ELK-2-273: elk hunt in Unit 16A, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-273 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 16A, September 15 to 24, with 150 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 2,600 applicants chose it first and 119 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 150 licenses sold, 138 hunters reporting, an 11% success rate, 12 bulls and 3 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 forestState trust landUnit 16ANeighboring 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 16A |
| Licenses | 150 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 2,600 (119 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 11% success, 12 bulls, 3 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 97% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-273?
2,600 applicants chose ELK-2-273 first in the 2026 draw and 119 drew it on that choice, 4.6% of them. 150 of the 150 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 2,672 first-choice applicants and 122 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 | 580 | 486 | 286 | 97 | 126 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 1,310 | 529 | 267 | 8 | 9 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 710 | 319 | 143 | 14 | 15 |
| All applicants | 2,600 | 1,334 | 696 | 119 | 150 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 652 | 573 | 299 | 104 | 126 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 1,301 | 607 | 372 | 8 | 9 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 719 | 468 | 124 | 10 | 15 |
| All applicants | 2,672 | 1,648 | 795 | 122 | 150 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-273?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-273, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 11% (2025-26), from 138 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 150 in 2023-24 to 150 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 | 150 | 138 | 11% | 12 | 3 | 7.52 | 3.05 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 150 | 137 | 30% | 37 | 5 | 6.84 | 3.96 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 150 | 134 | 22% | 28 | 2 | 6.44 | 3.49 |
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-2-273 compare with the other Unit 16A elk hunts?
ELK-2-273 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (2,600). Its 2025-26 success rate, 11%, was the 9th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 97% public land (399,885 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-273 have?
NMDOW lists 150 licenses for ELK-2-273 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 150 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-273?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-273 a 11% success rate, from 138 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 11% to 30%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-273 in 2026?
4,630 applicants listed ELK-2-273 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 2,600 chose it first and 119 of those drew it, 4.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 2,672 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-273?
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).