Drew 5B Deer but need help

mdupon · Apr 12, 2017

I was excited and also bummed I drew the 5B Deer tag with less than 1% odds of drawing. The reason I'm bummed is that the hunt starts 3 days after my wife is due with our baby. It was too late to go change the hunts I chose as the window was closed after we found out. Don't get me wrong, I'm super excited about the baby, but let's be real, it's a bitchin deer tag and my in laws will be in town to help.

So, here's what I'm curious about. What's the earliest you went hunting after your wife gave birth and what were the ramifications?

What strategies do you have that I can employ? I can't transfer the tag to anyone so I don't want to burn it.

Just my luck. I'll probably draw a big horn sheep tag during the same week and probably an elk tag the week before.

NMBOWHNTR27 · Apr 12, 2017

Lucky.....congrats on awesome tag

jmgraham1986 · Apr 12, 2017

With that tag, my wife would understand if I bugged out as soon as she downloaded a healthy baby.

Go as soon as possible after the baby is born.

royalTOOTH15 · Apr 12, 2017

Last year my wife harvested a deer less than a week before her due date. Then she hunted elk (unsuccessfully) a week after the baby came. It made the hunts interesting, but I guess it comes down to personal preference for your family. I know, personally, my wife wouldn't have a problem with me hunting that tag to the fullest.

Congrats on the draw! I put that as my first choice this year. I'd love that tag.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Apr 12, 2017

My wife is super cool and I helped my dad with his Colorado Bighorn tag while she was pregnant with our second child. We had sketchy service and she actually went into labor while I was on the mountain. I made it with about 45 minutes before he came out. She might not have been cool if I missed it but all is well. If she has already had the baby and her parents are there I would hope you could get a few days, maybe not the whole season, but hopefully you get to go.

muleybeast · Apr 12, 2017

Great advice. Good luck.

NMBugleJunky · Apr 12, 2017

If you absolutely can't make it. It is possible to transfer to a youth only... there are 2 organizations that are approved my the department to do so.

ORIONTHEHUNTER · Apr 12, 2017

One of my kids would gladly take it

SDBugler · Apr 12, 2017

I would love to have that tag! That is a good unit. My son had the youth hunt a few years ago. PM me if you have questions. Here is a link:

http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b..._thread&om=2722&forum=DCForumID34&archive=yes

To answer your other question. My wife went turkey hunting two days after coming home from the hospital giving birth to that same son! Lucky for her we got her bird within 30 minutes.

TerynItUp · Apr 13, 2017

Is this your first?

Nobody will like my advice but maybe a different perspective ain't bad? There is nothing in this world more important than your family, there will be more hunts (maybe not that particular hunt) but your baby will only be that small for such a short time frame. We just welcomed our first baby this year and you would have had to pry my hands off him during that first week to get me to leave his side.

Enjoy the time with your family, at the end of your life you will wish you had more of it!

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

RabidRattleSnake1 · Apr 13, 2017

I agree. Skip the hunt. Maybe donate it to a youth in need as suggested earlier. Sucks, but your kids come first.

SDBugler · Apr 13, 2017

Remember "due dates" are educated guesses. After having three boys none of them actually arrived within a week of the doctor's original "due date". Plan for the hunt and if it works out, great. If it doesn't, then there will always be other hunts like Teryn said.

mozey · Apr 13, 2017

LAST EDITED ON Apr-13-17 AT 07:59AM (MST)[p]Wife and baby come first--that's a bigger event than any hunt. It's good to be you.

JFBNORTHERNHUNTER · Apr 13, 2017

First Congrats... Secondly, I know the area really good and could point you in the right area if you choose to go on this hunt.You can always have her induce labor two weeks early lol or bring her with you so you'll have a new Mexico baby.

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

RioHuntNutt · Apr 13, 2017

Congrats on your baby!!! I have a buddy who drew this tag in 2015 and killed a nice buck and Id bet he may lend a hand with info in the right direction if you are gonna be able to make it out....PM me your info and Ill pass it on...Again congrats....

BeDawg · Apr 13, 2017

5 day season? That is an easy decision for me, go hunt while the in-laws are in town. I wish I were in yer sitiation.

