VV nm hunt

270winchester · Jul 6, 2005

does anyone know wheather or not you can can camp on the valle vidal or do you have to camp outside the park. also has anyone done any scouting up there lately if so how did it go any help would be greatly appreciated

DougW · Jul 6, 2005

I know there are several campgrounds in there, but I don't remember if backcountry camping is allowed.

270winchester · Jul 6, 2005

DougW
Do you know if it possible to get an RV in there or is it tent only campgrounds, i'm pretty sure you can but am just wondering
Thanx for all your help

schmalts · Jul 6, 2005

The campgrounds (2 of them) are the only place you can use an RV. All other camping must be rough camping at least one mile from any road. If you do not have horses and want a much better hunt take a tent and get off the roads. If you dont hear bugles around your tent all night you need to move!!

270winchester · Jul 7, 2005

schmalts, i was planning on staying in a campground and then mountain biking back into where i want to hunt. is this a bad idea? do you maybe know if there is any mountain bike trails not far from the campgrounds? thanx for the info

schmalts · Jul 8, 2005

Not sure what is close to the campgrounds as i didnt stay there. But a mountain bike can be used in some areas. One place would be the Big Valle Vadal itself. Maybe check out the far south end. You can park anywhere just off the road in many places but just cannot camp there overnight. Get a map and you will see.

rocketman · Jul 9, 2005

I filmed elk during the rut for 10 years from
1990 to 2000. My biggest advice is to use a
mt bike. There are bikable roads that are closed
to motorized travel that can be used with a
bike. I would rather have a bike than a horse
in the Villa. Roy in Montrose Co
[email protected]

270winchester · Jul 9, 2005

anybody know where i can get a map of the valle vidal for a good price?

nmbighorn · Jul 9, 2005

270winchester,I've guided and hunted the valle vidal all the hunts are excellent. My suggestions to you, get to the valle a couple days before your hunt and haul in a camper (space fills in quickly)for your base camp and also set a spike camp where you intend to hunt this way you dont have to hike in a couple miles on opening morning there will be bulls bugleing everywhere, there are elk on every corner of the valle, but get away from roads. as stated before there are two camp grounds to park campers Shuree and McCrystal. On the windy gap you can also get cell service to call family and let them know you took a monster. On the map issue here is the main contact number for the Carson National Forest 505-758-6200 If you want some info on where to start looking email me [email protected] hope this helps

270winchester · Jul 10, 2005

thanx for the info nmbighorn, as for getting there a couple of days early that might be a problem as i have a football game the day before the hunt starts. i may be able to get out of that though depending on who we are playing. which campground would you suggest i park my camper at? is it maybe possible to get reservations incase i can't get there a couple of days early if you don't know thats ok i am just worried that when i finally get down there, there will be know more space and i will be forced to camp somewhere else, any ways thanx for your help

nmbighorn · Jul 10, 2005

270winchester,there are two access roads into the valle one through costilla and the other from cimmaron, the shuree cg is only a day use, the cimmaron cg next to shuree is in the middle of both sides of the valle and is the one that i think would be best. the other mccrystal is in the lower country there was a forest fire there a couple years ago and this area produces some great bulls but its up to you as far as space if you get there on fri evening you may still find a space as there are 50 hunters during the 8-12 hunt as far as reservations call the number on the last note they use to charge a couple hundred to reserve any space. hope that helps,nmbighorn

270winchester · Jul 11, 2005

nmbighorn, do you possibly know how big these campounds are? where would you expect most of those 50 hunters to be, up high, eastern side, in the low country, i want to be as far away as possible with still a chance at some good elk. thanx for all the info

nmbighorn · Jul 11, 2005

270winchester,each campground has about 40 spaces,both have horse facilities and most hunters that have horses will be on the little costilla trail,powderhouse,the big valle,or down on beatty lake area,as far as elk they are everywhere it just depends on where you want to hunt, if you play your cards right you will more than one opptunitty on this hunt.nmbighorn

270winchester · Jul 11, 2005

This big valle that you talk about is this a trail that i can maybe take a mountain bike on? where is it located in the park? thanx for the help nmbighorn. Oh yeah i was also wondering if gamecarts are allowed? if so do you think they might work better than packing it out because there will the trails.

nmbighorn · Jul 11, 2005

270winchester,the big valle is a large open valley thats about three miles long and a couple miles wide its accessible from several areas its located in the middle of the unit, there are trails but they die out into the meadow game carts are allowed they are easer to use in the flat country or on the little costillia trail or out in the big valle but on any of these or other trails there may be trees accross the trails(on the ground)before you get an elk down talk to hunters in the campgrounds that have horses usally they will be willing to pack it out for you (sometimes for a fee) but it'll save your back and tons of time. nmbighorn

270winchester · Jul 12, 2005

I'm thinking about mounatain biking in on the trails to the big valle until they end then i will hike off the trail a ways and try to locate a bull. if the elk are in the valle then i will try to catch them as they go into the trees to bed. i will also try to catch them as they return to the valle at dusk. do the elk hang out in the valle at dawn or dusk? is there water out in the valle that they might head to? thanx again for the info

rocketman · Jul 12, 2005

I have a friend that has the topos for most of the
Villa and has no need for them anymore. He hunted
muzzle 2000. Roy [email protected]

270winchester · Jul 12, 2005

rocketman i sent you a PM

nmbighorn · Jul 12, 2005

270winchester, there is pleanty of water out there, there is a creek that is in the middle of the valle. you might try to skirt the tree line instead of riding out into the meadow there is an old road that you can ride out to the tree line its not on any new maps but it goes to the la belle lodge this is an excellent location to set up your spike camp there are a couple of water holes and if you dont start any fires the elk will be there in the morning 75 to 150 yds away and you wont be able to sleep because of all the bugling but try to be in there at least the morning before the hunt so you can see where the elk are going in and out of the timber.nmbighorn

270winchester · Jul 13, 2005

thanx nmbighorn that helps alot. do you maybe have a map that would show me where this road starts. i think i will follow that road until i find a water hole close to the big meadow. i will then set up my spike camp 150 yards or more from ther and wait til morning then go and get the big one