new mexico help

[forkehornreggie]

Hey guys, I need help. I have one of my subcontractors that is going to take me on an outfitted archery elk hunt in new mexico. I do not have a tag so I suppose that I would get a landowner tag. Has any of you ever done this and if so do you have any guides/outfitter names???????????????

 

[wmidbrook]

You ought to give Jim Welles a call. He has fair prices on landowner tags plus he can hook you up with either one of his guides or you can go self-guided. Landower tags don't come out until June after the draw results but he'd earmark you one now if you want....some hunts are already booked. Anyway, Jim can walk you through the process.

http://www.newmexicobiggamehunting.com/
JFWRC@comcast.net

 

[jimm]

I used Jim for an Antelope. I couldnt have asked more from him. I would highly recomend him.

 

[subfan]

I am currently negotiating with Jim for an antelope hunt. This is my first time using a guide. He has be great to deal with. He is prompt with e-mails and puts up with my many questions. Hopefully, my daughter and I can come home with two nice bucks.

 

[forkehornreggie]

Thanks for the info. Do I want to go to northern or southern new mex???? If i am getting a landowner tag does this mean that more than likely I would stay in a lodge or in a mountain camp? Or, is that irrelavent that it is a landowner tag?

 

[wmidbrook]

What's your budget? Anyway, your chances at a monster bull go up proportionally to the amount you're willing to spend or the luck you have in the draw.

It all depends on what type of hunt you want.
a) I want to be in an area with high densities of 330"+ bulls $$$$$
b) I want to be in an area with a chance at 330"+- bulls $$$$
c) I don't care about size I want a good chance at any bull $$$ - $$$$$
d) I want a good NM cow tag $$
e) I just want a cheap bull tag $$
f) I just want a cheap cow tag $

North or South; East or West....what type of habitat do you want to hunt?

 

[forkehornreggie]

WMIDBROOK, HERE IS THE SCOOP. I HAVE ELK HUNTED FOR 3 YEARS ON PUBLIC LAND IN IDAHO. I HAVE YET TO FIRE AN ARROW. IN IDAHO WE SEE PROBABLY 10 ELK PER YEAR (COWS INC). I AM NOT WORRIED ABOUT THE MONIES BUT WITH THAT SAID I DON'T WANT TO RIDE AROUND IN A TRUCK AND POINT OUT THE BULL I WANT TO SHOOT FOR A PREDETERMINED AMOUNT. I WOULDN'T KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A 250 VS. 300 POINT BULL. I WOULD JUST LOVE TO HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE AROUND BULLS AND GET A CHANCE AT A SHOT.
REGARDING NORTH, SOUTH, ETC. I GUESS I'M ASKING WHERE DOES THE HUNTING TAKE PLACE? I WATCH ALL THE HUNTING SHOWS AND SEE THE TOP NAMES BUT I JUST MEANT OVERALL DO I WANT NORTH OR SOUTH OR WHATEVER. THANKS!

 

[slowpoke]

Try
http://www.huntinfo.com/reviews/outfitter_...ubmit_action=Go

for some brief reviews on New Mexico outfitters. Just remember anyone one can post a review so take it with a grain of salt. One of my old neighbors went with Ute Creek Outfitters and was pleased. He is 70+ years old and shot a nice bull with his rifle. Looks like they have landowner tags in northern New Mexico and are not really expensive when compared to the Indian reservations, but still a pretty penny.

 

[wmidbrook]

I think any Gila National Forest unit is going to be a very good hunt. (unit 15 and the 16s) There are units in the North part of the state that have good populations but not all have good sized bulls around Chama, Taos, and Raton (units 4, 49,51, 52, 53, 54,55).

Parts of Cibola NF and Carson NF are going to be good too.

Primitive units 9,13,15,17 can be good hunts with all but 15 being tough unless you have a guide or inside info or ranch tags.

There are ranches all over the state that have real good sized herds. There is good bull hunting all over that state.

Paulc on here is now in south central NM and probably has a real good handle on one of the better units down there--he may know some guides in the unit.

I have had archery shot ops the last couple years. 1 in North and one in the Gila. If I had been muzzleloader hunting, I would have bagged an elk the last 3 years I've hunted in NM...archery is a tougher deal as you know.

I'm going to apply for 3 diff units....2 of which I've already hunted there unless I have to switch over to muzzleloader 'cause I can't get anyone to apply archery with me.

 

[ELKBUSTER]

Hey forkhornreggie,
Hold on to that subcontractor. It's not often you find one that appreciates the work. Take my employees for example, they think that their doing me the favor by showing up. My subcontractor is a little better but I never got a hunting trip out of it. Or a thank you for the Christmas bonus they all recieved. Oh sorry, just don't get me started !!!! No info on New Mexico but if your only seeing 10 elk per year in Idaho change spots. We have been going to Idaho for about the last 8 years and see hundreds on a 10 day trip. 2004 was a tough year due to the early storms but still seen a hundred in the few days when we had visibility. Good luck in New Mexico, just don't give up on Idaho.