ELK-2-315: elk hunt in Unit 21A, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-315 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 21A, September 15 to 24, with 50 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). In the 2026 draw, 177 applicants chose it first and 28 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 50 licenses sold, 46 hunters reporting, a 16% success rate, 8 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 21A |
| Licenses | 50 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 177 (28 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 16% success, 8 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 97.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-315?
177 applicants chose ELK-2-315 first in the 2026 draw and 28 drew it on that choice, 15.8% of them. 50 of the 50 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 167 first-choice applicants and 39 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 | 84 | 105 | 82 | 21 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 22 | 64 | 50 | 2 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 71 | 20 | 15 | 5 | 5 |
| All applicants | 177 | 189 | 147 | 28 | 50 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 98 | 83 | 71 | 32 | 42 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 35 | 67 | 61 | 2 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 34 | 50 | 16 | 5 | 5 |
| All applicants | 167 | 200 | 148 | 39 | 50 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-315?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-315, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 16% (2025-26), from 46 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 15-24 | 50 | 46 | 16% | 8 | 0 | 6.66 | 3.36 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 50 | 41 | 24% | 9 | 2 | 6.47 | 3.47 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 50 | 43 | 15% | 7 | 0 | 7.13 | 3.46 |
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-2-315 compare with the other Unit 21A elk hunts?
ELK-2-315 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 21A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (177). Its 2025-26 success rate, 16%, was the 5th 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-2-315 have?
NMDOW lists 50 licenses for ELK-2-315 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-2-315?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-315 a 16% success rate, from 46 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 15% to 24%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-315 in 2026?
513 applicants listed ELK-2-315 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 177 chose it first and 28 of those drew it, 15.8% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 167 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-315?
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).