Constitutionalist
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POW!
6A, my primary choice (with daughter and hunting pal). Incidently, this is where I've had my cameras this spring/summer.
I'm pulling the cams today until mid August when I can place them covering active rugs (and I can outfit all of them with timers).
6A, my primary choice (with daughter and hunting pal). Incidently, this is where I've had my cameras this spring/summer.
I'm pulling the cams today until mid August when I can place them covering active rugs (and I can outfit all of them with timers).
BDB
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Struck out on all my CA apps but found out today I drew my NM cow elk tag
This will be my first elk hunt. It is Dec 6-10 in zone 6C. I know its not a premier zone and its a cow tag but I am excited as hell. I have a buddy in NM who applied with a group of 4, as they always do, and all drew as well so I will be hunting with them. For the past 4 years they ave been around 50% between the 4 of them for this same hunt.
This will be my first elk hunt. It is Dec 6-10 in zone 6C. I know its not a premier zone and its a cow tag but I am excited as hell. I have a buddy in NM who applied with a group of 4, as they always do, and all drew as well so I will be hunting with them. For the past 4 years they ave been around 50% between the 4 of them for this same hunt.
Constitutionalist
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Constitutionalist
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Yes, 5B is close enough to make me raise an eyebrow!
I have never scouted/hunted up there, so fill us in on how the elk population is!
Eric
I have never scouted/hunted up there, so fill us in on how the elk population is!
Eric
wmidbrook
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A couple of guys in the party I'm going with live about 4 hrs from 5B so they'll be doing most of the scouting for our party. I'd rather be doing it myself, but I 'ain't got that kinda jam' being out here in CA full-time.
From phone scouting, I hear there's about 1,000+ head resident in that unit. Some migrate in from 4 as the weather turns.
From phone scouting, I hear there's about 1,000+ head resident in that unit. Some migrate in from 4 as the weather turns.
Constitutionalist
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Wmidbrook,
I noticed the Cali' tag on your location, wondering if you were being guided, had family, or some other connection to 5B. After moving down here a few years back, it was CLEAR to me I needed help after hunting only whitetails since a kid. Although the same family, whitetail and elk hunting require SLIGHTLY different skills and approaches. I'm not sure how many times you've hunted in 5B, but your friend's scouting efforts will be worth their weight in gold.
(A toast to invaluable friends)
Are you going to be in NM for the entire archery season, or targeting a week? I try to shoot for the last week and half of the season due to the latter portion providing the best bugling activity. I call it the "instant motivation drug." It doesn't matter how tired you think you are (or really are, for that matter), the faint trace of a distant bugle will energize ANY hunter worth his salt into a trot for at least ANOTHER uphill mile (on top of the other six under your belt).
There isn't an illegal drug on the market that could hold a candle to the sound of a mature bull screaming his head off at first light. Elk hunting is so addictive, I spend fourty-seven weeks of the year preparing for three (the other two are skiing at Santa Fe, Taos and Telluride). I mean, everyone has hobbies...right?
Good luck in your hunt, and if you have some dead time (or hunt the earlier weeks) you are more than welcome to come by for a steak and a brew (or whatever you enjoy). Any member of JHP (and ANY elk hunter) is always welcome for a free meal and a place for a night's stay.
Eric
I noticed the Cali' tag on your location, wondering if you were being guided, had family, or some other connection to 5B. After moving down here a few years back, it was CLEAR to me I needed help after hunting only whitetails since a kid. Although the same family, whitetail and elk hunting require SLIGHTLY different skills and approaches. I'm not sure how many times you've hunted in 5B, but your friend's scouting efforts will be worth their weight in gold.
(A toast to invaluable friends)
Are you going to be in NM for the entire archery season, or targeting a week? I try to shoot for the last week and half of the season due to the latter portion providing the best bugling activity. I call it the "instant motivation drug." It doesn't matter how tired you think you are (or really are, for that matter), the faint trace of a distant bugle will energize ANY hunter worth his salt into a trot for at least ANOTHER uphill mile (on top of the other six under your belt).
