52 nm

greenhornhunter · Jan 20, 2007

does anybody know if the late rifle cow hunt in 52 elk-1-179 is worth putting in for? or are the earlier hunts better? any help will be greatly appreciated

hunting1 · Jan 21, 2007

There are alot of elk there, but I think the weather would be the issue. We had deep snow last year in September.

greenhornhunter · Jan 21, 2007

is there any part of the unit that they would migrate to when the snow gets deep or do they just leave the area for good?

Budrow · Jan 21, 2007

Later the better! No, most elk stay in the unit and there are lots of elk that may migrate in from Colorado. Hunt San Antonio
Mountain.

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Jan 22, 2007

Great unit for elk from Sept to December. Its a huge unit with amazing numbers of elk...

vinihunt · Jan 23, 2007

plentiful of elk...u won't have problem find them! big unit..

vinihunt

greenhornhunter · Jan 23, 2007

what about access to the unit?

vinihunt · Jan 23, 2007

very easy access...if bad weather..that depend...otherwise...good access..

vinihunt

greenhornhunter · Jan 23, 2007

is any area better than the other in the later hunts, northern, eastern etc...

HerbD · Jan 23, 2007

Don't mind me barging in . . . I hunted 52 last year and my question here is "What is the best access for San Antonio Mt. aside from hiring Kiowa Outfitters?" Is it the south side along one of the fence lines? Or the west side? The east side has houses on it and I didn't check the north side.

BTW, I'm thinking of a cow hunt for this year as my wife hasn't figured out a recipe for the horns yet.LOL

CFHUNTER · Jan 23, 2007

We hunted 52 quite a bit and one year did make it up onto San Antonio Mt. We went in to the northeast of the peak. Go out onto 285 and go north past the mountain. Theres a rough road directly across from the Pinabetoso Peaks that sit out east of the highway. This road isn't well traveled so you may have to go slow and give it a good look. Its about two miles south of the "main" access road that wrap around north and west of the mountain from the highway back to 87. This access takes you directly into the mountain and climbs about half way up if I remember correctly. We went about as far as anyone can go reasonbly up that mountain. When its all steep and no place to turn around, thats about time to park it! We hunted most all the mountain except for that southeast private section. Saw a few elk and lots of sign. We were deer hunting.

DonVathome · Jan 23, 2007

I am not saying you did anything wrong, but I did not think there was any roads you could legaly drive to get up San Antonio Mountain? Are you sure it was legal, again not questioning you just want to be sure. How high did you get, in other words were you 500 below the top? 1000 feet below? I am very curious.

DonV

hntnhrd · Jan 25, 2007

Just drove by San Antonio MT on Sunday. There were hundreds of elk all over the place. Looked like a sheep ranch next to road there was so many tracks. Bowhunted 52 about 6 years ago. Valle Grande area saw elk everyday. Shot a raghorn and had an absolute blast. Lots and lots of elk.

greenhornhunter · Jan 25, 2007

ok so i've pretty much decided to put in for the late cow hunt based on what i've heard about the unit on here any suggestions on how riled up they'll be due to all the hunts before it tho? i figure with it being a late hunt i could possibly find some new herds migrating down from colorado that haven't spooked much i dunno tho... any thoughts on that?

vinihunt · Jan 25, 2007

only 100 hunters on last last cow hunting season..believe me, you won't have problem findin them! the unit is load of elk!

ask of them who had experience unit 52..which part r u from in NM?

vinihunt

ck2128 · Jan 26, 2007

Is 52 any good for bulls?

greenhornhunter · Jan 26, 2007

i'm from aztec

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Jan 26, 2007

DONV is correct , there is NO access of roads on San Antonio. I've been up that steep sucker once a few years ago on my little sisters deer hunt .We hiked up into it and can say I'll never do it again. There are plenty of deer,antelope and elk up on the mountain though. My friend from here in Santa Fe killed a great bull there in 2003 , but they had horses to get him down , and believe me , you'll want em too if you knock down something up there.
Theres just too many elk in much easier country to hunt in 52 than to mess with the mountain.

HerbD · Jan 26, 2007

CFHUNTER
Just now found my map. I see that access. Somehow I missed it when I was there last season. I'll keep it in mind though if I draw again this year.

Thanks for the info,
Herb