New Mexico 17

300WBYMULES

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Just wondering how other hunters did on this unit. I had a tag there this year and honestly I was a little disappointed as I thought this unit was one of the best in the state. It was cool country, but it didn't hold the bull quality I anticipated. I left the hunt with my tag and that was ok. Just curious to hear if the unit is on a down trend from pressure or maybe other hunters struggled as well with the high temps and full moon.
 
I live here but didn't hunt the unit. That said I hope to draw some day and constantly bug my friends and coworkers that did for their reports.

For the second straight year the Magdalenas were tough, and the bulls were pushed really high (possibly due to pi?on pickers, too) in the nasty stuff. And the Maggie's are super nasty up there. A friend on the west San Mateos struck out and didn't get close despite a guide showing him around.

Overall the consensus was the heat was just too brutal. Another friend and I kept chasing this one bull but it disappeared the second the sun beams hit him. No feeding for 30 minutes or more before bedding. You literally had to hunt between legal light and sunrise. That was it.
 
That was our experience as well. We saw young bulls acting rutty the first day, but no big bulls. On the third night we saw a bull maybe 330 way high, and tried to see him better on the fourth morning and he was in the trees at first light. From my sample of experience in this unit it seems heavily hunted younger age class of bulls, and the first muzz hunt don't expect rut.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-20-16 AT 03:51PM (MST)[p] Archery was pretty rough limited movement , bugling was on and off , here's a couple pics of some decent bulls down low.
50187img20161120144239.jpg

83123img20161120144534.jpg
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-21-16 AT 07:32PM (MST)[p]>What's the average kind of bull
>a resident of New Mexico
>feels they have a shot
>at on this hunt?


If I was holding this tag I would shoot a 330-340 type bull no problem, also knowing I have the potential to go 400". Of I held an archery tag the first week nothing under the 330 mark for sure. I guess that would be my opinion on average size?? haha.
 
We have killed two 360 bulls during muzzleloader. I missed 400+ bull using a crappy gun. Some years we see 10-15 bulls 330+. Some years it's hard to scare up a 300. Sometimes the outfitters also camp out on some of the big bulls and try to discourage DIY hunters from some of the drainages. We have had the most luck hunting East and NorthEast of Kelly canyon. Lots of deep dark draws that have always held elk for us.
 
Any of you guys have a place to recommend hunting for cows? I finally drew elk this year and am excited even though it's "just" a cow. I plan on going on the west side of the San Mateos but I haven't narrowed it down.

Since I only started hunting a few years ago, I've relied a lot on advice from mentors. This year I'm paying it forward by helping two rookies out, one on the bull hunt I mentioned above and one who got a cow tag with me. It's been fun teaching them how to shoot but I'm hoping to not go 0-2, so advice would be appreciated.
 

New Mexico Guides & Outfitters

H & A Outfitters

Private and public land hunts since 1992 for elk, mule deer, sheep, pronghorn, black Bear & lion hunts.

505 Outfitters

Public and private land big game hunts. Rifle, muzzleloader and archery hunts available. Free Draw Application Service!

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Mangas Outfitters

Landowner tags available! Hunt big bulls and bucks. Any season and multiple hunt units to choose from.

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