ELK-2-366: elk hunt in Unit 45, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-366 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 45, September 1 to 14, with 75 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). In the 2026 draw, 207 applicants chose it first and 52 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 75 licenses sold, 68 hunters reporting, a 28% success rate, 18 bulls and 2 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landState parkNational Park ServiceTribal landUnit 45Neighboring 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 45 |
| Licenses | 75 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 207 (52 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 28% success, 18 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 74.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-366?
207 applicants chose ELK-2-366 first in the 2026 draw and 52 drew it on that choice, 25.1% of them. 75 of the 75 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 244 first-choice applicants and 54 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 | 142 | 131 | 107 | 46 | 63 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 39 | 81 | 75 | 2 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 26 | 31 | 25 | 4 | 7 |
| All applicants | 207 | 243 | 207 | 52 | 75 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 153 | 164 | 110 | 44 | 63 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 65 | 134 | 117 | 3 | 5 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 26 | 56 | 30 | 7 | 7 |
| All applicants | 244 | 354 | 257 | 54 | 75 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-366?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-366, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 28% (2025-26), from 68 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 1-14 | 75 | 68 | 28% | 18 | 2 | 6.45 | 3.97 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 75 | 70 | 16% | 10 | 1 | 7.83 | 3.94 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 75 | 63 | 29% | 14 | 6 | 7.56 | 3.59 |
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-2-366 compare with the other Unit 45 elk hunts?
ELK-2-366 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 45 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (207). Its 2025-26 success rate, 28%, was the 2nd highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 45 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 74.3% public land (725,646 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-366 have?
NMDOW lists 75 licenses for ELK-2-366 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 75 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-366?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-366 a 28% success rate, from 68 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 16% to 29%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-366 in 2026?
657 applicants listed ELK-2-366 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 207 chose it first and 52 of those drew it, 25.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 244 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-366?
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).