NM unit 2b late hunt

skinzner · Sep 29, 2005

Hey guys this is my first post,i just wanted to say great site i really enjoy reading the posts. This is aimed at the folks who have some knowledge of or have hunted unit 2b I have a question i drew a new mexico unit 2b tag for the late rifle season nov 12-16, heres my problem i live in olympia ,wa. with limited vacation time so scouting is out of the question,my plan was to go down a few days before season opens with my hunting partner who does'nt have a tag and check the area out. I've had several guides contact me offering there services so i'm kind of at a crossroads hire a guide or take my chances in a new area. Any info would be greatly appreciated thanks

BadBry · Sep 30, 2005

You will have access to one of NM's best units for deer. The late hunt is awesome. No need for a guide. Deer will be abundant as long as we get weather. In the last couple of days, the temperature has dropped by about twenty degrees and we have snow capping the Sangre De Cristo Mountains (Santa Fe). It is a lot cooler up on Carracas Mesa (Unit 2B). My suggestion is to study the map and plan on doing a lot of SLOW walking. You will jump deer almost everywhere. Just be patient and use your own hunting skills. I would like to warn you about the road conditions. The main road (dirt/mud) is approximately 28 miles to the top. There are a lot of other roads that offset the main road and many of them have controlled access as they gas company runs vehicles day/night. I strongly suggest you have 4x4 and tire chains will be necessary if you have percipitation. Make sure to bring along a good jack, shovel, jumper cables, tow rope and tools. You never know whe you will have problems. One of my favorite spots is Cabresto Canyon. The deer seem to funnel up and down the canyon area and it is a staging point between the lake which occurs during the migration stage. You will likely be hitting the hunt during the pre-rut which means a lot of action.

Best of luck!

Gator · Sep 30, 2005

Here's a couple of more spots for you to check out:
Largo Canyon area(toward Navajo Lake)
Harrison Mesa.
If you get the weather and it push those deer from Colorado into your area it will be a GREAT hunt, if you don't get the weather it will be a good hunt, You got a pretty good hunt coming up. Good luck.

skinzner · Sep 30, 2005

Thanks a lot guys I appreciate the help

hunting1 · Oct 2, 2005

There are canyons that hold deer all over. You will deffinetly see deer! I had the January archery hunt and saw some monsters, but hard to stalk in 3' of snow. Enjoy!

Gator · Oct 2, 2005

I think you better be ready for snow,Mud and cold weather, I just have this feeling it will be there for your hunt at that time of the year.Hope you have a great hunt, I hope you will PM me after your hunt and tell me how you did and what you saw.

Moosie · Oct 2, 2005

skinzner, Keep a look oput for my truck, I'll be the one just in front of you

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

30inchbuck · Oct 3, 2005

I will be hunting the late 2B hunt as well. Just wanted to make sure that you do not go to Largo. All of Largo is in the new unit 2C. Just make sure you know the new boundary!

Good luck.

270winchester · Oct 3, 2005

my dad went wood cutting in the sims mesa area yesterday and reported very thick sign. tracks were everywhere he said.

Good luck to all, but save me a big buck for next year

skinzner · Oct 3, 2005

Hey moosie what do you drive, i just want to make sure its you i'm driving behind with my high beams on.

Moosie · Oct 5, 2005

LOL... I'll be in an olf Green ford with California plates

While you're at it, throw some red paint on my green ford

You guys camping ? Hoteling it ? or what ?

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

skinzner · Oct 5, 2005

I plan on staying in a hotel. Do you by any chance have any suggestions on any hotels down there?

30inchbuck · Oct 6, 2005

I can tell you were not to stay. Step Back Inn in Aztec is owned by a local rancher that has causes alot of grief for the oilfield company's and the local sportsman.

To be close to the hunting area you might want to stay at Abe's at Navajo Dam. Between them and the Sportsman across the road you will have good eats. Also about 30 minutes closer to the hunting area. There are a couple of places in Bloomfield big name places like Super 8 and such.

I have this hunt also. Will probably be camping at the Sims's Mesa campground. If your in the area after dark stop by and have a beer.

I will be driving a 2005 Chevy Duramax supercab, 6" lift, tan with camo accesories. Back window has www.sjroutfitters.com on it.

After I get through guiding elk hunters for unit 2 I will be doing some serious scouting for the big bucks.

Have a good hunt.

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Oct 6, 2005

Congrats on a super tag ! I also hunted this past Jan on the bow hunt . The snow was deeeeep too , but man , what a great deer hunt . We hunted 4 days and saw alot of great deer , shot at and missed a mountain lion at 35 yards , that was a crazy scary experiance too . I was there last year on the last rifle hunt with a friend for 1 day , but we saw a couple real nice bucks , he shot a smaller 4x4 . If the weather brings some snow , theres an area called Mestenas Mesa right off 310 , and alot of hunters pass this area up trying to get up to Carracas mesa . I seen some great bucks in there , and if I can draw another bow tag (it took 5 yrs) I'll be in there . I agree with some above posts about road conditions , TAKE CHAINS , shovels and tow straps and a good handy man . Good luck and again congrats on the best unit in NM.....NMHUNTNUTT

Moosie · Oct 6, 2005

We're planning on just camping out. Hell, It's New Mexico in November.. It can't be as cold as Idaho and we don't even pack long sleeve shirts or tents on a campout in November up here.

