ELK-2-235: elk hunt in Unit 6C, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-235 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 6C, September 15 to 24, with 105 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 329 applicants chose it first and 67 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 105 licenses sold, 95 hunters reporting, a 12% success rate, 10 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 6C |
| Licenses | 105 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 329 (67 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 12% success, 10 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 53.4% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-235?
329 applicants chose ELK-2-235 first in the 2026 draw and 67 drew it on that choice, 20.4% of them. 105 of the 105 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 364 first-choice applicants and 67 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 | 251 | 339 | 278 | 62 | 89 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 57 | 99 | 116 | 5 | 6 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 21 | 104 | 124 | 0 | 10 |
| All applicants | 329 | 542 | 518 | 67 | 105 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 241 | 383 | 290 | 61 | 89 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 91 | 109 | 112 | 2 | 6 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 32 | 56 | 47 | 4 | 10 |
| All applicants | 364 | 548 | 449 | 67 | 105 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-235?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-235, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 12% (2025-26), from 95 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 105 in 2023-24 to 105 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 | 105 | 95 | 12% | 10 | 1 | 6.2 | 3.65 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 106 | 94 | 23% | 20 | 2 | 6.31 | 3.78 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 105 | 99 | 21% | 9 | 1 | 6.68 | 3.61 |
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-2-235 compare with the other Unit 6C elk hunts?
ELK-2-235 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 6C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (329). Its 2025-26 success rate, 12%, was the 9th 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-2-235 have?
NMDOW lists 105 licenses for ELK-2-235 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 106 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-235?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-235 a 12% success rate, from 95 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 12% to 23%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-235 in 2026?
1,389 applicants listed ELK-2-235 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 329 chose it first and 67 of those drew it, 20.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 364 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-235?
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).