ELK-2-242: elk hunt in Unit 7, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-242 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 7, September 15 to 24, with 14 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). In the 2026 draw, 46 applicants chose it first and 8 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 14 licenses sold, 13 hunters reporting, a 25% success rate, 3 bulls and 0 cows 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 landBureau of ReclamationNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 7Neighboring 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 7 |
| Licenses | 14 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 46 (8 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 25% success, 3 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 36% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-242?
46 applicants chose ELK-2-242 first in the 2026 draw and 8 drew it on that choice, 17.4% of them. 14 of the 14 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 35 first-choice applicants and 11 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 | 35 | 43 | 52 | 8 | 12 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 11 | 9 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 46 | 54 | 66 | 8 | 14 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 31 | 43 | 30 | 10 | 12 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 3 | 4 | 7 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| All applicants | 35 | 50 | 40 | 11 | 14 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-242?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-242, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 25% (2025-26), from 13 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 14 in 2023-24 to 14 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 | 14 | 13 | 25% | 3 | 0 | 5.17 | 3.58 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 15 | 15 | 29% | 4 | 0 | 5.86 | 3.36 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 14 | 10 | 11% | 1 | 0 | 6.22 | 2.89 |
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-2-242 compare with the other Unit 7 elk hunts?
ELK-2-242 is one of 5 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 7 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (46). Its 2025-26 success rate, 25%, was the 2nd highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 7 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 36% public land (789,010 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-242 have?
NMDOW lists 14 licenses for ELK-2-242 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 78). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 15 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-242?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-242 a 25% success rate, from 13 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 11% to 29%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-242 in 2026?
166 applicants listed ELK-2-242 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 46 chose it first and 8 of those drew it, 17.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 35 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-242?
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).