Northern New Mexico

[glacial21]

I am currently consumed by elk-withdrawl, so I am trying to stay busy looking into new options for my 2006 hunt.

Right now I am really curious about unit 53 in northern New Mexico - as a 3rd choice. Does anyone have any general information about this unit. Any thoughts about the elk population, pressure, terrain, etc.

I know that it is not known for trophy bulls. My map also indicates that there is a fair amount of public land (including 2 wilderness areas) and some high country. I like steep, 4-wheelerless territory!

Any idea if there are any 275"+ bulls in this general part of the state?

I am at that early stage in the scouting game where you try and gather any bits of information you can before calling biologists, USFS personell etc. I've got the maps, the regs, the statistics, etc. Now I just need a few opinions.



thanks!

 

[Texas_Hunter]

I hunted there two years ago and got a raghorn 4x5 during the rainy bow season. I did see one 280 class 6x6 and a couple 5x5's, but no huge bulls. Between the three of us hunting, we saw 17 different bulls in 5 days and maybe the same number of cows. There were 5 guys hunting way below us and they got a 260 Class 6x5 and a 4x4 and that was it.

 

[NMHUNTNUTT1]

One of my good friends and co workers is from there and hunts 53 year after year .It is rough steep country , with good elk numbers and yes there is some 300 class bulls . His brother still lives there and guides hunters and every year a few of his rifle hunters kill nice bulls . 53 is a great unit if a guy doesn't want to deal with road hunters....ITS ACTUALLY GETTING SOME NICE MULEYS TOO...NMHUNTNUTT