ELK-2-398: elk hunt in Units 29 and 30, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-398 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Units 29 and 30, September 1 to 14, with 20 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86). In the 2026 draw, 126 applicants chose it first and 19 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 20 licenses sold, 20 hunters reporting, a 50% success rate, 9 bulls and 1 cow taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landBureau of ReclamationState parkNational Park ServiceMilitary landUnits 29 and 30Unit linesLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 1 to 14 (2026-27) |
| Units | Unit 29, Unit 30 |
| Licenses | 20 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 126 (19 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 50% success, 9 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 77.9% |
| Chronic wasting disease | NMDOW notes CWD has been detected in this area (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 28) |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-398?
126 applicants chose ELK-2-398 first in the 2026 draw and 19 drew it on that choice, 15.1% of them. 20 of the 20 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 77 first-choice applicants and 12 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 | 76 | 51 | 47 | 17 | 17 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 14 | 4 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 36 | 21 | 25 | 1 | 2 |
| All applicants | 126 | 76 | 83 | 19 | 20 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 48 | 44 | 23 | 10 | 17 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 17 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 12 | 11 | 17 | 1 | 2 |
| All applicants | 77 | 70 | 49 | 12 | 20 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-398?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-398, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 50% (2025-26), from 20 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 20 in 2023-24 to 20 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 | 20 | 20 | 50% | 9 | 1 | 7.85 | 3.35 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 20 | 18 | 25% | 4 | 0 | 6.63 | 3.5 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 20 | 17 | 20% | 4 | 0 | 10.13 | 3.27 |
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-2-398 compare with the other Units 29 and 30 elk hunts?
ELK-2-398 is one of 4 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Units 29 and 30 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 4 drawn ones (126). Its 2025-26 success rate, 50%, was the 2nd highest of the 4 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Units 29 and 30 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 77.9% public land (2,055,695 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-398 have?
NMDOW lists 20 licenses for ELK-2-398 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 86). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 20 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-398?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-398 a 50% success rate, from 20 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 20% to 50%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-398 in 2026?
285 applicants listed ELK-2-398 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 126 chose it first and 19 of those drew it, 15.1% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 77 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-398?
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).
New Mexico hunting New Mexico elk Units 29 and 30 elk Unit 29 Unit 30