New Mexico elk

DirtyTough · Feb 26, 2010

I am looking into applying in NM this year for elk. I have never been there so was hoping some of you guys might be able to help.

I want to apply for an area in NM that is like the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness area. Doesn't have to have the quality of elk the Wenaha does, just looking for that type of terrain. If there is a wilderness area in NM like the Wenaha I would appreciate it if you would let me know. Thanks for the help. Branden

maxxbob1 · Feb 26, 2010

LAST EDITED ON Feb-26-10 AT 11:07PM (MST)[p]New Mexico has a very wide variety of areas where you can find elk. I don't think I've been to Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness, but much of New Mexico is like eastern Oregon (hope I'm thinking of the right place). If it's fairly dry with ponderosa pines, Units 15 and 17 and several others are like that. -- As far as quality goes, 15 & 17 would be hard to beat.
-- Bob

DirtyTough · Feb 27, 2010

Thanks for the response maxxbob. I attached a pic of what the Wenaha looks like. If anybody else has any suggestions I would appreciate them also.

sjhgraysage · Feb 27, 2010

DT
You posted a pic that makes it look like easier country than it is! LOL

rockn9858 · Feb 27, 2010

16 B has a great wilderness and has that type of terrain maybe a little dryer that that but has great quality animals

DirtyTough · Feb 27, 2010

It was the only pic I could find on short notice.

DirtyTough · Feb 27, 2010

Thanks rock. I have been thinking about 16b/22. Just have never seen a pic of the area so I wasn't sure what it actually looked like.

crazeymaez · Feb 27, 2010

45 wilderness

WapitiBob · Feb 27, 2010

I've bugled bulls in the Wenaha and had the Walla Walla tag twice.

Wenaha can't hold a candle to a top end NM unit.

As far as terrain, I would go unit 36.

JB148 · Feb 27, 2010

WB, Good call. JB

DirtyTough · Feb 28, 2010

Thanks for the reply's guys. If NM is better then the Wenaha that is great cause I have seen some really nice bulls in the Wenaha while hunting it.

NMHUNTER · Mar 2, 2010

The Gila is good, but i dont think it has the quality animals it used to have. i would rather hunt the Lincoln National Forest. i have seen some real good bulls, just havent been able to draw a tag

JB148 · Mar 2, 2010

DirtyTough,
Sincerely, good luck on drawing your NM elk tag.I'm trying to build my Utah elk draw Karma. I think odds are getting better with the economy and NM requesting full tag funds up front. JB

DirtyTough · Mar 2, 2010

Hey thanks and good luck to you as well.

treedagain · Mar 2, 2010

I have hears that 34 and 36 are worth looking at..

stinkystomper · Mar 3, 2010

34 is worth looking at??? Who the heck told you that? Have you noticed how far out of the rut the hunts are now a days. Even the bowhunters are scheduled early enough to put them out of the rut. On top of that my Utah hunt last year was a walk in the "wilderness" compared to 34. 34 is like a general hunt. You figure 150 tags for rifle, 150 muzzy, 1 billion bow tags and twice as many tags for that to landowners. It would be an awesome hunt if the tag was issued for any 1 human instead of any branch antlered bull. Your gonna be sorely dissapointed by the pressure in 34. If you want remote go with 36, I don't know if you can hunt the white mountain wilderness in 36 but even at that there are many more places to escape hunters in 36 than 34. I live in 34 and it freakin sucks! why do you think I go to the gila every year. No contest, the gila blows 34 out of the water if you know where to hunt. I average 345 on my gila bulls. 360 is starting to be a giant in 34. Just my two cents.

WapitiBob · Mar 3, 2010

34 ain't nothin like the Wenaha. If you want Wenaha/Walla Walla country, go with 36.

kykiller · Mar 3, 2010

I've hunted both 36 and 15 and if your more interested in getting into a wilderness/remote type elk hunt,with alot less pressure I would definitely go with 36,but for quality and quantity I would go with 15.I hunted 15 during the first muzzy last year and had probably the best elk hunt I could remember,lots of bulls in the 300-330 class with an occasional bull over 350,just an absolute blast of a hunt.

frednfrog · Mar 4, 2010

If your looking for a wilderness hunt either 16B or unit 45 the pecos wilderness is you best bets. 16B is lower in elevation topping out around 10,000 but has better chance for 370-400 class bulls. Pecos unit45 is much higher in elevation topping out abouve 12,000 feet lots of elk

hornhunter247 · Mar 5, 2010

look at the sargent hunts in unit 4, your not going to kill a 400" bull but no vehicle access and tons os 300 class 6 points, extremely fun rutting!

llamapacker · Mar 5, 2010

I've hunted the Wenaha and unit 36 NM. Unit 36 is a walk in the park compared to the Wenaha. Yes, there is some wilderness (tiny), but the country is not nearly as rough as the Wenaha, and such a small wilderness area that you can easily walk across the widest portion of it in one day. Don't try that in the Wenaha. The Wenaha has tremendous elevation changes, and incredibly rough, rocky shale hillsides. I've killed some great bulls in the Wenaha (mostly years ago), and there are good elk in NM as well. You just won't really have a wilderness experience in 36.

Bill

DirtyTough · Mar 5, 2010

Thanks again for all the info guys.

llamapacker
Yea I have been on a few hunts in the Wenaha the last couple years and it is great. 370+ bulls and no hunters. Hope I can find the same in New Mexico.

Good luck to everyone in the draws.

pirogue · Mar 19, 2010

Saying New Mexico does'nt have to have the quality of elk as in the Wenaha-Tucannon, is like saying Arkansas does'nt have to have the quality of whitetail as Iowa does.