ELK-2-385: elk hunt in Unit 53, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-385 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 53, September 1 to 14, with 65 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 44 applicants chose it first and 22 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 65 licenses sold, 61 hunters reporting, a 9% success rate, 5 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 53Neighboring 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 53 |
| Licenses | 65 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 44 (22 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 9% success, 5 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 47.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-385?
44 applicants chose ELK-2-385 first in the 2026 draw and 22 drew it on that choice, 50% of them. 65 of the 65 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 42 first-choice applicants and 17 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 | 25 | 21 | 58 | 19 | 55 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 18 | 25 | 56 | 2 | 4 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 6 |
| All applicants | 44 | 50 | 127 | 22 | 65 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 15 | 48 | 63 | 14 | 55 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 20 | 30 | 56 | 0 | 4 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 7 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 6 |
| All applicants | 42 | 80 | 128 | 17 | 65 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-385?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-385, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 9% (2025-26), from 61 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 65 in 2023-24 to 65 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 | 65 | 61 | 9% | 5 | 0 | 6.79 | 2.81 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 66 | 63 | 4% | 2 | 0 | 7.69 | 3.07 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 65 | 56 | 6% | 3 | 0 | 7.35 | 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-2-385 compare with the other Unit 53 elk hunts?
ELK-2-385 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 53 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 5th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (44). Its 2025-26 success rate, 9%, was the 8th highest of the 9 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 53 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 47.6% public land (208,437 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-385 have?
NMDOW lists 65 licenses for ELK-2-385 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 66 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-385?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-385 a 9% success rate, from 61 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 4% to 9%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-385 in 2026?
221 applicants listed ELK-2-385 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 44 chose it first and 22 of those drew it, 50% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 42 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-385?
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).