ELK-2-246: elk hunt in Unit 12, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-246 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 12, September 1 to 14, with 36 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 102 applicants chose it first and 32 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 36 licenses sold, 30 hunters reporting, a 15% success rate, 4 bulls and 1 cow taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 12Neighboring 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 12 |
| Licenses | 36 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 102 (32 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 15% success, 4 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 38.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-246?
102 applicants chose ELK-2-246 first in the 2026 draw and 32 drew it on that choice, 31.4% of them. 36 of the 36 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 96 first-choice applicants and 20 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 | 58 | 53 | 54 | 28 | 31 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 27 | 29 | 40 | 2 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 17 | 14 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
| All applicants | 102 | 96 | 107 | 32 | 36 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 49 | 77 | 54 | 17 | 31 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 23 | 37 | 29 | 2 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 24 | 20 | 19 | 1 | 3 |
| All applicants | 96 | 134 | 102 | 20 | 36 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-246?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-246, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 15% (2025-26), from 30 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 36 in 2023-24 to 36 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 | 36 | 30 | 15% | 4 | 1 | 6.73 | 3.46 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 36 | 33 | 48% | 15 | 1 | 6.45 | 3.65 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 36 | 31 | 37% | 12 | 1 | 6.07 | 3.83 |
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-2-246 compare with the other Unit 12 elk hunts?
ELK-2-246 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 12 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 7th most first-choice applicants of the 10 drawn ones (102). Its 2025-26 success rate, 15%, was the 9th highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 12 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 38.8% public land (642,998 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-246 have?
NMDOW lists 36 licenses for ELK-2-246 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 36 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-246?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-246 a 15% success rate, from 30 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 15% to 48%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-246 in 2026?
305 applicants listed ELK-2-246 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 102 chose it first and 32 of those drew it, 31.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 96 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-246?
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).