>I have been wondering whether or
>not this is really a
>?rut hunt? at all?
>Everywhere else (at least close
>by, such as southern Colorado)
>the mule deer rut is
>late November and possibly some
>into early December. But
>January 1 ? 15?
>Might this be a hunt
>primarily for the benefit of
>otherwise relatively destitute communities in
>the region (such as Reserve)
>to bring in ?hunters? and
>their money rather than a
>bona fide biologically legitimate ?hunt??
>
I've lived and hunted new Mexico my whole life, from Albuquerque south I've never been on a January hunt that had not been in the rut,or at least part of it. I believe close by the rut is just beginning to peak. I've been out everyday for two weeks now. I've killed two 16 January muleys both fighting and both with does, and late in the hunt. The real issue in 16 is sheer numbers of deer are not good, that's the real problem, not the rut activities.