Elk Hunting question

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Oregon Fishing Guide

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Hey Everyone,

The last couple of years I have been looking for an elk to go on. I have taken 15 or more rag horn bulls and I don't want another. I have never taken one worth putting on the wall. I want to break that 300 score before I get it mounted. All of my research is sending me to New Mexico. For a best chance to get a draw and a good animal it just seems like that is the palce to go. As most of you know for my fishing and hunting businesses I do sportsman shows all over the place which gives me opportunity to talk to a lot of outfitters. For the window I am able to hunt which is the first week or so of September or the later part of Novemeber, I can either bow hunt or muzzle loader hunt. At the RMEF show in Reno I was talking to the New Mexico F&G and the New Mexico Outfitters and was told by both that unit 15 or 16 is the place to get a good bull. If I shot a 301 I would be the happiest guy in camp and send more business to them then they could imagine. While at the Reno show I talked to the White Mountain Apache hunt and they have a managemnet hunt that is reasonable in price. I was told that any 5 point, 5x6 point or 6x6 that is 330 or less is a managemnet bull. You can also take a lion or bear for $500 more. You are huting during rut and I was told that the videos you can get is awesome due to the giant bulls that will come in. Does anyone know anything about this hunt or a hunt that you would reccomend or do some horse trading? If so would you please contact me so we could talk. You can call me or email me at [email protected] Thanks a bunch.

God Bless and see you in the outdoors,
Jon Ball
JS Outfitters
Gimme A Go Fishing Adventures
www.JonsOutdoors.com
503-668-5697
 
While I haven't personally taken that hunt, my understanding is that the White Mtn. Apache management bull hunt is outstanding. Your apache guide will tell you if he thinks the bull will score 330 or less, and its up to you from there. If you shoot the wrong bull, it can be very expensive, though. That's about as close as you'll get to elk hunting heaven.

Unit 15 and the 16s are good, but nowhere near the almost certain opportunity you'll have on the rez. If it takes a couple hunts to kill a bull in NM, it might be less expensive to do the rez mgmt. bull hunt.
 
I too was told that you were allowed kill a bull up to 330 on the rez but Trulene, the lady who books the hunts, said absolutely not. She said it was a 5x5 or 5x6 hunt only. I asked the biologist about the sizes of the bulls killed on last years hunt and there was not a single 6x6 that he scored. You need to check it out VERY carefully before booking.
 
Here is what their regs say:

A legal management bull is a MATURE bull that displays no more than 5 points per side on both beams or a bull that has 2 deformed main beams commonly called palmated or deformed. For more information see the Management Bull Elk Guidelines available through the W&ORD office.

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
I think NM is your best bet, you should be able to do it right down there for not too much money. PM me if you'd like the name of a good outfitter in that area.
 
Thanks you very much everyone. We are planning for a group of us to go next year. I am really leaning towards that Apache hunt but we have a year to do more research. Thanks again.

God Bless and see you in the outdoors,

Jon and Stacy Ball
1-877-347-4662
www.JonsOutdoors.com
Which is
Gimme A Go Fishing Adventures (Columbia River Sturgeon & Salmon)
JS Outfitters (Wyoming Deer and Antelope Hunts)
 
Not sure what you have in mind but Utah is a great place and can gaurantee you the bull over the 310 score as you probably know you have to draw a permit for a big bull tag or you can buy a tag also there are some open bull areas as well any more info you can email me at ([email protected]) or you can look at a website of a friend who could get you some information as well go to (www.pinesranch.com) hope to hear from you thanks and good day.
 
Most any unit in NM will allow you the opportunity at a 300 inch bull. You could apply for units with better odds and/or buy a landowner tag in one of the northern NM units for about $1500.
-Raptor
 
I have hunted the White Mountain Reservation twice, and that management hunt is no easy deal. The bull must be a 5x and must be a mature bull (not a raghorn.) This is harder than it sounds. I never saw a bull that would qualify, and 2 friends of mine had that management tag never saw bulls that would qualify. One guy had a bull the guide thought would net over 400 within 50 yards of him, but he couldn't do anything about it. Two years ago however a guy killed a 5x that went over 350. But they do this hunt enough that mature 5 points are just simply hard to come by. It is however a rut hunt in one of the greatest elk units in the world, and if you hit the rut right, could be the best hunt you've ever been on, kill or not. Also, any bull that is deformed is not a management bull, but a "cull bull".

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