Need New Mexico Unit 30 Advice!

[smokinf15]

What a great forum! This is my first post. I moved to New Mexico last year and drew a mule deer tag in Unit 30 for the 1st season (Oct 29-Nov 2). I thought I would have all summer to scout, but the Air Force seemed to have other plans for me. I've been deployed to Korea since the end of May and won't have much time at all to scout before my hunt because I'm stuck here for a little while longer. I'm trying to figure out where I should concentrate my efforts in Unit 30? Should I stay up north around Cornucopia/Jernigan Wash (south of Pinon) or head to the south end of the Unit in the Guadalupe Mountains? Any specific areas you guys know of? What about the Brokeoff Mountains? I've done some searching and seen guys like Buck 76, Wallhanger, Vinihunt, and Coach Hunt have hunted the unit before....you guys have any advice for me? I'm ready to get out of this country (Korea) and get back home and do some huntin! I grew up hunting whitetails in South Texas/Mexico my whole life but have never killed a mulie. Thanks for the help fellas - I am in desperate need so any advice helps.

Jay

 

[wallhanger]

Smokin',

I've hunted two areas of 30, both of them were in the foothills of the Guadalupes. Once we hunted the foothills and canyons east of hwy 137 near "Cone Butte", and Tom's Canyon, and the other two times we hunted the foothills on the north end of the Guads south of Hope.

Send me an email, and I'll try to give you some help. There should be some four points in there this year, because I saw a lot of two points last year. Of course, I saw a bunch of coyotes and a mountain lion, too, so hopefully they didn't get 'em.

[email protected]

 

[vinihunt]

hi Jay

i have hunt south of Queen Town toward Dell City,

Crow Flats-Humphries Canyon where we do ok!..nothing big but there are bucks! like wallhanger said there are many forkies last year where we hunt! this year should be 4 pointers or legal buck!

Good luck! and let me know how u do

vinihunt

 

[smokinf15]

Vinihunt-

Thanks for the info - is Humphries canyon on the east side of "The Rim"? I thought Crow Flats was west of the brokeoff mountains? Seems like Queen was a bit further east?

By the way - nice Oryx your wife got...I'll be going to Rhodes Canyon in December - can't wait!

Thanks again

 

[avery]

Jay,
Where are you assigned in Korea, and doing what?

I spent a year at Osan courtesy of USAF in '94-'95, assigned to Air Component Command (ACC/PJ).

Spent some long stinky hours in the HTACC during UFL, et al.

I've never hunted 30, but have hunted 32, with similar terrain, north and west of Roswell for several years. Here's what I've learned

-There will be LOTS of other hunters, and most of them will be road hunters.

-The deer will be in the most rugged terrain in the area. They will not be doing the normal eating/bedding routine you read about in the books. They will most likely be bedded in the deep, brushy draws and arroyos during the day. I think they tend to be somewhat nocturnal during hunting season. If you see them in the open, they've most likely been kicked out of their bed by another hunter.

-My advice is to get at least a mile off the road in the most rugged terrain you can find. If you get there early in the morning, preferably by a circuitous route, you may find something sneaking in there once the other hunters get out and about.

-I've also seen two hunters, working together, walking each side of a brushy arroyo. You may kick out deer, but will most likely have a running shot.

Also, you should be advised of two things:
- the three point or better antler restriction, and
- the Game Dept often sets up decoys in area 30, trying to catch hunters shooting from the road. They seem to catch a few each year using a mechanical decoy, set up a 100 yards or so off the road. It's funny to see the guys on TV - they pull up, jump out of their trucks (sometimes) and start blasting away. (Illegal to hunt from the road or right of way in NM.) I'm sure you're an ethical hunter and wouldn't do this, but thought I'd give you a heads up anyway.

Best of luck. Keep in touch when you get to Holloman. My buddy and I have deer tags in 34 for 12-16 Nov. Maybe we can hook up and swap Korea stories!

Avery a.k.a.

Jim Schnaible, Lt Col, USAF (Ret)

 

[smokinf15]

Avery-

Thanks for the reply. I am on a 4-month AEF to Kunsan (left in May) flying F-117s. It is definitely no garden spot - Osan is much better. I just got to Holloman last December after 3 years in Okinawa flying the Eagle. UFL is no fun - I know first hand! Visited the HTACC last week - nothing has changed.

Thanks for the info - sounds like there are alot of guys hunting east of "The Rim". I'm trying to find some info on the area south of Pinon as well.

Thanks for the advice - don't worry, I have nothing for unethical hunters and I know about the antler restriction. To be honest I wouldn't ever shoot anything smaller than that anyways.

Good luck in 34 - let me know how it goes. Hopefully I'll be bowhunting for elk in 36 next year if they don't send me anywhere during the season like now. Keep in touch and feel free to contact me anytime - [email protected]

Thanks again,
Jay

 

[wallhanger]

Avery,

I told Jay similar things in an email. I've found more deer in the cactus bottoms and the mesquite draws than anywhere else in 30. I have a question for you, though.

Have you had any success getting up above the bottoms on the ridges and glassing down into them? I haven't been able to pick any deer out of the bottoms by glassing, but they're in there. My son and I walked a bunch up the last day of our hunt last year. It just makes for a quick field judgement and a tough shot.

Good luck in 34 this year.

WH