ELK-2-234: elk hunt in Unit 6C, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-234 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 6C, September 1 to 14, with 150 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 221 applicants chose it first and 73 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 150 licenses sold, 143 hunters reporting, a 14% success rate, 18 bulls and 1 cow taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational Park ServiceMilitary landTribal landOther federal (closed)Unit 6CNeighboring 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 6C |
| Licenses | 150 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 221 (73 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 14% success, 18 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 53.4% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-234?
221 applicants chose ELK-2-234 first in the 2026 draw and 73 drew it on that choice, 33% of them. 150 of the 150 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 248 first-choice applicants and 69 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 | 159 | 225 | 219 | 60 | 126 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 49 | 75 | 112 | 7 | 9 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 13 | 33 | 79 | 6 | 15 |
| All applicants | 221 | 333 | 410 | 73 | 150 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 179 | 227 | 189 | 60 | 126 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 53 | 113 | 124 | 4 | 9 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 16 | 31 | 71 | 5 | 15 |
| All applicants | 248 | 371 | 384 | 69 | 150 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-234?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-234, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 14% (2025-26), from 143 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 150 in 2023-24 to 150 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 | 150 | 143 | 14% | 18 | 1 | 7.58 | 3.14 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 152 | 133 | 17% | 19 | 3 | 8.03 | 3.6 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 150 | 143 | 30% | 18 | 6 | 7.67 | 3.59 |
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-2-234 compare with the other Unit 6C elk hunts?
ELK-2-234 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 6C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (221). Its 2025-26 success rate, 14%, was the 8th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 6C elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 53.4% public land (415,553 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-234 have?
NMDOW lists 150 licenses for ELK-2-234 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 152 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-234?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-234 a 14% success rate, from 143 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 14% to 30%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-234 in 2026?
964 applicants listed ELK-2-234 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 221 chose it first and 73 of those drew it, 33% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 248 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-234?
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).