ELK-2-431: elk hunt in Unit 55A (E.S. Barker WMA only), Sep 1-14
ELK-2-431 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 55A, E.S. Barker WMA only, September 1 to 14, with 5 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). In the 2026 draw, 10 applicants chose it first and 3 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 5 licenses sold, 4 hunters reporting, a 0% success rate.
Data updated October 2026. Hunt: NMDOW's 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90. Draw: NMDOW's 2026 and 2025 drawing reports. Results: NMDGF harvest reports.
National forestWildlife Commission landTribal landUnit 55ANeighboring 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 55A |
| Licenses | 5 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | residents only |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 10 (3 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 0% success, 0 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-431?
10 applicants chose ELK-2-431 first in the 2026 draw and 3 drew it on that choice, 30% of them. 5 of the 5 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 10 first-choice applicants and 5 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 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 10 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 5 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 10 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| All applicants | 10 | 4 | 9 | 5 | 5 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
Where is ELK-2-431 held?
ELK-2-431 is held on Elliott Barker WMA, 5,442 acres of State Wildlife Commission land in Unit 55A, 6 miles from Ute Park. NMDOW's fact sheet on camping: Allowed only by licensed hunters in designated areas and only during their hunt. Closures: Elliott Barker Wildlife Area is closed to wildlife viewing, photographing, hiking, bicycling, and horseback riding May 15-July 31 and December 15-March 31.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-431?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-431, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 0% (2025-26), from 4 hunters reporting. Licenses sold went from 5 in 2023-24 to 5 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 | 5 | 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 6.5 | 3 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 5 | 4 | 25% | 0 | 1 | 8.25 | 2.5 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 1-14 | 5 | 5 | 33% | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
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-2-431 compare with the other Unit 55A elk hunts?
ELK-2-431 is one of 19 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 15th most first-choice applicants of the 19 drawn ones (10). Its 2025-26 success rate, 0%, was the 16th highest of the 19 codes NMDGF reported there that season. Unit 55A elk hunts has all of them side by side, with the area's harvest by season. The hunt's units are 13.2% public land (132,899 acres).
Questions hunters ask
How many licenses does ELK-2-431 have?
NMDOW lists 5 licenses for ELK-2-431 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 5 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-431?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-431 a 0% success rate, from 4 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 0% to 33%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-431 in 2026?
26 applicants listed ELK-2-431 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 10 chose it first and 3 of those drew it, 30% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 10 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-431?
No. ELK-2-431 is for New Mexico residents only (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90).