I'm gonna post again just due to what I've read since my original post. Regardless of some of the opinions on here, 16A is a tremendous unit...tremendous. I've hunted several different areas of the state North (51-52,2,5), South (15-16A C D E), further East 21(on a cow hunt), 34 and 36 and further west 15, and the 16's are as good as it get's...period ( for elk). Yes, there are other units in which your draw odds increase a few percentage pts, but I can flat out say, I've never experienced the quantity, and quality of elk that I have in the Gila, specifically 16A and 16C.
Yes, the govenors tags have come from other units....and there are GIANT BULLS in other areas of the state, but they are in the GILA as well. As far as hunters...sure you're going to see some camps and vehicle traffic, but if you bow hunt the way most bow hunters do, I'm gonna go out on a limb and say you'll have more country to hunt....alone....than you possibly can. I know that's been my experience. In the last two years (both times I've drawn), there hasn't been one day where I haven't been on Elk, bulls, and quality bulls, and I think I've ran across one or two other hunters (except for the ride back to camp). Finding a 280-330 bull in the Gila (which is a quality bull to me...anything above is icing on the cake), in september, when they're doing their thing isn't tough at all. I have been fortunate to have some great close calls with bulls pushing 350. I don't want to exxaggerate but last year about 3-4 miles from any road another hunter and I (we were tracking the bull he harvested) had a run in with a true bruin. I want to say 380-390 but since he's not down, he was just a beast....easily 350 (at 70 yds, I passed the shot before he whirled and ran). BTW, both bulls harvested in my camp were over 300 and one went 340 ( I was the only slack jaw not to harvest from our camp...dang it). Also, 16A is about 95% public, something that other storied units such as 15, 34, Mt. Taylor, 51-52, etc etc definitely can't boast. As far as the Wolves, I've seen them here and there and I'm sure they do have an effect. The Game and Fish were in the Gila pushing these animals out of Houghton canyon last year do to some issues with them and people. But I don't usually see them at the tops of ridges or in deep canyons. In the few brief encounters i've had, they seem to be in areas that are a bit more accessible like Coonie prairie and the west end of Houghton where it opens up towards East Elk Mt. Anyway, although i had one a little brave for my taste, they've never harassed me or chased off the elk I was after. Maybe I've just been lucky.
I know everyone has their opinions and are entitled to those. I'm simply saying, if you've liked what you've already seen, you'll love it come late august, early september. There are tons of elk, great bulls, beautiful country and it's a great place to archery hunt. Tough to draw or not, it's simply Awesome...in my opinion. I do hope others disagree...that's means more tags available for those of us that love it.
My only word of warning, there are a few outfitters who believe they can lock down entire ridges and roads because out of staters pay big bucks. There is one that's notorious (USO)around the negrito/bear wallo/snow lake area and another that i had words with last year around collins park. THIS IS A PUBLIC HUNT...DO NOT LET THEM OR ANYONE ELSE TELL YOU OTHER WISE. Sure, if I run into one of them in a canyon...and they're on elk...it's all theirs. But these guys want entire ridges and canyon systems for their clients for the duration of the hunt and often September...which is utterly ridiculous. Look out for this, because they do post up from Bear Wallo through Eckleberger and down to Collins Park and truly believe they own the joint.
I hope you draw and have a successful hunt. What ever the case, and no matter which unit you hunt and prefer, I hope you have the experiences that many of us have and hope you harvest a trophy. Good luck man and good hunting. See you in the sticks....