ELK-2-203: elk hunt in Unit 52, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-203 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 52, September 15 to 24, with 230 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 585 applicants chose it first and 144 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 230 licenses sold, 215 hunters reporting, a 15% success rate, 28 bulls and 4 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 52 |
| Licenses | 230 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 585 (144 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 15% success, 28 bulls, 4 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 92.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-203?
585 applicants chose ELK-2-203 first in the 2026 draw and 144 drew it on that choice, 24.6% of them. 230 of the 230 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 613 first-choice applicants and 144 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 | 359 | 455 | 343 | 122 | 194 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 142 | 204 | 253 | 4 | 13 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 84 | 131 | 134 | 18 | 23 |
| All applicants | 585 | 790 | 730 | 144 | 230 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 365 | 405 | 335 | 123 | 194 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 160 | 257 | 241 | 7 | 13 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 88 | 120 | 121 | 14 | 23 |
| All applicants | 613 | 782 | 697 | 144 | 230 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-203?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-203, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 15% (2025-26), from 215 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 231 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 15-24 | 230 | 215 | 15% | 28 | 4 | 6.79 | 3.53 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 230 | 215 | 16% | 29 | 6 | 6.22 | 3.67 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 231 | 213 | 18% | 26 | 12 | 6.38 | 3.63 |
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-2-203 compare with the other Unit 52 elk hunts?
ELK-2-203 is one of 12 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 52 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 11 drawn ones (585). Its 2025-26 success rate, 15%, was the 11th 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-2-203 have?
NMDOW lists 230 licenses for ELK-2-203 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 230 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-203?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-203 a 15% success rate, from 215 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 15% to 18%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-203 in 2026?
2,105 applicants listed ELK-2-203 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 585 chose it first and 144 of those drew it, 24.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 613 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-203?
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).