There isn't an illegal drug on the market that could hold a candle to the sound of a mature bull screaming his head off at first light. Elk hunting is so addictive, I spend fourty-seven weeks of the year preparing for three (the other two are skiing at Santa Fe, Taos and Telluride). I mean, everyone has hobbies...right?
Good luck in your hunt, and if you have some dead time (or hunt the earlier weeks) you are more than welcome to come by for a steak and a brew (or whatever you enjoy). Any member of JHP (and ANY elk hunter) is always welcome for a free meal and a place for a night's stay.
Eric
wmidbrook
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Thanks Constitutionalist. Maybe there'll be elk backstrap to BBQ and I won't be in a big hurry on my way out since season closes on a Thursday...might have to take you up on that one.
Yes, I'm extremely lucky that a couple of huntin' buddies will be scouring the country side a week at the end of this month. I got a very good deal on 7 UW landowner archery tags from a fellow who used to live down the road in Modesto but moved back to his family ranch in NM.
In the party that's going this year, one fellow has arrowed two really big bulls and most are really good, experienced callers. Probably 50-100 years worth of elk hunting experience will be in our party compared to my 4 seasons' worth....so, I stand to learn quite a bit
The pair doing the scouting are ranchers from SE Utah and are just breaking into the elk hunt business in Utah. They've got elk on their property but rarely draw bull tags there since it's Limited entry.
This will only be my second time hunting the bugling season. Last year, I did call a bull in....just not close enough~! Yes, I'm hooked now and hope to get one into range this year. I bugle quite a bit to tapes and such but there's nothing like real life bull encouters/experience.
Yes, I'm extremely lucky that a couple of huntin' buddies will be scouring the country side a week at the end of this month. I got a very good deal on 7 UW landowner archery tags from a fellow who used to live down the road in Modesto but moved back to his family ranch in NM.
In the party that's going this year, one fellow has arrowed two really big bulls and most are really good, experienced callers. Probably 50-100 years worth of elk hunting experience will be in our party compared to my 4 seasons' worth....so, I stand to learn quite a bit
The pair doing the scouting are ranchers from SE Utah and are just breaking into the elk hunt business in Utah. They've got elk on their property but rarely draw bull tags there since it's Limited entry.
This will only be my second time hunting the bugling season. Last year, I did call a bull in....just not close enough~! Yes, I'm hooked now and hope to get one into range this year. I bugle quite a bit to tapes and such but there's nothing like real life bull encouters/experience.
My son and I put in for 21A with 21B as second choice and were unsuccessful at both. We put in for the same last year and got 21B. My son shot a nice 5X5 and, with all that meat in the freezer, I passed on other smaller bulls. We thought we had a real find there as 21B did not have too many applicants and I believe the available tags jumped from 40 last year to 80 this year. I must have talked too much because this year both came up dry. I wonder if folks that usually hunt internationally are staying home in bigger numbers?
Have any of you ever done the land owner voucher thing as a way to get a tag? It is a fee over the tag right? Is there some "typical" fee for the voucher (I suppose it varies widely by area).
Good luck to the succesful!/Jim
Have any of you ever done the land owner voucher thing as a way to get a tag? It is a fee over the tag right? Is there some "typical" fee for the voucher (I suppose it varies widely by area).
Good luck to the succesful!/Jim
wmidbrook
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You're right. NM landowner tag voucher fees vary widely from what I discovered and are in addition to what the base tag price is. Non-resident archery elk tags run about 10% draw odds on most average units which is a whole lot better odds than a lot of rifle hunts.
NM publishes a list with phone numbers of landowners with vouchers. I hear sometimes there are 'fire sale' prices just before the season especially on cow tag voucers. There are good deals out there if you call enough people. Archery tag vouchers are less expensive than rifle and muzzleloader.
Most guides in non-glamor units charge about $500+ for the vouchers if you use their services I've noticed.
NM publishes a list with phone numbers of landowners with vouchers. I hear sometimes there are 'fire sale' prices just before the season especially on cow tag voucers. There are good deals out there if you call enough people. Archery tag vouchers are less expensive than rifle and muzzleloader.
Most guides in non-glamor units charge about $500+ for the vouchers if you use their services I've noticed.
