ELK-2-331: elk hunt in Unit 23, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-331 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 23, September 1 to 14, with 125 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). In the 2026 draw, 130 applicants chose it first and 39 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 125 licenses sold, 114 hunters reporting, a 9% success rate, 4 bulls and 5 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landMilitary landUnit 23Neighboring 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 23 |
| Licenses | 125 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 130 (39 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 9% success, 4 bulls, 5 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 63.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-331?
130 applicants chose ELK-2-331 first in the 2026 draw and 39 drew it on that choice, 30% of them. 125 of the 125 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 142 first-choice applicants and 56 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 | 70 | 76 | 169 | 38 | 105 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 53 | 63 | 115 | 1 | 8 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 7 | 16 | 112 | 0 | 12 |
| All applicants | 130 | 155 | 396 | 39 | 125 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 81 | 98 | 181 | 51 | 105 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 58 | 85 | 102 | 3 | 8 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 23 | 127 | 2 | 12 |
| All applicants | 142 | 206 | 410 | 56 | 125 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-331?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-331, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 9% (2025-26), from 114 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 125 in 2023-24 to 125 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 | 125 | 114 | 9% | 4 | 5 | 8.22 | 2.74 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 125 | 107 | 31% | 29 | 6 | 6.78 | 3.66 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 125 | 114 | 19% | 18 | 4 | 8.22 | 3.09 |
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-2-331 compare with the other Unit 23 elk hunts?
ELK-2-331 is one of 8 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 23 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (130). Its 2025-26 success rate, 9%, was the 5th highest of the 8 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 23 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 63.1% public land (1,183,461 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-331 have?
NMDOW lists 125 licenses for ELK-2-331 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 125 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-331?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-331 a 9% success rate, from 114 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 9% to 31%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-331 in 2026?
681 applicants listed ELK-2-331 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 130 chose it first and 39 of those drew it, 30% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 142 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-331?
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).