New Mexico Unit 7 Mule Deer Pics???

Use to be a really good unit back in the late 90s and early 2000s but they changed the dates and the hunt from what i hear is just not the same. Use to hunt around the continental divide.
 
I've been on 2 Elk hunts in there, and I had a rifle Deer tag last year. I scouted 3 days before and hunted the entire hunt. I think I saw a total of 12 Deer. Passed a 160ish clean 4 pt, and never saw a legal buck after.

I know there are a few legit Giants in the unit, but it appeared to me to be VERY low density. The biggest problem I had, was that there is SO much country that all looks the same..... Excellent... but I found very few deer.

Good luck, I hope you do better than I.
 
Very very Tough Unit not alot of deer and never saw any really good bucks. Had a hard time locating deer and water sources. We talked to a few of The other people that were hunting and they had very similar luck, if not even worse,said they didnt see any bucks the entire hunt.
Much rather would hunt 2a or 2b but feel like there has been a decline in quality, a big increase in hunters lots of pressure.
I dont even try for 2c anymore.
 
Like most NM units it took a huge dive in the last 10-20 yrs.
1st time I scouted it 20+ yrs ago I saw 3 30" bucks on a hr drive,took a decent one last day.Hunted it again in 07' & saw one legal buck 6 does & lots of elk.
 
Overall i think the Deer herd in all Northern Hunting Units have declined and I think it is a combo of things like bad management, to many permits and loss of habitat. I do think Elk play a small roll in it to but the bigger factor is Climate changes and changing habitat. I am in my early 30s and grow up hunting Units like Unit 5A and 5B, 6, 7, 51 and i remember seeing more deer and more hunters and the hunts were in November for the most part. We use to put in for the 5s and if we did not drew we would buy over the counter tags for 7. I have friends that live in Cuba and there is still big bucks in that area but you do not start seeing them until mid to late November. A few years back my uncle picked up a cow tag and the hunt was in december and in the two days i hunted with him we saw many deer including two respectful bucks. they are still there just not in the same numbers of the 80s and 90s.


I see humanity now as one vast plant, needing for its
highest fulfillment only love, the natural blessings of the
great outdoors, and intelligent crossing and selection.
Luther Burbank
 
Changeing Habitat ?? LOL... Its the same habitat just with more Lions / Coyotes and to many Winter Range Poachers !
Jack
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-29-17 AT 08:17PM (MST)[p]No. More heat. Less water. Not the same habitat. But good thought. Thanks.
 
LAST EDITED ON Aug-05-17 AT 10:27PM (MST)[p]Definitely more heat and definitely not as much water. The few deer we thought we were on, i have no idea where they were getting there water at. Looked all over for water holes and never could locate them.
My only guess is they were using a livestock trough at one of the houses a few miles away. Wouldnt surprise me at least. The poaching that goes on never helps either.
I remember hunting unit 2 before it was divided into B & C and the amount of good quality bucks that were everywhere was impressive. Still great deer in those units but seems like not as many. And the ones that are there are damn smart!
 

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