ELK-2-380: elk hunt in Unit 49, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-380 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 49, September 15 to 24, with 59 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). In the 2026 draw, 359 applicants chose it first and 47 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 59 licenses sold, 56 hunters reporting, a 22% success rate, 11 bulls and 2 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landTribal landUnit 49Neighboring 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 49 |
| Licenses | 59 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 359 (47 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 22% success, 11 bulls, 2 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 79.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-380?
359 applicants chose ELK-2-380 first in the 2026 draw and 47 drew it on that choice, 13.1% of them. 59 of the 59 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 366 first-choice applicants and 48 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 | 262 | 205 | 130 | 41 | 50 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 49 | 48 | 50 | 1 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 48 | 35 | 29 | 5 | 6 |
| All applicants | 359 | 288 | 209 | 47 | 59 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 235 | 207 | 125 | 44 | 50 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 99 | 96 | 111 | 0 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 32 | 23 | 28 | 4 | 6 |
| All applicants | 366 | 326 | 264 | 48 | 59 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-380?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-380, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 22% (2025-26), from 56 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 59 in 2023-24 to 59 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 | 59 | 56 | 22% | 11 | 2 | 6.39 | 3.78 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 59 | 56 | 26% | 14 | 1 | 6.34 | 3.6 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 59 | 57 | 33% | 16 | 3 | 6.38 | 3.96 |
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-2-380 compare with the other Unit 49 elk hunts?
ELK-2-380 is one of 7 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 49 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (359). Its 2025-26 success rate, 22%, was the 6th highest of the 7 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 49 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 79.9% public land (217,129 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-380 have?
NMDOW lists 59 licenses for ELK-2-380 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 88). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 59 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-380?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-380 a 22% success rate, from 56 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 22% to 33%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-380 in 2026?
856 applicants listed ELK-2-380 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 359 chose it first and 47 of those drew it, 13.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 366 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-380?
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).