5B December Elk

Skeet · Apr 27, 2016

My daughter drew this tag as it was the only time frame that would work in our schedule. She is 14 and really looking forward to this hunt. Was hoping for a little info on the unit?type of terrain, numbers of elk and quality of bulls, although any bull will be a trophy for us. Thanks

CompassWestOutfitters · Apr 27, 2016

If you have snow the hunt can be OK. I guided that hunt the first few years they had it with 25 tags...... 80 is way to many for that area IMO (I will no longer guide that hunt). Shoot any legal bull you see, but you might kill a good Jic bull pushed in by snow. I am slammed right now, but call in a few weeks once you have maps, ill do my best to send you into some for sure kill a bull areas. Its a OK hunt at a nice time of the year for kids!

Chris Guikema
www.compasswestoutfitters.com

Prime_Beef · Apr 28, 2016

I've hunted 5b a number of times over the last 25 years, and drew the December bull hunt last year for the first time. There were lots of hunters off of Hwy 112, in the Mud Springs area, and up in Ojitos Canyon. Lots of snow, too, which unfortunately limited my hunting to a single day. There used to be some big resident bulls in 5b. Probably still are. The elk will migrate into that unit from the Chama area in the winter, and they move in and out from the Jicarilla all year long. The terrain isn't particularly difficult, and most of the elk hunting is done between 7000-8000'.

Skeet · Nov 1, 2016

the hunt is quickly approaching. was wondering if anyone has info they would like to share.

JFBNORTHERNHUNTER · Nov 2, 2016

I Also have this hunt and have been scouting the unit and hailing firewood out of the unit for the last month. The residential elk herd is growing but not big. I seen some 5x5 and 6x6 bulls in the Mesa Alta area. They were talking last weekend in the early morning. I am hoping for some snow to push the elk from unit 6 into 5B and the Jaci Bulls into the north west part of the unit. I saw a big bull in a camp, im guessing it would go 330-340.

JFBNORTHERNHUNTER · Nov 18, 2016

Update:
Been out twice and I can not find the elk or any fresh sign where i had been seen them move through. My Game Cams have not picked up any elk either. I know they were doing a control burn but the smoke was not bad and not close to were the elk were hanging out. I am being to worry that if the snow and cold dont push them into 5 it is going to be a very very hard hunt. What have you seen on your scouting trips?