ELK-2-332: elk hunt in Unit 23, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-332 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 23, September 15 to 24, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). In the 2026 draw, 148 applicants chose it first and 26 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 70 hunters reporting, an 8% success rate, 3 bulls and 2 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 23 |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 148 (26 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 8% success, 3 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 63.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-332?
148 applicants chose ELK-2-332 first in the 2026 draw and 26 drew it on that choice, 17.6% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 175 first-choice applicants and 42 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 | 61 | 134 | 159 | 23 | 63 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 74 | 79 | 115 | 3 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 13 | 15 | 52 | 0 | 7 |
| All applicants | 148 | 228 | 326 | 26 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 91 | 141 | 178 | 38 | 63 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 65 | 112 | 115 | 4 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 19 | 22 | 84 | 0 | 7 |
| All applicants | 175 | 275 | 377 | 42 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-332?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-332, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 8% (2025-26), from 70 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 75 in 2023-24 to 75 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 | 75 | 70 | 8% | 3 | 2 | 6.68 | 2.61 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 75 | 73 | 18% | 12 | 1 | 7.18 | 3.32 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 75 | 71 | 13% | 5 | 3 | 6.56 | 3.08 |
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-2-332 compare with the other Unit 23 elk hunts?
ELK-2-332 is one of 8 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 23 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 8 drawn ones (148). Its 2025-26 success rate, 8%, was the 6th 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-2-332 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-2-332 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 85). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-332?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-332 a 8% success rate, from 70 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 8% to 18%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-332 in 2026?
702 applicants listed ELK-2-332 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 148 chose it first and 26 of those drew it, 17.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 175 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-332?
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).