ELK-2-346: elk hunt in Unit 34, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-346 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 34, September 15 to 24, with 200 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86). In the 2026 draw, 2,972 applicants chose it first and 181 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 200 licenses sold, 187 hunters reporting, a 41% success rate, 73 bulls and 4 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landState parkMilitary landTribal landUnit 34Neighboring 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 34 |
| Licenses | 200 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 2,972 (181 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 41% success, 73 bulls, 4 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 67.5% |
| Chronic wasting disease | NMDOW notes CWD has been detected in this area (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 28) |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-346?
2,972 applicants chose ELK-2-346 first in the 2026 draw and 181 drew it on that choice, 6.1% of them. 200 of the 200 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 2,985 first-choice applicants and 189 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 | 1,449 | 909 | 501 | 159 | 168 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 921 | 593 | 368 | 11 | 12 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 602 | 324 | 152 | 11 | 20 |
| All applicants | 2,972 | 1,826 | 1,021 | 181 | 200 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 1,539 | 862 | 463 | 157 | 168 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 901 | 653 | 409 | 12 | 12 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 545 | 307 | 141 | 20 | 20 |
| All applicants | 2,985 | 1,822 | 1,013 | 189 | 200 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-346?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-346, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 41% (2025-26), from 187 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 200 in 2023-24 to 200 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 | 200 | 187 | 41% | 73 | 4 | 6.15 | 4.27 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 200 | 187 | 45% | 76 | 9 | 5.71 | 4.3 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 200 | 190 | 37% | 64 | 6 | 6.21 | 4.18 |
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-2-346 compare with the other Unit 34 elk hunts?
ELK-2-346 is one of 14 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 34 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 13 drawn ones (2,972). Its 2025-26 success rate, 41%, was the 11th highest of the 14 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 34 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 67.5% public land (732,620 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-346 have?
NMDOW lists 200 licenses for ELK-2-346 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 200 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-346?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-346 a 41% success rate, from 187 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 37% to 45%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-346 in 2026?
5,819 applicants listed ELK-2-346 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 2,972 chose it first and 181 of those drew it, 6.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 2,985 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-346?
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).