ELK-2-247: elk hunt in Unit 12, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-247 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 12, September 15 to 24, with 35 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 180 applicants chose it first and 27 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 35 licenses sold, 31 hunters reporting, a 27% success rate, 6 bulls and 3 cows 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 12 |
| Licenses | 35 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 180 (27 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 27% success, 6 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 38.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-247?
180 applicants chose ELK-2-247 first in the 2026 draw and 27 drew it on that choice, 15% of them. 35 of the 35 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 225 first-choice applicants and 27 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 | 89 | 91 | 55 | 24 | 30 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 52 | 48 | 48 | 0 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 39 | 22 | 38 | 3 | 3 |
| All applicants | 180 | 161 | 141 | 27 | 35 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 105 | 107 | 56 | 23 | 30 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 60 | 70 | 49 | 2 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 60 | 31 | 25 | 2 | 3 |
| All applicants | 225 | 208 | 130 | 27 | 35 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-247?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-247, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 27% (2025-26), from 31 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 35 in 2023-24 to 35 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 | 35 | 31 | 27% | 6 | 3 | 6.2 | 3.23 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 35 | 34 | 38% | 12 | 0 | 6.16 | 3.75 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 35 | 33 | 47% | 16 | 0 | 6.06 | 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-2-247 compare with the other Unit 12 elk hunts?
ELK-2-247 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 12 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 10 drawn ones (180). Its 2025-26 success rate, 27%, was the 8th 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-2-247 have?
NMDOW lists 35 licenses for ELK-2-247 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 35 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-247?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-247 a 27% success rate, from 31 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 27% to 47%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-247 in 2026?
482 applicants listed ELK-2-247 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 180 chose it first and 27 of those drew it, 15% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 225 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-247?
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).