16B/22

Howdy,

I am new to New Mexico, moved here last year with the military. I drew 16B/22 late rifle elk. Anyone have any experiences there that they care to share? I scouted it some this weekend. I know it's rough, but that's about it so far. I plan on having horses for the pack out if I am lucky enough to get one. Not looking to steal anyone's honeyhole, but any info helps.

Cheers,

Michael

>Howdy,
>
>I am new to New Mexico,
>moved here last year with
>the military. I drew 16B/22
>late rifle elk. Anyone have
>any experiences there that they
>care to share? I scouted
>it some this weekend. I
>know it's rough, but that's
>about it so far. I
>plan on having horses for
>the pack out if I
>am lucky enough to get
>one. Not looking to steal
>anyone's honeyhole, but any info
>helps.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Michael


Sorry man can't help you there. There's some elk there, all I can say is get your boots on!! All 2nd rifles are tough . Good luck!!

I've hunted the wilderness several times but never the second season and only once with a rifle. If you go into the ELK FORUM I posted on one guys question about unit 16-B. I'm half tempted to pack up and head down with my horse and mule just to see what conditions are like for the second rifle hunt! Once the pressure is heavy in unit 16-A the elk drop into the wilderness to avoid hunters.I might pack in from the trail behind snow lake and hunt along the creek then up towards little turkey feather. Deep nasty canyons lots of places for elk to hide but not much pressure. Or maybe pack into yellow mountain. Long hike about 6 miles in but might be worth the effort. And finally the jerky mountains. That is about 12 miles from the trail head and pretty much in the center of the unit. I'm pretty sure porcupine will always hold elk and is easier to get to but that is only 1 mile from the trailhead and might have other hunters. In general there are elk every where but will be a tougher hunt,with that said a little luck don't hurt! A couple years ago while scouting the day before my hunt started, I helped out a guy that twisted his ankle and was content not hunting the last day of his hunt because the could not walk. I drove him to a trail head and helped him hike 100 yards off the trail head and only 15 yards from the wilderness boundary. I called in a bull for him to 12 yards with the aid of a cow elk decoy and he took a respectable 340 bull that actually died in 16-A but was shot in 16-B. The was the best pack out ever! He was able to back right up to it. My motto has always been I would rather be lucky than good and luck my friend is what you will need!

Seems most 16B/22 hunters focus on the Gila Wilderness. I recommend spending some effort on the high parts of 22. I did learn that low (south) in 22 is **not** the place to look for elk, though.

Rumor has it that the biggest smelliest snarliest bulls are where you either can't get into or can't get them out of.

Gila Wilderness has a great heritage, read up on the history

And building on what MW said ... "Give a man a little luck and anything will do for brains" (Albert Soady said that...)