Newbie from the east needs New Mexico 2b/Mule deer advice

[GeoffM24]

Hey guys, I was hoping to run some dumb newbie questions by you. All help is appreciated. I have had the good fortune of drawing a Nov 3-7th New Mexico 2b hunt. I will be hunting with San Juan Outfitters. I choose a "semi-guided" hunt so I will have a guide 2 of my 5 days.

I have done a fair amount of whitetail deer hunting here in New England but it is all from a tree stand with a bow.

I have rented a 4x4 Jeep Grand Cherokee for the hunt and will be flying in the day prior and leaving the day after.

For gear I'm bringing my Sauer 202 in 300 wby mag with a Swarovski 3-10 scope that I'm very comfortable with. I also have a set of Minox 6x binos that I love and don't get tired looking through all day.

Now for the other gear questions.

1) I have been reading alot about spotting scopes but I don't own one. Here 75-100 yards is a long shot and they just aren't used. Is this a must have item?

2) GPS. I have an old one that I don't like and I'm going to need a new one. The Rino 520 looks interesting as it kills the radio and gps bird with one stone. I won't be with anyone else so the ability to see other members of the party on my gps won't be needed. Is this a good choice?

3) Hunting clothing. I have some real lightweight stuff and some real cold weather gear but not much stalking gear. I'm thinking underamour cold weather under gear and them some lighter pants and jacket?

4) Getting in early and staying out late. Out here 100 acres is a big area to hunt and a lot of it is on farms so it is pretty easy to get in and out in the dark. How on earth am I just supposed to park the Jeep and hike 2-5 miles "in" while it is pitch dark and out when it is dark? Maybe I'm just picturing it to be thicker then it really is as the woods out here are dense.

5) Picking the one to take. Now I'm really looking forward to not sitting in a tree stand all day and having a fun and enjoyable hunt. I will also admit that going home empty handed will be a disappointment to me. Judging by the roughly 60% rates posted on the NM game sight it looks like just getting any buck is not a lay up. Thoughts?

6) Stalking time vs. glassing time. I'm not really clear on this. Should I walk to an area and then just sit down and watch for some hours, walk a couple miles and sit down again?

7) Packing my gear. I will need what seems to be called a day pack I guess. I have found that many times the more "stuff" I bring the less enjoyable the hunt is lugging it all around.

Any help is appreciated as I'm the "planning" type and for me confidence is key. I hate wondering around with out a goal or an idea or plan.

Thanks guys! If I get one I'll be the happiest guy in camp regadless of size! If not I'll have a chance to hike and hunt out west which is a first for me.

 

[jpine]

Sent you a pm.

 

[tmbrlinewarden]

Well congrats on your tag, you could do a lot worse for a first Mule deer hunt than NM?s 2B. I've hunted there for 25 years and am spoiled for hunting anywhere else in NM. I think many of your questions are the product of the needless obsession we all do when contemplating something new. In a lot of ways, hunting is hunting and all you need to do is find something furry and make it dead. Plus your SJO guide aught to be able to help you get a feel for what your game plan is.

I'm surprised to see that harvest is only 60%, I think a lot of that has to do with expectation in 2B and I've known of lots of hunters to go home empty handed because they never found the 200 buck they wanted. Forkeys have also been off limits for a few years, but that's out the window now. If your goal is a nice mature mule deer, I'd say your chances are much higher, (don't shoot a forkey til the last day, you'll kick yourself all week ). I've drawn 2B for the late hunt 2 of the last 3 years, and killed a 175ish and a 185ish buck. I considered both of them consolation prizes, but I would drop 15 inches off my expectations for the earlier hunts as the bigger bucks are still in CO.

As far as cloths: It will be plenty cold in the mornings, but warm enough for a nap in the afternoons, and since you're likely to be moving a lot more than your used to, I wouldn't bother with the snowmobile suits I see the back east hunters wear. I wear old fashioned WalMart thermals, and cotton or canvas pants or jeans and that's about it for the bottoms (and of course my skivveys- I can just see the posts about my going commando). I wear a long sleeve T-shirt against my body a heavier sweatshirt over, and a good hunting jacket that you would be reasonably comfortable getting wet in if it rains. (and a pack big enough to cram it in) and that's as complex as I get about it. Bring something lighter and something heavier just in case.

Your right about not trying to lug around too much crap. I'm kinda old school though, my dad used to hunt with a flannel shirt, a pocket knife, a lighter, a can of snuff and a handful of bullets. Just because humanity can now invent all this cool hunting stuff doesn't mean we have to buy them ALL. GPS would be a great idea though if you don't know the country. I'm not sure about the one you mentioned ( I think your whole hunting party has to own that same type to make the GPS/radio work?), I've had a lot of them on the job and we've settled on the Garmin E-trax Legend, it's small, light, idiotproof, batteries last, can load topo maps right on there (get the software for sure), and it's really affordable. If you really need to know where someone is, tell him to give you his coordinates on the little radio you probably already own and punch em in.

