Researching, anyone familiar with these units? I was just told to avoid Tres Peidres zoo and come in from north,on 52. That and there are a lot of elk ,just not many above 300BC. Good. Less pressure from the mobs maybe.I've been a few times there just not hunting.51 intrerests me cause it's about the same and I know it and maybe can get a deer tag too. Any advice?
- Thread starter hank4elk
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You will see a lot of campers/weekenders up there that are not hunting. An internet friend of mine hunts 52 and likes it. He gets back a cpl miles and does well. 260-280 bulls mostly.
Guessing the odds will drop as both mags have mentioned it now.
Guessing the odds will drop as both mags have mentioned it now.
wmidbrook
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Another unit D'jour. How did they rate it? Kinda sucks that mags steer so many darned applications and have that big of an impact on draw odds.
No NM hunt that I've been on is what I'd call super crowded especially by Colorado standards. I've only archery hunted there. The first year, the general area I hunted within 52 had maybe 10 different parties hunting something like a 10-15 sq. mile area. I hunted that same area and only ran into 1 other party the next time I hunted it....so, things change around a bit. Kiowa outfitters has a giant drop camp in the northern half of the unit so it's a good idea to give them at least a 5 mile buffer in all directions just given the amount of pressure they exert on the area.
It's not as much of a walk in the park as some people might think. Took me most of my first hunt to figure out a couple of decent spots.
Truly, I'm kinda sitting on a fence on that area on whether to apply for it again. It's a long haul from CA to get there. I think there are probably far better opportunity hunts in CO. There are many units in NM that are far superior to those areas in terms of elk densities and quality bulls. Flip-side, I enjoyed myself there and have a good thing going...a comfortable stone cabin with hot water, stove, etc. in the middle of nowhere, know a land-owner, etc.
I have friends that still go to 5b every year which is a marginal unit at best--they've killed I think 1 elk since 2001 (out of over 20 tags) during archery season yet still go back year after year because it's familiar. There are some elk there. The rifle hunt's ok when they draw it.
"Northern units of note are 45, 51, and 52. Draw odds are much better than other parts of the state. Units 51 and 52 especially can give you easy access to a large number of Elk. Early rifle seasons continually produce bulls up to 320."
Sounds like a stretch from what I hear about those units.
Sounds like a stretch from what I hear about those units.
hank, i didnt put in for those two units. but a good friend sacks big mulies there regularly. he tells me that he does see plenty of elk there. next time i talk to him, i will pick his brain. he gets pretty tight lipped.
wmidbrook
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"...Early rifle seasons continually produce bulls up to 320" I know there have been the rumored bull that big or two....but, when I think of all the big bulls in various Utah units I've seen when living there are few years, I have to think that statement is a joke....yeah, there might be a 310 or 320 bull taken every year....but, when you got 2 or 3 rifle seasons with 200 rifle tags each plus all the land owner tags thumping the bulls...you do get 99% rag horns...mostly 2 & 3 year old bulls...not many bulls live past that age there. Others I know hunt marginal units where there are a few bulls that might run 350 just so that they have a chance at something bigger than a 300" bull.
warren nelson
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Sometime it better to be lucky then good. We have had some good hunts in those units. Hope to draw this year in the old stomping grounds Bill 1st season rifle.
Thanks guys, decided to go with what I know again and can get drawn...Pecos.I don't expect more than a possible mature bull,tho I did see some big ones last year.I'll wait till next year for a chance at a trophy,a Gila hunt. It was more crowded than I thought,but way less than Co,or Ut. I'll just go into the Wilderness this time,that is if I don't draw in my other choices.Going for Bull,Buck,and new homehunting...good luck folk's just a couple days left to apply!