NMBOWHUNTR · Apr 13, 2017

Outstanding tag you drew! My first choice very year and I'm a die hard bowhunter. Congrats on the kiddo but plan on your hunt if the lady permits. Plenty of areas with cell service and close enough to abq you could boogey back quick.
If the kids born before the hunt maybe you could get out for at least a day hunt and if not stay in contact.
My first was due during one of my hunts, called twice a day for a week, smoked a buck, came back and had my son a few days later. I was over 4 hours out too!
My wife is cool though and understands my passion and mental therapy! Amazing woman.

Bowdeadly · Apr 17, 2017

The unit is not all that. Sure there are some great bucks but not a guarantee monster buck hunt. Depends I guess on your wife. That would suck to miss the first few days after your child's birth to come home with a forkie or an empty tag. Plus always remember this gentlemen. When woman say do what ever the hell you want, does not always mean just that. You may never hear the end of this. Good luck.

arzdave · Apr 17, 2017

Don't know if you have other kids, but for me, the birth of my kids far exceeded any animal hanging on my wall. Good luck with both.

Bowdeadly · Apr 17, 2017

Like I said before, not a guarantee to get a wall hanger. Iv know plenty of guys who have hunted that unit and come home either empty handed or 130 to 150 ish class bucks. Now if this was a Bighorn sheep tag I can see the debate but for a deer tag I'm not sure it's worth the stress you may put on your wife. Plus you may not even get to hunt as hard as you would normally as you will be running back down into cell service to Check on the family.

JFBNORTHERNHUNTER · Apr 19, 2018

How did that Unit 5B Deer hunt go

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

Solodawg · Apr 19, 2018

I'm getting a flashback, I got my wife and second son to my inlaws house three days after her C-section and went on a weeklong deer hunt in northeastern California. Got a lot of sideways looks when I got back. But don't regret it. Now that son is as much a hunting fool as I am. If you decide to go you can make it up with diaper duty for the next month or so!!

mdupon · Apr 19, 2018

It didn't. Baby was due 11/1 and wound up coming on 11/11. Stubborn like his old man. I tell my wife that I could have gone and been back with plenty of time for the birth. Plus, I have a family to feed. She doesn't see the humor in my comment the way I do.

sportsman01 · Apr 19, 2018

Contrary to popular belief, 5B isn't really that great of a deer tag. There are plenty of deer which is better than most units, but the big bucks hang on private and it's heavily hunted and heavily poached. I spent years hunting and working with outfitters in that area. Don't get me wrong, there is potential to kill a stud deer and you will see plenty of game which again is different than a lot of other units, but it doesn't live up to the rep it has IMO. With that being said, spend the time with your new family. I bet you'll never look back and regret that decision one bit. Also, there is no cell coverage (last I was there). It would be sh*tty if your family had a medical issue and couldn't get in touch with. I wouldn't risk it, but it's all up to the individual I suppose.

If you do go, take your GPS with land status and know it well. Land Owners around there do not take kindly to trespassing and are always packin'. It is the wild west in that country so be smart and know where you're at.

SDBugler · Apr 19, 2018

>Contrary to popular belief, 5B isn't
>really that great of a
>deer tag. There are plenty
>of deer which is better
>than most units, but the
>big bucks hang on private
>and it's heavily hunted and
>heavily poached. I spent years
>hunting and working with outfitters
>in that area. Don't get
>me wrong, there is potential
>to kill a stud deer
>and you will see plenty
>of game which again is
>different than a lot of
>other units, but it doesn't
>live up to the rep
>it has IMO.
>

My son thought it was a pretty good deer tag

http://www.monstermuleys.info/cgi-b..._thread&om=2722&forum=DCForumID34&archive=yes

swampokie · Apr 20, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Apr-20-18 AT 07:12AM (MST)[p]Wow

smarba · Apr 20, 2018

Scout during the summer/fall and come up with a plan. If you can fit in the hunt, great.

I consider a lot of the advice on this thread foolish. Family comes first period. No trophy remotely comes close to comparison. Besides it's not like this is a sheep tag or something crazy special. Even then there's no comparison.

You can plan all you want with due dates and perfect births etc. but a billion things can throw a wrench in the gears. Focus on your wife and baby. IF, and that's a huge IF, everything comes together and goes smoothly then head out and hunt for a few days if you can.

If you are able to go, have satellite phone or Delorme text messenger to be 100% certain you can communicate with your wife and be prepared to drop everything and race home if necessary.

Carl