ELK-2-394: elk hunt in Unit 18, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-394 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 18, September 15 to 24, with 25 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). In the 2026 draw, 70 applicants chose it first and 11 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 25 licenses sold, 22 hunters reporting, a 20% 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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 18 |
| Licenses | 25 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 70 (11 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 20% success, 5 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 65.9% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-394?
70 applicants chose ELK-2-394 first in the 2026 draw and 11 drew it on that choice, 15.7% of them. 25 of the 25 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 36 first-choice applicants and 11 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 | 28 | 49 | 43 | 9 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 11 | 5 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 31 | 15 | 30 | 2 | 3 |
| All applicants | 70 | 69 | 88 | 11 | 25 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 24 | 33 | 25 | 11 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 8 | 6 | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 4 | 13 | 22 | 0 | 3 |
| All applicants | 36 | 52 | 61 | 11 | 25 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-394?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-394, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 20% (2025-26), from 22 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 15-24 | 25 | 22 | 20% | 5 | 0 | 5.5 | 2.85 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 25 | 24 | 13% | 3 | 0 | 8.17 | 2.91 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 25 | 23 | 14% | 2 | 1 | 6.95 | 2.9 |
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-2-394 compare with the other Unit 18 elk hunts?
ELK-2-394 is one of 3 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 18 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 3 drawn ones (70). Its 2025-26 success rate, 20%, was the 3rd 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-2-394 have?
NMDOW lists 25 licenses for ELK-2-394 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 84). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 25 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-394?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-394 a 20% success rate, from 22 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 13% to 20%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-394 in 2026?
227 applicants listed ELK-2-394 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 70 chose it first and 11 of those drew it, 15.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 36 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-394?
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).