ELK-2-285: elk hunt in Unit 16C, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-285 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 16C, September 15 to 24, with 100 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 282 applicants chose it first and 60 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 100 licenses sold, 88 hunters reporting, a 6% success rate, 6 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 16CNeighboring 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 16C |
| Licenses | 100 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 282 (60 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 6% success, 6 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 83.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-285?
282 applicants chose ELK-2-285 first in the 2026 draw and 60 drew it on that choice, 21.3% of them. 100 of the 100 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 296 first-choice applicants and 60 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 | 149 | 178 | 141 | 52 | 84 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 97 | 110 | 101 | 2 | 6 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 36 | 32 | 50 | 6 | 10 |
| All applicants | 282 | 320 | 292 | 60 | 100 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 162 | 157 | 183 | 54 | 84 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 98 | 112 | 135 | 3 | 6 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 36 | 51 | 54 | 3 | 10 |
| All applicants | 296 | 320 | 372 | 60 | 100 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-285?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-285, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 6% (2025-26), from 88 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 100 in 2023-24 to 100 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 | 100 | 88 | 6% | 6 | 0 | 7.68 | 2.66 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 100 | 96 | 15% | 13 | 1 | 7.11 | 3.16 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 100 | 92 | 5% | 4 | 0 | 6.48 | 3.33 |
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-2-285 compare with the other Unit 16C elk hunts?
ELK-2-285 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16C in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (282). Its 2025-26 success rate, 6%, was the 8th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16C elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 83.3% public land (255,480 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-285 have?
NMDOW lists 100 licenses for ELK-2-285 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 100 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-285?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-285 a 6% success rate, from 88 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 5% to 15%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-285 in 2026?
894 applicants listed ELK-2-285 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 282 chose it first and 60 of those drew it, 21.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 296 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-285?
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).