Help getting started for Mule Deer in NM GMU 29

Scphillips109 · Dec 18, 2017

Hello--just got to the El Paso area and am looking for some resident experience to help get started in New Mexico GMU 29. I'm heading there in January for archery mule deer, have done a ton of online map scouting, and have been reading what I can from recent years (there isn't much info that I've found). If anyone has some pointers on where in the GMU is a good point to start I'd appreciate it. I've got five days, a backpack and bow, and I'm eager to hear from those that have experience in the unit

cbat · Dec 18, 2017

Probably not going to get much help for that unit Plus coming on asking for help as your very first post doesn't get you very far.

DWV015 · Dec 19, 2017

I had a group of buddies that hunted that unit during the January archery season a couple of years back. They didn't kill, but they were able to get on a few bucks (one bruiser of a buck, that vanished on them). I will check with them and see if they have any pointers and PM you the details. Not sure why people take such an issue with folks asking for pointers on here when they are hunting new territory. Never really figured there was any harm in asking. Many years I don't have the extra funds or the vacation time away from work to be able to make an effective scouting trip to a new area and then go back a few months later for a week and hunt, so I, like you, try to ask others that may have experience for tips.
Good luck out there!

Scphillips109 · Dec 19, 2017

DWV?thank you for the response, and the offer to do some digging through your friends? experience in GMU 29. I guess some think that questions like this are just searching for the golden ticket. On the contrary; I love to work for the chance for a shot. Like you mentioned, though, time is not on my side. I'm in the military and only home for 5 days of the whole split season. Just trying to make the most of those days.

Thanks again for the kind response.

MQ1_4_LIFE · Dec 19, 2017

Best advice for anyone who is hunting in New Mexico:

Get a good set of optics, hike up high at dark:30 am, glass, glass, glass.

If you don't find what you are looking for, move to a new area, stopping to glass every good vantage you get.

Rinse and repeat until you find what you are after.

Spend some time on google earth familiarizing yourself with roads, land ownership, etc. Even if you can't scout "on site", you can still come up with some potential areas "cyber scouting". There are deer in every unit, and legal bucks to be found.

The thrill of the chase is what the whole thing is about. If you go into it blind, and you see a legal deer...... You just had a successful hunt in my eyes.