ELK-2-222: elk hunt in Unit 6B (Valles Caldera, hunter orientation required), Sep 15-24
ELK-2-222 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an antlerless elk with a bow in Unit 6B, Valles Caldera, hunter orientation required, September 15 to 24, with 10 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77). In the 2026 draw, 58 applicants chose it first and 10 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 10 licenses sold, 10 hunters reporting, a 38% success rate, 0 bulls and 3 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 6BNeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Antlerless elk |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 6B |
| Licenses | 10 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 58 (10 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 38% success, 0 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 99.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-222?
58 applicants chose ELK-2-222 first in the 2026 draw and 10 drew it on that choice, 17.2% of them. 10 of the 10 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 59 first-choice applicants and 8 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 | 55 | 51 | 33 | 9 | 9 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 58 | 51 | 33 | 10 | 10 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 59 | 35 | 29 | 8 | 10 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 59 | 35 | 29 | 8 | 10 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-222?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-222, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 38% (2025-26), from 10 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 | A | Sept 15-25 | 10 | 10 | 38% | 0 | 3 | 6.5 | 4 |
| 2024-25 | A | Sept 15-25 | 10 | 10 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 5.13 | 4.25 |
| 2023-24 | A | Sept 15-25 | 10 | 9 | 14% | 0 | 1 | 5.14 | 3.86 |
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-2-222 compare with the other Unit 6B elk hunts?
ELK-2-222 is one of 15 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 6B in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 13th most first-choice applicants of the 15 drawn ones (58). Its 2025-26 success rate, 38%, was the 13th highest of the 15 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 6B elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 99.9% public land (88,748 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-222 have?
NMDOW lists 10 licenses for ELK-2-222 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 10 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-222?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-222 a 38% success rate, from 10 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 0% to 38%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-222 in 2026?
142 applicants listed ELK-2-222 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 58 chose it first and 10 of those drew it, 17.2% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 59 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-222?
No. ELK-2-222 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 77).