New Mexico Elk areas

[macktruckturner]

With my deployment ending soon, I'm trying to look at opportunities for some good hunting this year. I think I have the minor issue of not having anywhere to hunt whitetail fixed now, though it'll mean I have to hunt out of state (Texas native w/o access to any private land - it's cheaper to get a GA license, drive across the country, and hunt with my friends at Ft. Benning). I've wanted to get into elk country for a while now, but my constant presence in Iraq has made that impossible. With that finally gearing up to be a part of my past, I can look forward to getting some time in for elk season this year. All I'm looking for is meat, I'm not interested in a wall hanger right now. While I do have plenty of money saved, thanks to my tax-free status and combat pay, I can't afford to spend it all on a hunt. Most of it is earmarked for a house, and long term savings. I've gotta live somewhere while I go back to school. Fortunately, antlerless tags are quite a lot cheaper than bull tags (though still outrageously expensive.) Any recommendations as to which units in New Mexico should offer a reasonable opportunity to get a cow elk during rifle season, on public land, are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[wmidbrook]

Download the draw odds xls file from the nm fish & game dept. The better units over in the Gila are difficult to draw for rifle....you've got about a 1 in 3 chance at best in the 16 units. If you go muzzleloader, you're looking @ about a 40% chance for a unit 15 cow tag but be prepared for bitter, bitter cold on those hunts.

There's a hunt in early Nov. in 5b that is not bad if you cover a lot of ground that's about a 50-50 draw odds chance.

For $75 less, you can go up to CO and get guaranteed cow tags with high success if you do some research.

I'm not saying don't apply, but it isn't easy to draw cow tags in NM as a Non Resident in the better units.

 

[macktruckturner]

Thanks for the quick reply, bitter bitter cold and I are pretty much mortal enemies, though I'll just have to deal with it eventually if I intend to hunt all of North America's game animals. Has the Colorado draw application not yet passed? I was under the impression I missed that boat, or are these over the counter tags leftover from the draw? Research is all kinds of hard from here, as my internet is unreliable at best, and highly filtered from the only place it consistently works.

I'll look into the NM information you provided, and see what turns up.

 

[wmidbrook]

No, CO deadline is in April usually. There are guys on here that could steer you the right direction on sure-draw cow tags. I know there's a lot of elk up in the NW CO and also down in the SW CO.

You could put in for something closer to TX like unit 34 or 36 cow tags--again--it's about a 1 in 3 chance....private land owner cow tag authorization are guaranteed and you might find a deal for around $200 to $500 plus the $300+ for your cow license. If you don't draw, you can get OTC cow tags in various parts of CO. You can always get good cow tags OTC in Wyoming but it'll set you back $450 I think it is.

 

[macktruckturner]

Alright, thanks, I appreciate it.

 

[wmidbrook]

If you send me an email, i can give you three units in NM to pick...they all would be very high success hunts if you draw and I've hunted all 3 units so could tell you where to look for game provided you draw. You'd be looking at a hair better than a 50:50 chance of drawing your tag.

 

[sancho]

so you are just interested in shooting a cow elk? you better hurry. you have a few days left.

this place holds their own draw in NM. i have seen zillions of cow elk.

http://www.innofthemountaingods.com/biggame_2008flyer.asp

they are located near the town i grew up in. el paso. lots of elk there.

 

[macktruckturner]

Thanks, I'll look at that next season. I entered the NM draw for the areas wmidbrook suggested, so we'll see how it all turns out. Since I'm still in Iraq, it's impossible for me to mail any kind of application or payment without at least a month of advanced notice.