GMU 36 Deer?

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psirus7

New Member

Messages

2

• Sep 24, 2016

• #1

Hey Fellas,

I'm getting started in hunting pretty late in life and I drew GMU 36 FAD tags this year. Does anyone have any recommendations for that area? Last time I was in Ruidoso I saw a bunch of deer in town being fed by the locals and zero out in the woods. Also, dumb question, but in NM can I quarter my deer at my campsite or do I need to keep everything intact with proof of sex until I get home? The NMDFG handbook seems a little vague on this topic. Thanks!

-Sam

 

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Bolt Tripper

Active Member

Messages

145

• Sep 24, 2016

• #2

You might be in for a tough hunt. 36 is not one of the better units which is why it is an easy draw. Good deer in town and not many outside of town. We saw a few nice bucks while elk hunting the first of this month but not very high numbers. Seems like the lower elevations have been holding a lot more than up high from what I normally see.

 

E

efnm

Active Member

Messages

239

• Sep 25, 2016

• #3

Awesomene, another adult onset hunter like me. I started four seasons ago.

Regarding 36, I hunted it last year. Your best bets are Gavilan ridge area, by the ranger station, and anywhere the forest service land borders the town. I was the only guy in my camp of four to get one although we had some chances by the station.

This is a low odds hunt, so shoot the first legal buck you see. In my opinion, they should allow doe harvests here as there are too many deer in the area.

And yes you can quarter up there, just keep the antlers attached to the skull plate or whole head until you get meat to butcher or home. I just double-checked the proclamation before writing that.

 

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psirus7

New Member

Messages

2

• Sep 30, 2016

• #4

Gents, thanks for the response and information. We'll see how it goes this year!
-Sam

 

hunter101

Member

Messages

25

• Oct 4, 2016

• #5

I have gone hunting for elk in the past near Ski Apache. Saw deer there and also behind Bonito Lake. Hope this helps. Posted some photos below so you can get out there and check the area out. 36 is my backyard I was raised in Ruidoso, NM - you can also try the area behind Ruidoso Downs Race Track, as well Forest Service Road 443, Ruidoso Downs, NM 88346 - I know the photos are hard to look at, but wouldnt let me upload them any bigger. Try hit Ctrl + on the image to make it bigger.

Hope that helps. Best thing to do is get out there and check the area for yourself to get familiar with the terrain and check the area for droppings etc. Good Luck!

 

TerynItUp

Active Member

Messages

616

• Oct 4, 2016

• #6

Somebody above said:
"This is a low odds hunt, so shoot the first legal buck you see. In my opinion, they should allow doe harvests here as there are too many deer in the area."

According to everyone on this thread 36 has too many hunters, low odds, you should shoot the first legal buck you see, and then someone recommends we issue tags to kill does? Wow.

Hunt Hard. Shoot Straight. Kill Clean. Apologize to No One.