ELK-2-265: elk hunt in Unit 15, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-265 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 15, September 15 to 24, with 250 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 2,107 applicants chose it first and 196 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 250 licenses sold, 235 hunters reporting, a 12% success rate, 17 bulls and 12 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 15Neighboring 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 15 |
| Licenses | 250 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 2,107 (196 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 12% success, 17 bulls, 12 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 77.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-265?
2,107 applicants chose ELK-2-265 first in the 2026 draw and 196 drew it on that choice, 9.3% of them. 250 of the 250 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 2,525 first-choice applicants and 209 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 | 1,068 | 804 | 474 | 180 | 210 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 651 | 891 | 404 | 2 | 15 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 388 | 377 | 345 | 14 | 25 |
| All applicants | 2,107 | 2,072 | 1,223 | 196 | 250 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 1,334 | 882 | 499 | 185 | 210 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 816 | 960 | 434 | 8 | 15 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 375 | 566 | 426 | 16 | 25 |
| All applicants | 2,525 | 2,408 | 1,359 | 209 | 250 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-265?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-265, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 12% (2025-26), from 235 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 251 in 2023-24 to 250 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 | 250 | 235 | 12% | 17 | 12 | 7 | 2.9 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 250 | 240 | 29% | 59 | 7 | 6.69 | 4.08 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 251 | 235 | 16% | 33 | 4 | 6.8 | 3.77 |
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-2-265 compare with the other Unit 15 elk hunts?
ELK-2-265 is one of 10 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 15 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (2,107). Its 2025-26 success rate, 12%, was the 10th highest of the 10 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 15 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 77.6% public land (810,996 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-265 have?
NMDOW lists 250 licenses for ELK-2-265 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 250 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-265?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-265 a 12% success rate, from 235 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 12% to 29%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-265 in 2026?
5,402 applicants listed ELK-2-265 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 2,107 chose it first and 196 of those drew it, 9.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 2,525 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-265?
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).