ELK-2-402: elk hunt in Unit 37, Sep 1-14
ELK-2-402 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 37, September 1 to 14, with 40 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). In the 2026 draw, 122 applicants chose it first and 23 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 40 licenses sold, 36 hunters reporting, a 29% success rate, 11 bulls and 0 cows taken.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestBLMState trust landUnit 37Neighboring 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 37 |
| Licenses | 40 (drawn) |
| NMDOW fee class | high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 122 (23 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 29% success, 11 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 38.8% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-402?
122 applicants chose ELK-2-402 first in the 2026 draw and 23 drew it on that choice, 18.9% of them. 40 of the 40 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 104 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 | 74 | 110 | 80 | 20 | 34 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 28 | 31 | 41 | 1 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 20 | 41 | 70 | 2 | 4 |
| All applicants | 122 | 182 | 191 | 23 | 40 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 59 | 75 | 99 | 15 | 34 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 24 | 34 | 39 | 1 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 21 | 42 | 49 | 1 | 4 |
| All applicants | 104 | 151 | 187 | 17 | 40 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-402?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-402, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 29% (2025-26), from 36 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 40 in 2023-24 to 40 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 | 40 | 36 | 29% | 11 | 0 | 8.29 | 3.88 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 40 | 37 | 37% | 12 | 2 | 7.23 | 4 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 40 | 36 | 26% | 8 | 2 | 7.94 | 3.57 |
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-2-402 compare with the other Unit 37 elk hunts?
ELK-2-402 is one of 6 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 37 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 4th most first-choice applicants of the 6 drawn ones (122). Its 2025-26 success rate, 29%, was the 5th highest of the 6 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 37 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 38.8% public land (409,272 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-402 have?
NMDOW lists 40 licenses for ELK-2-402 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 40 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-402?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-402 a 29% success rate, from 36 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 26% to 37%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-402 in 2026?
495 applicants listed ELK-2-402 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 122 chose it first and 23 of those drew it, 18.9% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 104 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-402?
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).