ELK-2-314: elk hunt in Unit 21A, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-314 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 21A, September 1 to 14, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). In the 2026 draw, 88 applicants chose it first and 27 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 48 hunters reporting, a 5% success rate, 2 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 21ANeighboring unitsLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 1 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 21A |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 88 (27 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 5% success, 2 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 97.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-314?
88 applicants chose ELK-2-314 first in the 2026 draw and 27 drew it on that choice, 30.7% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 151 first-choice applicants and 29 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 | 55 | 59 | 66 | 22 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 25 | 43 | 56 | 3 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 8 | 36 | 15 | 2 | 5 |
| All applicants | 88 | 138 | 137 | 27 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 62 | 96 | 77 | 22 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 34 | 65 | 54 | 2 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 55 | 21 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
| All applicants | 151 | 182 | 146 | 29 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-314?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-314, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 5% (2025-26), from 48 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 50 in 2023-24 to 50 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 1-14 | 50 | 48 | 5% | 2 | 0 | 7.95 | 3.16 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 50 | 49 | 31% | 12 | 2 | 6.8 | 3.76 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 50 | 49 | 15% | 6 | 1 | 8.67 | 3.35 |
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-2-314 compare with the other Unit 21A elk hunts?
ELK-2-314 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 21A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (88). Its 2025-26 success rate, 5%, was the 6th highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 21A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 97.9% public land (292,681 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-314 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for ELK-2-314 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 50 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-314?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-314 a 5% success rate, from 48 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 5% to 31%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-314 in 2026?
363 applicants listed ELK-2-314 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 88 chose it first and 27 of those drew it, 30.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 151 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-314?
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).