January Archery in NM

lchcguide · Dec 20, 2006

Anyone headed out in January hunt in NM. I can not wait as it will be my first attempt to take something with my new bow.

deerfreak · Dec 20, 2006

I got a bow tag for Unit 31 in the left-over tags. I applied for a rifle tag in Unit 34 in the regular draw, but didn't get drawn. I hope the big boys are out in January!!!

buckshed · Dec 20, 2006

my cousins have 3 tags for 27 I'll be there to help them

5point · Dec 20, 2006

can't wait either to hunt unit 2b. looks like a great year for migration.

GilaJeff · Dec 20, 2006

I am headed to my old haunts in unit 21. I will be, however, focused on Coues whitetails. I live in AZ now, and have not hunted deer in NM for three years. I am very eager to get back after them in the Gila. I am giving up my last three days of the AZ DEC hunt to do a little scouting and hang my treestands (yes, treestands; not everyone hunts Coues by climbing high and glassing all day). My brother was out last weekend hanging his stands, and found fresh scrapes and rubs. Anyone else hunting unit 21?

JH · Dec 20, 2006

i willl be heading out to unit 15 january 2 to try to nail a muley, we will see how it goes saw some nice ones in october, but with this weather who knows where they might be, anyways good luck to ya'll

canislatrans · Dec 21, 2006

I drew a tag for unit 31 as well. I only got to hunt about two days in September because I went elk hunting instead. I have been scouting real hard for about the past month and a half. And it has been paying off. I have seen several 10 point bucks in the 20 to 22 inch range hanging with the does recently. Yesterday I found a buck I had not seen since early March and watched him again today. His body is huge and I would guess he is at least a 5 or 6 year old buck, maybe more. The funny thing is that this paticular buck has the same basic 5 point rack he grew last year, only more mass for this year. He is one of the three bucks from last year that I would like to have a shot at with my bow next month. I guess I will just have to wait and see what happens. I know once the rut kicks in the bucks will be thick in the area I am hunting. With any luck at all I will at least see the 25 inch 14 point from last year. I will post some of the pics of these bucks for every one to see when I have a chance. Good luck everyone during January!

crazyaboutcoues · Dec 22, 2006

LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-06 AT 07:43AM (MST)[p]Jeff,

You still hunting with your recurve?

I'll be in 24 hunting the grey ghost. I set up a treestand and a trail cam last Saturday, i'll be checking on them tomorrow. With the snow that we got it will be easy to see the fresh scrapes.

The Mule deer were rutting pretty sick in 24 last Saturday. I saw two mature bucks with the does.

Good Luck to all

www.gilawildernesshunting.com

hunt1 · Dec 22, 2006

Unfortunately, I tagged out in September on my first outing in Unit 31. I'm going to head out this weekend though and video some of the toads I've found...should be rutting pretty good right now. Merry Christmas!

diehardhunter · Dec 22, 2006

Ill be headed out with some friends to unit 30 for the first week. You guys think they will still be rutting then?

nmhs · Dec 22, 2006

unit 34 over here

GilaJeff · Dec 22, 2006

>LAST EDITED ON Dec-22-06
>AT 07:43?AM (MST)
>
>Jeff,
>
>You still hunting with your recurve?
>
>
>I'll be in 24 hunting the
>grey ghost. I set up
>a treestand and a trail
>cam last Saturday, i'll be
>checking on them tomorrow. With
>the snow that we got
>it will be easy to
>see the fresh scrapes.
>
>The Mule deer were rutting pretty
>sick in 24 last Saturday.
>I saw two mature bucks
>with the does.
>
>Good Luck to all
>
>www.gilawildernesshunting.com

Tommy, Actually, I'll be hunting with a longbow. How's everything going? I hope my old secret spots are still as good as they used to be. I have some major scouting to do, but this new snow will help. I am going to try and make it down to AZ unit 28 for a few days to hunt also. Good luck on your hunt. Jeff

lchcguide · Dec 23, 2006

I just got back from quail hunting in unit 31 today. It seemed like I saw more deer than quail. I wish my tag was for unit 31 instead of unit 38. I saw four bucks that would go above 170 P&Y. They were rutting very hard. You guys with tags should look in the milnesand area. They were out in full force today.

Good luck to all and Merry Christmas

deerfreak · Dec 23, 2006

I went out and did a little scouting in the drizzle this afternoon and there were deer everywhere. I saw probably forty deer, but only one BIG buck and a couple small ones. I know there's another monster in the area, but I didn't get a glimpse of him today. I'll sure be glad when January 1 gets here!!!

ktc · Dec 24, 2006

Hey Guys,

Please help me to understand something? You guys are saying "rutting hard" in January? Are these southern NM units where the climate is warmer? I ask because Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, and Colorado the deer are rutting in mid-November. Does all of NM rut in January? Or is it just the warmer climates?

Thanks!

Flores425 · Dec 24, 2006

Most of southeastern NM and the "warmer high desert Units" rut really late. I have been sheep hunting in Unit 34 in Feb and scene some late rutting. I am headed to unit 40 the first weekend of jan cuz I cant take anytime off of work. Cant afford too.So if anyone hunting in or around unit 40 let me know how you do.I have seen some bucks but just little guys. I hope I can find the big one that I saw during the summer. George Jr.

lchcguide · Dec 24, 2006

I live in Central part of the state on the texas border and the deer are just starting to rut in this area, and from what I heart the majority of the deer here in NM are just beginning to rut. This is about normal for NM.

ktc · Dec 24, 2006

Thanks guys. Does this late rut activity hold true for areas along the Colorado border? Like 2B?

BOHNTR · Dec 24, 2006

ktc:

I've bowhunted unit 2B many times in years past. It was my experience the peak of the rut was about the second / third week of December. The January bowhunt seem to be the tail end of the rut.

BOHNTR )))---------->

shedfreak91 · Dec 28, 2006

what kind of bow do you have?

GilaJeff · Dec 28, 2006

ShedFreak, who are you asking that question of?

shedfreak91 · Dec 29, 2006

I was asking ichcguide to see what kind of bow he has. Sorry for the confusion.

deerfreak · Dec 31, 2006

Good luck to everyone hunting tomorrow. Get a big'un!!!!

nmhs · Jan 1, 2007

I went out this morning. I saw lots of doe's by thereself and one big ole forked horn on each side with one little cheater that made it legal. He was probably 24-26 inches wide. I got about 40 yards and got busted by the doe's, oh well, we'll see what happens tomorrow. good luck. NMHS