ELK-2-386: elk hunt in Unit 53, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-386 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 53, September 15 to 24, with 60 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). In the 2026 draw, 45 applicants chose it first and 18 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 60 licenses sold, 55 hunters reporting, an 11% success rate, 4 bulls and 1 cow 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 53 |
| Licenses | 60 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 45 (18 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 11% success, 4 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 47.6% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-386?
45 applicants chose ELK-2-386 first in the 2026 draw and 18 drew it on that choice, 40% of them. 60 of the 60 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 87 first-choice applicants and 34 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 | 43 | 69 | 17 | 51 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 19 | 20 | 51 | 1 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 10 | 14 | 0 | 6 |
| All applicants | 45 | 73 | 134 | 18 | 60 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 51 | 46 | 74 | 30 | 51 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 33 | 21 | 55 | 1 | 3 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 6 | 11 | 3 | 6 |
| All applicants | 87 | 73 | 140 | 34 | 60 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-386?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-386, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 11% (2025-26), from 55 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 61 in 2023-24 to 60 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 | 60 | 55 | 11% | 4 | 1 | 6.26 | 3.15 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 61 | 50 | 7% | 4 | 0 | 6.24 | 3.13 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 61 | 55 | 9% | 4 | 0 | 6.71 | 2.98 |
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-2-386 compare with the other Unit 53 elk hunts?
ELK-2-386 is one of 9 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 53 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 7 drawn ones (45). Its 2025-26 success rate, 11%, was the 6th 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-2-386 have?
NMDOW lists 60 licenses for ELK-2-386 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 89). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 61 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-386?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-386 a 11% success rate, from 55 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 7% to 11%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-386 in 2026?
252 applicants listed ELK-2-386 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 45 chose it first and 18 of those drew it, 40% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 87 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-386?
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).