I'm new to posting on the forums, but have been reading and observing for a few years. Which area in New Mexico (16B rifle, 36 rifle) would be the best for a horseback hunt? The most important aspects of this hunt would be the chance at a 300"-330" bull, solitude and scenery, in that order. Based on historic drawing odds, is 36 (second rifle hunt) worth waiting to hunt every 5-7 years? Or would it be better to hunt 16B every 2-3 years (second rifle hunt)? I'd be glad to trade some info regarding several areas in Wyoming, Colorado and Idaho that I've hunted in the past.
NM 16B OR 36?
- Thread starter cqh1
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muleylover
Active Member
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- 205
Don't know much about 36 but 16B is almost all wilderness. They do take some good bulls. I know quite a few people that have horses and hunt in there and they kill some bulls but I havn't seen any big ones. There is so much country to get into though. I havn't been able to draw a tag there as a resident but I would take one for sure. Being a NR it will be hard to scout or find info. Hopefully some of the guys on here can help you more. That rifle hunt I belive the rut is mostly over and last year it was pretty warm.
D
DaleT
Guest
I have hunted unit 36 with horses and you are better off hunting on foot. We hunted it in 2002 and there wasn't a reliable water source near a reasonable place to camp, so we wound up having to go back to the road after a windstorm flattened our wall tent (disaster). It's just really steep with no protected flat spots within a few miles of water. The horses were necessary for packing out the elk, but you need to be off of the main trails to hunt for a big elk. If you stay on your horse on the main trails, you better be happy with a rag horn, because that is all you are going to see from a place you can ride a horse too.
If I hunt it again, we will have horses available to pack, but I don't even want them around before I pull the trigger. I will look around for a pack for a fee type of person.
If I hunt it again, we will have horses available to pack, but I don't even want them around before I pull the trigger. I will look around for a pack for a fee type of person.
Thanks for all of your responses. I think 16B sounds like a better area to take horses and set up a camp in the wilderness. I assume there is sufficient grass and water in the Gila wilderness for the livestock. Where I hunt in Wyoming and Colorado there is no shortage of grazing and water for the horses, at least early season. 16B also gives out more tags. Is there a lot of overcrowding in certain areas?
