ELK-2-280: elk hunt in Units 16B and 22, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-280 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Units 16B and 22, September 15 to 24, with 165 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). In the 2026 draw, 560 applicants chose it first and 103 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 165 licenses sold, 155 hunters reporting, a 15% success rate, 22 bulls and 0 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 landWildlife Commission landNational Park ServiceUnits 16B and 22Unit linesLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Units | Unit 16B, Unit 22 |
| Licenses | 165 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 560 (103 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 15% success, 22 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 90.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-280?
560 applicants chose ELK-2-280 first in the 2026 draw and 103 drew it on that choice, 18.4% of them. 165 of the 165 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 555 first-choice applicants and 87 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 | 236 | 202 | 202 | 94 | 139 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 260 | 288 | 211 | 5 | 10 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 64 | 98 | 64 | 4 | 16 |
| All applicants | 560 | 588 | 477 | 103 | 165 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 218 | 224 | 219 | 74 | 139 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 270 | 277 | 228 | 6 | 10 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 67 | 76 | 68 | 7 | 16 |
| All applicants | 555 | 577 | 515 | 87 | 165 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-280?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-280, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 15% (2025-26), from 155 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 165 in 2023-24 to 165 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 | 165 | 155 | 15% | 22 | 0 | 6.35 | 2.82 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 165 | 150 | 23% | 35 | 0 | 6.5 | 3.37 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 165 | 153 | 13% | 17 | 1 | 6.57 | 3.02 |
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-2-280 compare with the other Units 16B and 22 elk hunts?
ELK-2-280 is one of 5 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Units 16B and 22 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 5 drawn ones (560). Its 2025-26 success rate, 15%, was the 3rd highest of the 5 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Units 16B and 22 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 90.6% public land (774,405 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-280 have?
NMDOW lists 165 licenses for ELK-2-280 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 80). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 165 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-280?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-280 a 15% success rate, from 155 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 13% to 23%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-280 in 2026?
1,625 applicants listed ELK-2-280 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 560 chose it first and 103 of those drew it, 18.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 555 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-280?
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).
New Mexico hunting New Mexico elk Units 16B and 22 elk Unit 16B Unit 22