On the beer offer, Does that extend to the trouble makers ?

If you have your Headlights on bright, You'll see yhis..... but just with Bigger deer

Ohh wait, that wa the "OLD" truck... mines a Different color now.

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

dutch · Oct 6, 2005

While looking for the buck that was poached last year just north of Aztec I also found pics of the poached deer body, makes you sick that people do this. They caught the guy but only a $1500 fine which was the max., not enough.
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/enforcement/help_solve_case/deer_sketch_images.htm

Horns

Confiscated Deer Antlers, 9X11 points , approx. 37 1/2 inch. wide

dutch
" Man who excels at putting worm on hook is Master Baiter"

nmtaxi · Oct 6, 2005

They have that deer mounted at the Albuquerque G&F office. What a beast. That photo does not do that buck justice.

270winchester · Oct 6, 2005

unfortunetly for me i have to go to the same school that that poacher teaches at. at can't hardly stand looking at him and refuse to take his classes.

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Oct 7, 2005

I heard from the game warden from Aztec that he actaully was caught partially because he was bragging of a monster he shot to some students , that the students started spreading the word , but it didn't add up , the carcass had already been found and this buck was pretty well known about . No matter , he's still a jack ass , his fine wasn't nearly enough , his hunting rights should have been banned for life , and I'd thought San Juan school district would have thought it best to part ways and let this guy press on else where .....NMHUNTNUTT

skinzner · Oct 7, 2005

Thanks 30inchbuck i booked a room at abes,and if i see ya at the campground i'll definetly take you up on that beer.

BUNKHOLE · Oct 8, 2005

I'll be hunting unit 2c late .Any suggestions on places to camp?

30inchbuck · Oct 11, 2005

I would probably camp near or around Lybrook. Just head 3 miles north and you will be in Monster Buck area.

Thats if you camp.

Might be wet/snow MUDDY like it was this weekend.

Bring chains, shovel, tow strap.

Late season 2C tag is going to be Fun. I might be out there on the weekends just to video the big-uns.

Moosie · Nov 18, 2005

So..... I'm, putting some pictures together that I got Emailed and My brain is on Overtime and Now I have to ask 30"er a Question.

Are you the Gent that was hunting with a friend and without telling the story let's just say your friend shot a buck the day before you and you got one the next day ? If so, I'm one of the 3 guys that showed up in your camp

Had I known that was you I'd of woken up a little

Skinzer, Talk to my bud, I hope you did better then we did...... Good meeting you. Wish we could have taken you up on that offer in Cabella's and showered at your hotel but we never made it into town again in the evening.

Abes is a great place.. jsut don't EVER .. EVER eat at the resteraunt there. I think they started a Anti PEPPER and spice club or something... Fetching GAG !!

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

Gator · Nov 19, 2005

So how did you guys all do, lets hear how the hut went even if you did get any, what did ya see how was the roads and weather.

JFWRC · Nov 19, 2005

I was fortunate enough to go on the late hunt. The numbers of road hunters was mind bogeling. Picture a crew cap with 6 barrels out the window. Little bucks dropped like flies. The does were disgusting. They just sat there and watched as their sons were murdered. If you got off the roads and away from the yahoos you will have opportunity at bigger bucks. Seemed like no one hunted south of 64. I wish game and fish would reduce the numbers of hunters for this hunt by 200.

Moosie · Nov 19, 2005

We're still uploading pictures and stories... When We're done, I'll share.

I would like to know how reducing the number of hunters would make a difference ? The only think it would help is putting more deer for the hunters to shoot by the road..... *wink*

I do agree that there were pleanty of hunters on the roads. We were leaving one morning and actually passed some guys with Barrles hanging out the window. NICE !!!

The day before the hunt we drove around and counted 237 deer with 18 being legal bucks. That afternoon we counted well over 100 more in a different area.

We covered different areas and some days put 8-10 miles on the peddal bikes and by foot we put on the same. MAybe we hunted it too hard

The last evening we saw over 8 legal bucks but still no trophy quality bucks. If you don't mind a Meat buck it's a good hunt

[*] -Moosie

~~If you're going to walk on thin ice, Ya might as Well DANCE !!
WALK the TALK, Or shut the HECK UP !!

ELKMAN · Nov 20, 2005

Jimbo,

They just sat there and watched as their sons were murdered.

You a memmber of PETA now haaaaaaaaaaa!

When they cook them up, they might find an eye lash with a tear drop on it also!

JFWRC · Nov 20, 2005

Of course you mean "People Eating Tender Animals" ehy. I was flabergasted how docile the girls were. It was like, "shoot the little bastard", I'm tired of his nose in my butt. I'm saving myself for his daddy.

30inchbuck · Nov 21, 2005

LAST EDITED ON Nov-21-05 AT 08:25AM (MST)[p]Yes,

Moosie that was me!

I only wish I did not have to waste my tag on this buck. Would have been nice to take the one I seen the following day. Yes is was an OK buck but I was after the bigger buck that was hanging around with this one.

Anyway how do you know JT ?

30inchbuck · Nov 21, 2005

OK guys,

This is to everyone complaining about the deer on this hunt and everyone that reads this post.

DO NOT APPLY NEXT YEAR!

Especially if your a resident of NM!

And whatever you do no not apply for 2C!

I personally did not see one road hunter. Or see the hundreds of deer by the roads.

Oh, I guess you have to be by the roads to see that.....lol