anyone hunted valles caldera????

[jds]

just trying to gather info from anyone who has been on this hunt. looks like i drew one of the rifle tags.


thanks,
jason

 

[lionking]

Never hunted the Caldera but just got back from there. Went to check out a 120 acre fire on the preserve. Not burning hot just smoldering. Seen a bull the other day in the Caldera and it was 6 x 6 lets seeif my buddy gets me a photo. He was huge already. Congrats if you drew. Shoot me an email if you did draw.

lionking

 

[jds]

LAST EDITED ON May-26-05 AT 07:44AM (MST)[p]lionking,

i am not sure how to send you an email but here is my address:

[email protected]

nevermind i figured it out. i sent you an email.

thanks,
jason

 

[30inchbuck]

Bull rifle hunt the Caldera! WOW

I guess you will get to meet George T. I am sure he will be filming and guiding.

I hope that one of these days I get lucky. I good friend drew an archery permit there last year and killed a 350 class bull.

Good luck, I hope that when you get there you draw a good area to hunt!

 

[jds]

30inchbuck,

thanks for the support. it should be a fun hunt. i am thinking they maybe winding down the rut at that time 10/8-10/12 and hoping the big boys will be looking for one last cow to breed.

i am hoping george t and his crew are long gone when i get there. i am not real fond of what they stand for.

i was also thinking of taking the mrs. to do some horse back riding there over the summer so maybe i can posts some pics when we get back.

thanks again,
jason

 

[30inchbuck]

Actually they are still very vocal that time of year. Yes rut is winding down, but still vocal.

Up around the Four Corners area that is actually the best time to call.

The horseback trip sounds like a great time. It would at least let you see some of that country on the preserve.

PS - if the mrs don't want to go, let me know.


I hope you keep us posted on how things go.

 

[jbone]

I drew a muzzloader MB tag for the Caldera. The hunt is from the 17th of September through the 21st. This should be directly in the rut. I am stoked!!!!




JBone

 

[30inchbuck]

I am extremly jealous.

OK, no joking aside could you please send me some of your luck!

How many tickets did you buy?

Maybe next year for me.

Anyway GOOD LUCK! Oh I meant to say don't shoot anything small. Anything under 350 will get you laughed off the site.

Keep us posted.

 

[jbone]

Hey, I have never had any type of luck like this before in whole life. I am thinking this is it....no more luck for me now, I have maxed out.

I bought 3 tickets -late archery, muzzle, and early rifle.

Yes, I know (about the 350), but my only problem is that I have no clue as to how to score an elk (estimate any way). Guess I will start studying up.....




JBone

 

[wesmd]

Jason, I live about 30 miles from the valles caldera. I have an outfitting business in the units around the preserve and am real familiar with the area. I have hunted and guided several times on the preserve. Everything from archery to the last rifle hunts. You are truly a luck man. As for that monster bull that fills your dreams, maybe not running around on the valle. That is if you want a 350+ wallhanger. There are elk to spare on the valle, there are a ton of bulls that are in the 280 to 320 range. Last year I tagged along on one of the first muzzleloader hunts, Oct 2-6. The hunter, one of my best friends, was the #1 requested guide on the Baca Ranch which is now the Valles Caldera, we knew all of the honey holes and killed a 334 bull on the last day. Most of the really big bulls are killed by the archery hunters and the bid hunters. You will see tons of elk and will have the hunt of a lifetime, and maybe you will get lucky and find one of the big boys. There are a few 380's roaming those dark timbered canyons. Keep us posted.

 

[jds]

wesmd,

thank you for your insight. i feel realy fortunate to get this opportunity to visit such beautiful country. my plan as of right now is to go in with the goal of shooting a mature bull scoring 325 or better. depending on which sub-unit i draw i will be hunting the dark stuff for fear the hunt pressure, rut ending has sent most of the older boys to rest/hide.

what can you tell me about the terrain? i have viewed several maps and although the elevation is realatively high it doesn't look extremely rugged. i could be way off????? what are the roads like? what was your weather like in early oct? where the bulls still vocal & responding to cow calls?

jason

 

[wesmd]

Jason depending on what sub-unit you draw your goal of a 325 bull is very attainable. There will still be some bugling action on your hunt. After the 1st week of Oct. most of the big bulls sneak off and hide from the crowds. Most of the cows are already bred and the smaller bulls tend to be with all of the cows, getting the left overs. Most of the valle is the same. There are areas that have been logged and there are the open meadows. Most of the dark timber is steep. As for accesibility there are roads everywhere and they are in good shape. Because there are so many elk on the valle cow calls work well all the time. I would venture to say that most of the smaller bulls will be more than happy to investigate your calls. The weather is mild, with cold mornings and warm days. There is always a chance for rain in Oct. and even an early snow but I wouldn't bet on it. Take your time and enjoy the experience, take a good camera, video camera (you will probably see more elk than most people see in a lifetime, they need to see to believe), and of corse great optics. I wish you all the luck and hope that you surpass your 325 goal.

 

[jbone]

So, then, from what it sounds like. My muzzleloader hunt should be an absolute hoot considering it is during the middle of the rut - Sept. 17-21 (MB)!!!! I talked with a guy who took a 360+ bull out of there last year. He basically said the same thing....except that 350+ during this time was an attainable goal.....hmmm. I still have to learn how to judge elk. From what I have read so far, look hard at G3 and G5. Also, G1 and G2 from the standpoint of them curling up to add length onto the score.

The weather this past year (I am in Alb.) has been great for producing good feed. Water should be plentiful at that time there.....I can only hope that the racks will be better this year!!


JBone

 

[jds]

wesmd,


thank you so much. i will try and post the results when we get back.

jbone - congrats on the great tag! leave one for me please.



jason

 

[snowman22250]

Anybody looking for landowner tags in unit 6C bordering the VC. I have 2 archery and a few rifle tags avavilable. You get to choose your season on archery Sept 1-15 or Sept 16-22. The 16-22 is the 1st time NM has allowed a prime rut hunt in this unit for archery. The rifle you can choose 3rd,or 4th week of Oct, or 1st week of Nov. Archery $750, rifle $1,700.