NM unit 53

bjn7f0

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I drew an archery elk tag for Sept. in NM's unit 53 and was hoping for some info. I know it's going to be steep and there's lots of ATV traffic but any help with elk locations and patterns would be appreciated.
 
Sounds to me that the info your requesting sould be given to you by the outfitter you hire, because i dont know if anyone will give you the specifics to the patterns of where the elk are or will be for free.
 
North of Questa up toward the Colorado line. Good Luck

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I would try and contact the biologist in that area. Get a topo map and look for any wilderness area that only allows horseback or hike in. You can't go wrong with any of these areas. Take a good look at the Latir area. A GOOD look and good luck
 
I appreciate the info. The Cabresto lake and campground are closed due to construction on the dam for the next six months, so I'm waiting to hear back from the Game & Fish to see if there's going to be any access through there come Sept. It may force me to go elsewhere?
 
You can access the Latir area from the Northwest side. I dont know the forest rd number but I bet you can find that out from the biologist.It may take a few times before you get ahold of anyone but dont give up. Last year it took me calling 10 times before i got in touch. There is access from another point. Don't overlook that area. If I drew a tag that would be my first choice for 53. Also look in the middle fork area. I bear hunted there last year at middle fork lake. Seen three bulls one of which was 300". I was up there the 20th of August. PM me and I can give you more info
 
Haha! "I'm totally DIY and I don't mind working hard." Unless someone else will do the hard work for you? You do know that the "Y" in DIY stands for "yourself" right? And to say you are "totally" do it yourself may be an overstatement. Asking for some honey holes and elk patterns is more like YDI, You Do It (for me). :)
 
one corner of that unit butts up against the Valle Vidal, which is famous for elk and hardly hunted. Get some maps, and look at the midnight meadows area NE of Red River. Nice camping and great road for access, and although you'll have to do some hiking into that corner (hint), you can access some of the VV border area. There's a TON of elk that come in and out of there. Was into them every day. Also, if you want something different, there's a burn area SE of Questa (barely)....can't miss it. A lot of elk in it too. And finally, the tailings ponds @ Questa............elk there EVERY morning. Have fun. You can kill yourself in that unit, but don't have to.

Might buy a bear tag while you're there, they are very abundant.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-18-12 AT 11:04AM (MST)[p]
Took me 2 years of hard work to figure the unit out, but the results for year 3 and 4 were great! Unfortunately, I haven't draw an archery elk tag in the last 2 years.
 
Keep posting pics and stories like that and tags will just keep getting harder to get. :)

You should also talk to the Carson forest people. They are getting ready to implement a major new "Travel Management Plan" that is going to shut down a ton of currently used roads. Last word I have is that it probably won't go into effect until the spring, but you should check just in case.
 
That's the plan! I've got to drive all the way across the state and would rather hunt in my backyard (Unit 34 and 36)! It is still what I refer to as a "trash" unit, but getting to go is better than not getting to go at all.
 
look at the el rito canyon area i hunted there a couple years in a row and got into quite a bit of elk
 

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