ELK-2-257: elk hunt in Unit 13, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-257 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 13, September 15 to 24, with 148 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). In the 2026 draw, 667 applicants chose it first and 101 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 148 licenses sold, 136 hunters reporting, a 14% success rate, 19 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 landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 13Neighboring 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 13 |
| Licenses | 148 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 667 (101 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 14% success, 19 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 41.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-257?
667 applicants chose ELK-2-257 first in the 2026 draw and 101 drew it on that choice, 15.1% of them. 148 of the 148 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 791 first-choice applicants and 106 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 | 338 | 324 | 256 | 79 | 125 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 168 | 189 | 133 | 8 | 9 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 161 | 164 | 162 | 14 | 14 |
| All applicants | 667 | 677 | 551 | 101 | 148 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 383 | 335 | 284 | 96 | 125 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 242 | 185 | 150 | 4 | 9 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 166 | 166 | 182 | 6 | 14 |
| All applicants | 791 | 686 | 616 | 106 | 148 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-257?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-257, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 14% (2025-26), from 136 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 150 in 2023-24 to 148 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 | 148 | 136 | 14% | 19 | 1 | 6.5 | 3.32 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 149 | 137 | 19% | 24 | 1 | 6.43 | 3.65 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 150 | 138 | 19% | 23 | 3 | 6.82 | 3.78 |
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-2-257 compare with the other Unit 13 elk hunts?
ELK-2-257 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 13 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (667). Its 2025-26 success rate, 14%, was the 9th highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 13 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 41.6% public land (1,185,020 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-257 have?
NMDOW lists 148 licenses for ELK-2-257 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 79). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 149 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-257?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-257 a 14% success rate, from 136 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 14% to 19%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-257 in 2026?
1,895 applicants listed ELK-2-257 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 667 chose it first and 101 of those drew it, 15.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 791 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-257?
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).