As far as a scope, I don't bother carrying one around. But I carry 10X or 15X Swarovskis. Your 6x?s are better suited for bowhunting the thick timber like you're used to. Your guide will have a scope, but that's his job to. They make a lot of sense in some areas, and glassing for bucks is a worthwhile way to spend your time in the mornings and evenings when the deer are up and moving around. Of course, you'll ultimately want to find yourself were the deer ARE when the sun comes up, and not on top of a ridge 800 yards away. Mule deer don't ?pattern? like white tail but when you see deer feed out in a spot in the morning/evening, unless their really boogered, they'll be there tomorrow too. Others will disagree with me on the importance of carrying a scope. If I were you spending the money, I'd get a good pair of binos.

My two cents, good luck.

Mike


XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NM Operation Game Thief 1-800-432-4263
?I want as game protectors men of courage, resolution, and hardihood, who can handle the rifle, ax, and paddle; who can camp out in summer or winter; who can go on snowshoes if necessary; who can go through the woods by day or night without regard to trails" Theodore Roosevelt-1899
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[AndymanSavage]

LAST EDITED ON Jul-14-07 AT 01:11PM (MST)[p]Just a quick tip. I would get a spotter for sure or at least a higher magnification pair of binos. I have a good book for beginner mule deer hunters if you want it for free. Just PM me your address and I'll ship it off. Here is the book. It addresses all of your questions in detail.

http://www.amazon.com/Mule-Deer-Hunting-Todays-Trophies/dp/0873415639

Let me know

Andy

 

[REDDOG]

warden, i knew a guy who hunted either 2b or 2c, and said it was compleatly choked with p-j and you had to trak and shoot deer at close range, as there were very few spots to glass, is this true?

 

[hicountrymac]

You have good advice from the warden. I would definitely spend some money on some bigger binoculars (maybe buy a cheaper gps unit) especially if you don't want to pack a spotting scope. I would also buy a comfortable day pack such as the badlands hypervent maybe. You don't have to pack it full but you want to be able to stay out all day. Hunt slow and glass often and good luck.

 

[GeoffM24]

Thanks for all the good tips guys! I'm like a kid waiting for Christmas on this one. I look into some nice binos, are we talking 10X here? I have only used cheap 10X and I find they tire my eyes with strain. I have learned after getting a Zeiss scope and Swarovski how good optics can be. I assume the good stuff doesn't strain the eyes?

 

[tmbrlinewarden]

Yea Geoff- I think at least a 10 power. and yea make sure they're good quality glass. I have many friends who use 15x binos and up- often tripod mounted. and spend a lot of time glassing, If that's the type of hunting you know you like to do. I like to glass and move and glass and move and my country isn't too wide open, I usually carry 10X.

For my masters I spent 18 months tracking some radio collared bighorns. Some days I'd literally be looking through the binos or scope for 6 hours or more. In doing so I formed the opinion that there are two things in life you don't skimp on- Toilet Paper (Charmin Ultra Aloe Vera), and good optics.

And Reddog, there's a lot of country up there. Some great places for Spot and stalk glassing. 2C is a LOT of big rock mesa country, and lots of glassing is a necessity. I'm generally pretty leary of anyone telling me something is always, or never or entirely or none.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
NM Operation Game Thief 1-800-432-4263
?I want as game protectors men of courage, resolution, and hardihood, who can handle the rifle, ax, and paddle; who can camp out in summer or winter; who can go on snowshoes if necessary; who can go through the woods by day or night without regard to trails" Theodore Roosevelt-1899
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

[30inchbuck]

I am a guide for SJRO.

One we do spend time behind glass. For your 2 days the guide will have a spotter and or high power binocs. Low light binocs are key to seeing binocs. If buying a spotter or a different pair of binocs go to camerland here on MM. I have 10X Leicas and should have either Minox or Vortex 15X binocs.

Clothing - it will be cold in the am and pm. Thermals and some cotton camo clothing along with a decent jacket. Dont forget rain gear - it has snowed/rained on us in the past.

GPS - I would recommend the new Delorme PN20 - you get topo maps with it and can be downloaded onto the GPS. It will show you the roads and everything. You can find the package for about $300.

Deer it is a great hunt and if the guide tells you to shoot, then be prepared to make the shoot count. Be confortable out to 300 yards.

Mornings you will be hiking to vantage points sometimes 1.5 miles - then waiting on the sun to rise. This is usually the coldest part of the day. Depending on the quaility of deer seen and where they are stalking within shooting distance.

Large sage brush flats with mixed P/J is the primary hunting area.

Anymore feel free to PM me with any other questions.

 

[GeoffM24]

Thanks for the help!