New Mexico Elk Suggestions

J

JeremyKS

New member
Ive never applied for a NM elk tag but plan on it this year. Im trying to decided on an area to apply for. Im looking for the best possible unit that will produce a 330+ bull. I have horses and can pack in so a roadless area might be better. Anybody have any suggestions what units to look at for my 3 choices?
Thanks

Jeremy Gugelmeyer
 
Jeremy,

The Gila produces more big bulls than any other area according to most people. The Gila is a wilderness area, and I can ask my friend which one he would suggest. He is a Game warden that was stationed around Silver City.

IMO, you are setting your sights a little low with 330 bull. One of my friends has a 372 bull that he got from down there.

I'll get back to you,

gonzaga
 
Hey Gonzaga,why are you sending him way down there when the Vermejo Ranch is in your backyard?

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I don't know how deep his pockets are. The trophy hunt on Vermejo costs about 15k, that's pretty expensive to me. Besides the Gila produces just as many big bulls as Vermejo, if not bigger.
 
I agree with Gonzaga. Depending on how much money someone has the better the chances of taking a 350 to 400 class bull are. But, you have to love the Chama area!!!
 
Yeah,Chama is a beautiful place especially in the fall but I have only hunted for deer there once. Didn't see too many elk but a few that we did see were monsters.
 
You see them when the snows start in Colorado. The herd move into Chama then. I had a cow this last year. The elk were everywhere. I was done hunting by the afternoon. I saw a bull that I estimate would be in the 370 class that morning. Wished I had a bull tag!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Any of the 16's used to be the best of any place in the country but not any more . The wolves have played heck with them. Normally the elk have 80% calf crop ,2 years ago 50%, last year if I saw 30 cows the most calves I saw with them were 6 calves. My neighbors are outfitters , they had one hunter get a 340 bull and the rest were 290-310. I saw several bulls go out with public hunters that weren't legal. You used to average 320-370 class bulls but not anymore.
 
I have hunted elk in chama many times, but over the last 6 years have not been drawn. Instead we hunted just over the border in colorado, over the counter tags and the elk dont know boundaries. we have tagged out evrytime we have been there.
 
Have hunted the Gila and seen some real good bulls. Unit 34 also has some good ones as well as 36. Any of these will have bulls in the class you are looking for.
 
I have a buddy that hunts a ranch in NM most years. He gets an elk any year he wants. It's not a fenced operation just a prime set-up. I think his 'discounted' price is $6,000 before any licenses or travel costs. I know it's not all like that but I have passed on offers to go. My 'Western' hunt is a few days in a SD dogtown.
 
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