ELK-2-292: elk hunt in Unit 16D, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-292 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 16D, September 15 to 24, with 60 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). In the 2026 draw, 1,349 applicants chose it first and 59 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 60 licenses sold, 55 hunters reporting, a 12% success rate, 7 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 16DNeighboring 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 16D |
| Licenses | 60 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 1,349 (59 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 12% success, 7 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 88.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-292?
1,349 applicants chose ELK-2-292 first in the 2026 draw and 59 drew it on that choice, 4.4% of them. 60 of the 60 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 1,531 first-choice applicants and 53 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 | 418 | 262 | 221 | 50 | 51 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 528 | 342 | 420 | 3 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 403 | 324 | 67 | 6 | 6 |
| All applicants | 1,349 | 928 | 708 | 59 | 60 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 433 | 345 | 246 | 45 | 51 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 595 | 338 | 449 | 2 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 503 | 226 | 92 | 6 | 6 |
| All applicants | 1,531 | 909 | 787 | 53 | 60 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-292?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-292, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 12% (2025-26), from 55 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 60 in 2023-24 to 60 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 | 60 | 55 | 12% | 7 | 0 | 7.08 | 2.92 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 60 | 58 | 35% | 19 | 2 | 6.07 | 4.14 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 60 | 59 | 25% | 13 | 0 | 6.62 | 4.23 |
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-2-292 compare with the other Unit 16D elk hunts?
ELK-2-292 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 16D in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (1,349). Its 2025-26 success rate, 12%, was the 9th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 16D elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 88.3% public land (266,069 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-292 have?
NMDOW lists 60 licenses for ELK-2-292 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 81). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 60 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-292?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-292 a 12% success rate, from 55 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 12% to 35%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-292 in 2026?
2,985 applicants listed ELK-2-292 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 1,349 chose it first and 59 of those drew it, 4.4% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 1,531 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-292?
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).