VV Second Archery

nmhunter01 · Apr 19, 2018

LAST EDITED ON Apr-19-18 AT 10:33AM (MST)[p]Hi all I finally drew my OIL VV archery tag. I am humbly asking for some good insight. I have been there on a youth hunt and am familiar with the lay of the land. But I am no expert. i do plan to do plenty of scouting prior to the hunt. Also is there anybody in the area that does pack out services.

Thank you.

nmwapiti · Apr 19, 2018

Awesome hunt, congrats!
Premier Outfitters offers guide service and packouts. 575-779-4907
As far as where to hunt, there's so many good spots it's hard to pick just one.
I had good luck all the way down the nine mile road and then hike the Moreno ranch fence down to the bottom. Takes you to the very back of the big valle. I was on elk every day back in there. Good luck!

nmhunter01 · Apr 19, 2018

Thank you for the information

gretch6364 · Apr 20, 2018

Congrats on the tag! My hunting partner drew first archery. We are also looking for help. I am mainly curious if anyone backpack hunts the area. It seems like there is a lot of info out there of people walking in a mile or two each day from big camps. I understand with the warmth, we would need to get our meat out quick.

outdoorsdude · Apr 23, 2018

Greatest elk hunt I have been on, enjoy that tag to the fullest. There are so many great places to find excellent elk there!

My main suggestion, if you run into another hunter talk to them.
I had a guy follow me all opening morning, three times I got to working a bull and he would come in and backdoor me. When I approached him about it and pointed out that there is plenty of land for all, and there is no need to "step on each others toes", and that we could work together, he got all bent out of shape!!
So, I went elsewhere and still had a great time, including putting a book elk in the freezer. FWIW- he went home empty handed, in fact even in that target rich environment--success rate was only 20% on that hunt.

nmhunter01 · Apr 23, 2018

Thanks for sharing, congrats on a book bull! what did it score ?

outdoorsdude · Apr 26, 2018

He only lost 5 points between net and gross, the P&Y scorer couldn't believe how even he is.

nmhunter01 · May 2, 2018

Nice Bull

RdRdrFan · May 2, 2018

Great bull.

I had the second archery tag last year. It was a fun hunt. I passed up a mid 330's bull on the first night and I shouldn't have. The hunting was tough as the bigger bulls had already begun gathering cows but weren't rutting hard yet. It is an amazing place with a ton of elk. I'll certainly be putting my boys in for the youth hunt when they are old enough. Best of luck with the hunt.