NM Unit 34

[RMS55]

Lookin for info on Unit 34 and a Outfitter John Jaquez, San Juan River Outfitters. We are looking into a Drop in this Unit that John does. I've never been in this Unit and need some feedback. We've hunted 15b and 6 up north and they are like night and day. Any Info. or experience with this Outfitter and Unit would be Greatly Appreciated!

 

[DonV]

Looked into unit a lot, big bulls, good elk numbers, ROUGH terrain. FYI you get into outfitter draw this way but there is a lodge I get info from that applies a large # of guys this way - outfitted but no guide so the 12% allocated to this have a lot of apps, I am guessing odds SUCK. Lots of bears there to.

Again this is not first hand knowledge but what I leaerned from speaking with many guys who hunted there, probably about 10 different guys, many got elk.

What weapon?

 

[RMS55]

Hey Don Thanks for the reply. We're looking for an Archery hunt and all we need is a tent and through some food and a map at us and we are Happy. It seems everywhere we roam these days the odds suck! I think this outtfitter has a lodge in the unit, not totaly sure we are after a drop camp only. Is this Unit rougher than the sixteens. You say the odds suck that doesn't sound good. I can't even get lucky if the odds are 50/50. We may need to scout around a bit, there are not as many options in NM for Drop Camps as Colo. We're not looking for Monsters, I'm exstatic to get on a 300 bull. The Outfitter gave me some References to check out so we'll see. Thanks alot for the info!

 

[DonV]

Good luck! I hear you about not being able to pull a 50/50 tag! I tried for 34 2 years ago, the odds were 1:7 (bow), the increased tag #'s and everyone got the same idea asme and applied. There are plenty of units where you do not need a drop camp, 34 is such a unit. Just cmap by the road and hike in 1 mile each day, save the outfitter fee and use it to buy a landowner tag, there are good units with tags for $800, an outfitter will cost at least that. IMO use your money to get a sure tag if not drawn and do not use an outfitter, that way you go.

 

[NM_Muley_Hunter]

I have spent a lot of time in Unit 34. My family has had a cabin up there for 40 years. My hunting experience there has been mostly for deer, but I've hunted elk up there the past two years and spent plenty of time scouting.

I agree with DonV. If all you need is a tent and some food, do it yourself. Unless this outfitter is getting you access to private land, you shouldn't need his help. I can't think of a single area in unit 34 that he could put a camp that you couldn't drive to and camp yourself. There are a lot of roads in the area, and it is hard to find a place where you can get more than about a mile and a half from any road.

Just get a BLM map (Alamogordo quadrant) (shows where the private land is) and some USGS topo maps. As far as the terrain goes, I have never considered it to be very rough. Except for down in the foothills, there is nowhere you can't hike. Good luck-

 

[RMS55]

Muley Thanks for the Feedback, I'm from New York and Time is a problem, I'd rather be hunting than driving. If I could talk a couple of the guys into driving with the gear I'd be all set. I get about as far as Iowa driving after that I fly. I understand Unit 34 Archery is now a HD hunt and now with internet apps I think we may have a snowballs chance in hell of drawing! I may need to take a hard look at the units and odds. With all the roads it sounds like it would be hard to get away from the crowds in 34. A lot of Pickup and ATV hunters? Maybe I should look into the Sixteens.

 

[NM_Muley_Hunter]

That would make for a long drive. During the rifle season, there are a lot of road hunters and ATVs. Vehicles are prohibited off road there (even to retreive downed game), which generally makes it a little easier to get away from the crowds, although some of the ATV hunters "forget" about that rule. I have driven around quite a bit up there during the archery season (not while hunting), as well as scouted, and it doesn't seem like there was that much traffic or that many hunters out. In December, we were up there for a rifle (cow) hunt and saw quite a few people driving around, but never bumped into anyone off the road. However, it was only a 5 day season, so I think everyone that had a tag was there at the time. Since the archery season is longer, you might not see as many camps/hunters.

If you do decide to go there, or if you get drawn, feel free to e-mail me for more info.