 14, with 230 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 388 applicants chose it first and 138 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 230 licenses sold, 204 hunters reporting, an 18% success rate, 27 bulls and 9 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 52Neighboring 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 52 |
| Licenses | 230 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 388 (138 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 18% success, 27 bulls, 9 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-202?
388 applicants chose ELK-2-202 first in the 2026 draw and 138 drew it on that choice, 35.6% of them. 230 of the 230 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 425 first-choice applicants and 133 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 | 242 | 295 | 257 | 117 | 194 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 107 | 159 | 268 | 8 | 13 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 39 | 96 | 90 | 13 | 23 |
| All applicants | 388 | 550 | 615 | 138 | 230 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 263 | 298 | 258 | 124 | 194 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 101 | 144 | 172 | 6 | 13 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 61 | 95 | 98 | 3 | 23 |
| All applicants | 425 | 537 | 528 | 133 | 230 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-202?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-202, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 18% (2025-26), from 204 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 230 in 2023-24 to 230 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 | 230 | 204 | 18% | 27 | 9 | 7.15 | 3.63 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 232 | 210 | 28% | 42 | 17 | 6.51 | 3.91 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 230 | 198 | 23% | 29 | 19 | 6.83 | 3.64 |
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-2-202 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-2-202 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (388). Its 2025-26 success rate, 18%, was the 10th highest of the 12 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 52 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 92.1% public land (247,713 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-202 have?
NMDOW lists 230 licenses for ELK-2-202 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 232 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-202?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-202 a 18% success rate, from 204 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 18% to 28%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-202 in 2026?
1,553 applicants listed ELK-2-202 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 388 chose it first and 138 of those drew it, 35.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 425 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-202?
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).