Mescalero Apache reservation cow elk hunt in NM?

txhunter58 · Mar 10, 2012

Anyone ever put in for this hunt? My brother and I just applied for next fall. $550 for a cow hunt. Would love to hunt a bull there but $13,500 is too rich for my blood! Anyway, if drawn we can drive there in 9 hours and hopefully get a cow and some pictures of those big bulls. 460,000 acres to hunt on! Just curious if anyone has done this hunt and how it went.

The nice thing is they hold the drawing this coming Monday, and we should be able to find out by Wednesday if we drew, so leaves us time to still put in for Colorado if not drawn.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

crazeymaez · Mar 10, 2012

Never hunted it.But on,Christenson outdoors. Bull Breakers(DVD)
They have like 6 hunts that take place on the Mescalero.
Just to get an idea of the animals on their place.

muleymaddness · Mar 10, 2012

My neighbor goes often. He puts in there and if not drawn, puts in for the Jicarilla for the same type deal. If I'm thinking right, I think the Mescalero draw is first which he finds out if drawn or not before he goes to plan b - which is the Jicarilla. He loves it. He takes family with him each time and they usually all fill their tags with ease. He's never said, but I think he's gone enough to where he knows some of the guides and calls them ahead of time to get a idea of where to camp and where the elk are at the time he's there. He's been going as often as he can draw for 20 years. But he loves it and looks forward to it yearly. I bet it'll be pretty cool.

DoeNob · Mar 12, 2012

If you get drawn, send me a message, I can tell you where I saw a bunch in January and not a soul for miles.

txhunter58 · Mar 12, 2012

Thanks guys, will find out Wednesday if I get picked

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Phantom Hunter · Mar 13, 2012

Is a guide required for the cow hunts like the bull hunts??

txhunter58 · Mar 13, 2012

No, but doesn't sound like they are very expensive. They told me around $250. Sounds like some people try a few days on their own and then hire a guide if not finding them.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Phantom Hunter · Mar 13, 2012

Might be something I would want to look into as well. Locked into this years plan but in the future???????

txhunter58 · Mar 13, 2012

Deadline for application this year was last Friday, so would have to be a future hunt there. Was hoping they might have results out today, but now they say Thursday.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

txhunter58 · Mar 15, 2012

Didn't get drawn.

Plan B

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)

Phantom Hunter · Mar 16, 2012

Bummer. Seems like most years I end up with plan C, D, or Z

muleymaddness · Mar 18, 2012

Look at the Jicarilla. I'm pretty sure that's what my neighbor does - that's his plan b. I don't know any details about that one, but do know that its his backup plan.

stinkystomper · Mar 18, 2012

If you do get draw for mescalero pm me. I will tell you were millions are. They really aren't hard to find. If you want a super easy hunt just head out from tularosa. Head north about 10 miles then turn east. Go into the rez right there. not many people hunt that if any at all. You can get a cow easy and see the rez's largest bulls in that desert floor. Prolly won't see a single hunter. I hear that if one were to go in there rounds about now you can find some toad sheds.