ELK-2-412: elk hunt in Units 42, 47 and 59, Sep 15-24
ELK-2-412 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Units 42, 47 and 59, September 15 to 24, with 13 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). In the 2026 draw, 28 applicants chose it first and 10 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 13 licenses sold, 12 hunters reporting, a 40% success rate, 3 bulls and 1 cow 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 landWildlife Commission landNational wildlife refugeState parkMilitary landUnits 42, 47 and 59Unit linesLake or riverHighway
| Species and bag | Elk: Either sex (any one elk, includes spike bull) |
|---|---|
| Weapon | Bow |
| Dates | September 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Units | Unit 42, Unit 47, Unit 59 |
| Licenses | 13 (drawn) |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 28 (10 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 40% success, 3 bulls, 1 cow |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 15.3% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-412?
28 applicants chose ELK-2-412 first in the 2026 draw and 10 drew it on that choice, 35.7% of them. 13 of the 13 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 16 first-choice applicants and 4 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 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 8 | 11 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 6 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 28 | 26 | 22 | 10 | 13 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 11 | 25 | 20 | 3 | 11 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 4 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 |
| All applicants | 16 | 27 | 32 | 4 | 13 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-412?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-412, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 40% (2025-26), from 12 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 13 in 2023-24 to 13 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 | 13 | 12 | 40% | 3 | 1 | 5.1 | 2.8 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 13 | 10 | 22% | 3 | 0 | 6.33 | 3.33 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 13 | 12 | 27% | 3 | 0 | 7.18 | 3.64 |
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-2-412 compare with the other Units 42, 47 and 59 elk hunts?
ELK-2-412 is one of 3 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Units 42, 47 and 59 in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 2nd most first-choice applicants of the 3 drawn ones (28). Its 2025-26 success rate, 40%, was the 2nd highest of the 3 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Units 42, 47 and 59 elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 15.3% public land (723,879 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-412 have?
NMDOW lists 13 licenses for ELK-2-412 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 87). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 13 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-412?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-412 a 40% success rate, from 12 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 22% to 40%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-412 in 2026?
76 applicants listed ELK-2-412 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 28 chose it first and 10 of those drew it, 35.7% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 16 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-412?
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 42, 47 and 59 elk Unit 42 Unit 47 Unit 59