ELK-2-442: elk hunt in Unit 55A (Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime)), Sep 15-24
ELK-2-442 is a 2026-27 New Mexico draw hunt for an elk of either sex with a bow in Unit 55A, Valle Vidal only (Once-in-a-Lifetime), September 15 to 24, with 25 licenses (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). In the 2026 draw, 434 applicants chose it first and 23 of them drew it (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025-26, NMDGF reports 25 licenses sold, 25 hunters reporting, a 57% success rate, 12 bulls and 0 cows taken.
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 15 to 24 (2026-27) |
| Unit | Unit 55A |
| Licenses | 25 (drawn) |
| Who may apply | Once-in-a-Lifetime |
| NMDOW fee class | quality, high-demand |
| First-choice applicants, 2026 | 434 (23 drew on first choice) |
| Result, 2025-26 | 57% success, 12 bulls, 0 cows |
| Public land in the hunt's units | 13.2% |
NMDOW's note for ELK-2-442: Hunters may hold either an ES or an MB Once-in-a-Lifetime and Once-in-a-Youth license. In addition, hunters may hold an Antlerless Once-in-a-Lifetime and Once-in-a-Youth license.
How many hunters applied for ELK-2-442?
434 applicants chose ELK-2-442 first in the 2026 draw and 23 drew it on that choice, 5.3% of them. 25 of the 25 licenses were drawn in all. In 2025: 403 first-choice applicants and 22 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 | 202 | 70 | 68 | 21 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 166 | 87 | 45 | 0 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 66 | 34 | 13 | 2 | 2 |
| All applicants | 434 | 191 | 126 | 23 | 25 |
| Pool, 2025 | First choice | Second choice | Third choice | Drawn on first choice | Drawn in all |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residents | 193 | 64 | 71 | 20 | 21 |
| Nonresidents without an outfitter | 156 | 87 | 54 | 0 | 2 |
| Applicants with an outfitter | 54 | 18 | 23 | 2 | 2 |
| All applicants | 403 | 169 | 148 | 22 | 25 |
Source: NMDOW 2026 big game drawing report and NMDOW 2025 big game drawing report.
How did hunters do on ELK-2-442?
NMDGF's results for ELK-2-442, season by season, for every season it reported this code in the same units. The newest success rate is 57% (2025-26), from 25 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 | 25 | 57% | 12 | 0 | 5.1 | 4.14 |
| 2024-25 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 25 | 24 | 30% | 7 | 0 | 6.87 | 4.22 |
| 2023-24 | ES | Sept 15-24 | 25 | 24 | 21% | 5 | 0 | 7.29 | 3.46 |
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-2-442 compare with the other Unit 55A elk hunts?
ELK-2-442 is one of 19 elk hunt codes NMDOW lists for Unit 55A in 2026-27. In the 2026 draw it had the 3rd most first-choice applicants of the 19 drawn ones (434). Its 2025-26 success rate, 57%, was the 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-2-442 have?
NMDOW lists 25 licenses for ELK-2-442 in 2026-27 (NMDOW 2026-27 Hunting Rules and Information, page 90). NMDGF's 2024-25 report shows 25 sold.
What is the success rate for ELK-2-442?
NMDGF's 2025-26 harvest report gives ELK-2-442 a 57% success rate, from 25 hunters reporting. Over the 3 seasons NMDGF reported it, the rate ran from 21% to 57%.
How many people applied for ELK-2-442 in 2026?
751 applicants listed ELK-2-442 as a first, second or third choice in the 2026 draw; 434 chose it first and 23 of those drew it, 5.3% of first-choice applicants (NMDOW 2026 drawing report). In 2025, 403 chose it first.
Can nonresidents apply for ELK-2-442?
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).