ELK-2-393: elk hunt in Unit 18, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-393 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 18, September 1 to 14, with 25 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). In the 2026 draw, 16 applicants chose it first and 8 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 25 licenses sold, 25 hunters reporting, a 23% success rate, 5 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
BLMState trust landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeBureau of ReclamationNational Park ServiceMilitary landUnit 18Neighboring 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 18 |
| Licenses | 25 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 16 (8 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 23% success, 5 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 65.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-393?
16 applicants chose ELK-2-393 first in the 2026 draw and 8 drew it on that choice, 50% of them. 25 of the 25 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 15 first-choice applicants and 8 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 | 13 | 17 | 27 | 6 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 3 | 5 | 16 | 2 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 4 | 7 | 0 | 2 |
| All applicants | 16 | 26 | 50 | 8 | 25 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10 | 17 | 27 | 7 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 1 | 5 | 17 | 0 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 4 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 |
| All applicants | 15 | 22 | 50 | 8 | 25 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-393?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-393, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 23% (2025-26), from 25 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 25 in 2023-24 to 25 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 | 25 | 25 | 23% | 5 | 0 | 6.77 | 2.18 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 26 | 24 | 4% | 1 | 0 | 9.25 | 2.79 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 25 | 21 | 6% | 1 | 0 | 6.12 | 2.76 |
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-2-393 compare with the other Unit 18 elk hunts?
ELK-2-393 is one of 3 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 18 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 3 drawn ones (16). Its 2025-26 success rate, 23%, was the 2nd highest of the 3 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 18 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 65.9% public land (1,031,695 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-393 have?
NMDOW lists 25 licenses for ELK-2-393 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 26 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-393?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-393 a 23% success rate, from 25 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 4% to 23%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-393 in 2026?
92 applicants listed ELK-2-393 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 16 chose it first and 8 of those drew it, 50% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 15 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-393?
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).