ELK-2-373: elk hunt in Unit 48, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-373 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 48, September 15 to 24, with 80 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). In the 2026 draw, 101 applicants chose it first and 45 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 80 licenses sold, 72 hunters reporting, a 10% success rate, 7 bulls and 0 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.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landUnit 48Neighboring 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 48 |
| Licenses | 80 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 101 (45 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 10% success, 7 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 29.1% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-373?
101 applicants chose ELK-2-373 first in the 2026 draw and 45 drew it on that choice, 44.6% of them. 80 of the 80 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 113 first-choice applicants and 38 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 | 63 | 87 | 74 | 40 | 68 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 24 | 31 | 30 | 3 | 4 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 14 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 8 |
| All applicants | 101 | 125 | 113 | 45 | 80 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 52 | 93 | 75 | 32 | 68 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 54 | 34 | 39 | 3 | 4 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 7 | 12 | 9 | 3 | 8 |
| All applicants | 113 | 139 | 123 | 38 | 80 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-373?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-373, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 10% (2025-26), from 72 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 80 in 2023-24 to 80 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 | 80 | 72 | 10% | 7 | 0 | 6.4 | 3.02 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 79 | 74 | 14% | 10 | 0 | 6.62 | 3.4 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 80 | 71 | 17% | 11 | 1 | 5.82 | 3.18 |
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-2-373 compare with the other Unit 48 elk hunts?
ELK-2-373 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 48 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (101). Its 2025-26 success rate, 10%, was the 7th highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 48 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 29.1% public land (70,473 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-373 have?
NMDOW lists 80 licenses for ELK-2-373 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 79 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-373?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-373 a 10% success rate, from 72 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 10% to 17%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-373 in 2026?
339 applicants listed ELK-2-373 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 101 chose it first and 45 of those drew it, 44.6% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 113 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-373?
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).