NM Units 44,48,50,53

ram100 · Mar 9, 2006

Just curious, But I noticed draw odds were quite a bit better for these units. Is access difficult, are they private, wilderness or what was the deal. We just want a decent hunt with a chance at a decent bull. Does anyone know the name of a biologist that might cover these areas?
Thanks

elk4you · Mar 9, 2006

Ram100

You can call Steve Kohlman in the SF office. He is the elk biologist for the state. His phone number is (505) 476-8039.

bulls1 · Mar 9, 2006

44 is wilderness, it can be good with horses, 48 is mostly private, 50 is mostly prairie, 53 is steep and thick timber but probably your best bet if your willing to hunt hard and spend some time scouting

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Mar 9, 2006

They can be good units too , but they are factored by weather . What hunts were you looking into ? Maybe I can help you some ...NMHUNTNUTT

ram100 · Mar 9, 2006

THanks for the help folks. I can always get at least a start on this board. I appreciate the info. NMhuntnut I sent you an email.

vinihunt · Mar 9, 2006

unit 48 have lots of private land, be careful! the game and fish up there are very mean! otherwise i killed my 5x6 bull up there on public land, scout is key!!

unit 53, i have killed cow only because i drew for muzzle, cow only thats why but went for rifle with cousin, the elk are in deep wilderness, hunt border near Vidal Valle and unit 53, u might have cross elk!

unit 50 is fair/fair!

unit 52 is a good place, lots of access! big unit, many elk, many raghorns if ur not looking for trophy. average bull is 280-300 class

killed with bow

Texas_Hunter · Mar 10, 2006

Ditto Vinihunt on Units 52 & 53. I hunted there in 2003 and got a raghorn. Were into elk everyday and saw about 15 different bulls in 6 days. We accessed the public land by paying an access fee through private land to make things a little easier for us.

This is the bull I got during bow season....

We pretty much hunted the dark timber the whole time...there were a few meadows the elk would come too, but it was usually just cows.

LMCGUIRE · Jun 23, 2006

CALL THE NM GAME AND FISH OFFICE IN RATON. THEY HAVE BEEN A LOT OF HELP. I DREW UNIT 50, ARCHERY, SEPT 1-22ND. THIS IS A NEW UNIT
FOR ME AS WELL. DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFO ON THIS UNIT. SO FAR IT LOOKS TO BE A GOOD UNIT AND I WILL FLY IT NEXT MONTH....

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Jun 23, 2006

Unit 50 is good , but its a wintering area. Once snow starts to fall the elk move in there . The #1 key to that unit for the bow hunt in HOT September is find water ...You will have your work cut out , but it beats staying home eh..

NMRaptor · Jun 23, 2006

Acess can be difficult for units 44 and 53. Unit 48 is checkered with private land so make sure you know where u are. Unit 50 has the best access of these, but it is not the best elk hunt. I'd rank rank these for overall hunt experience as 44/45 (easy pick for 1st), 53, 48 (Pickem) and 50 last.
-Raptor

tega52 · Jun 23, 2006

I live in Questa (Unit 53) and also run cattle across the river in unit 50. Unit 53 is just like everyone says STEEP and THICK! It can produce some really good bulls if you are willing to work. There are 2 winderness areas within the unit (Wheeler Peak and Latir), which can be reached by horseback or on foot. The best advice I have for unit 50 is to STAY ON TOP OF POT MOUNTAIN. There is water there and some nice clearings.

vinihunt · Jun 23, 2006

hows fishing at cabresto lake? and the creek? what abt red river river? is it low? plan go up for the weekend!

vinihunt

tega52 · Jun 23, 2006

Water level is low on the Red River and Cabresto creek, but fishing is very good. I'm a creek/river fisherman, but my buddies tell me Cabresto lake is good also. the Shuree ponds in Valle Vidal open Saturday also. For that one use an Olive or Black Wooly Booger (has to be barbless). There are some big fish in the Shurees!

LMCGUIRE · Jun 25, 2006

Tega52,

Thanks for the heads up. We usually hunt the H20 holes in unit 34
also, especially this year with the lack of water. Can you recomend any maps of the Pot Mountain area? I have a few topos of the Carson National Forest on the way in. I also have the big game unit map. Do you have any other suggestions as far as litterature is concerened. Also, where would you recomend we camp? We do not have horses, we will be packing in a small spike
camp. Thanks in advance for help, I greatly appreciate your assistance...

tega52 · Jun 26, 2006

There are 3 primitive roads leading to the top of pot mtn. The one on the southeast corner usually works best because of the prevailing SW wind. If you camp at the trailhead, you're looking at a 40 minute hike to the meadows on top.

LMCGUIRE · Jul 7, 2006

tega52,

Thanks, for all of the help so far. I have spoken with Steve and
he recomends the Pot Mountain area of 52. However I am haveing a hard time finding any info on the area, in reference to maps and other lit. Can you put me on a road into that South East corner of the area, or reference the nearest town or paved road. I will
be going up on a quick scout trip here in the next few weeks. Thanks in advance for your assistance. If you need anything from the El Paso area, give me a shout and I will bring it up.... Good hunting to all this season....

outtabreath · Jul 7, 2006

First of all, Pot Mtn is not in unit 52. It is in 50. There is a road that crosses the Rio Grande north of Toas. There is a dirt road that follows the gorge. Follow that for approx. 14 miles. Look on the North side of Pot Mtn. for elk. Good luck.

NONE · Jul 7, 2006

I had better luck on the southeast corner of Pot Mt. That is one extreme hunt! Extremely tough conditions with very few elk but its open enough to see them . They are there and you will find sheds all over the top of that sucker as they winter there heavily.