New Mexico Help??

[jtelarkin08]

Ok guys a buddy of mine figured out all of the draw odds for NM for me as well as the success rate. Im pretty sure i read that in NM you can apply for 3 units for deer as well as elk.. Here are the odds and stuff for the units i am thinking of applying for. I will be doing a public land archery hunt.


Deer unit season draw %
2-298 36 Includes Ft Stanton BLM Sept 1-22 38.5%
2-362 53 Sept 1-22 85.7%
2-293 34 Sept 1-22 46.4%

Both unit 36 and 53 have a success percent of greater than 50%
Unit 34 has a success of between 25% and 40%

Elk i am only applying for units 36 and 34 neither of which have a great draw %.

My question is what order from first choice to third choice should i apply.
Ex. i was thinking of 1.36 2.53 and 3.34

All of these have a ntl forest in them. Will all of the 3 units be good for a diy hunt? Also any NTL forest is ok for hunting as long as i draw a tag correct? I have never hunted anywhere other than TEXAS, MEXICO and AFRICA.. So all this out west hunting is new to me.

THanks Guys
JT

 

[muleymaddness]

With the way the NM draw works, put your best unit first and let your 3rd choice be the easiest to draw. They look at all 3 choices before moving to the next application.

 

[stinkystomper]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-01-09 AT 08:40PM (MST)[p]Unless you own a million dollar cabin in; no wait; ON! the alto golf course I wouldn't apply for unit 36. Their deer haven't recovered there yet and they are scattered far and few between. Don't let the deer IN Ruidoso fool you into believing the ntl forest is great for hunting because it isn't. Where you can publicly hunt is slammed by the locals, and it is my belief that poaching is a real problem in that area. 34 is more remote and there is a great deal more opportunity for hunting there. The deer are much easier to find than in 36 and the private land problem isn't near as bad. 36 does have deer in the Nogal peak area, but again, scattered! as for 53 I have no knowledge of the area. 1st choice 34 2nd choice not 36 3rd choice ? That's about all I can help you with. Hope this helps.

 

[jtelarkin08]

LAST EDITED ON Feb-01-09 AT 09:20PM (MST)[p]53 is up near the colorado border. It has a very high draw % and the success rate is very good. THe only problem is the success rate doesnt tell you the size of deer taken. I have had many people tell me 34 is a good unit. Also i have heard that it is not impossible to get drawn for both elk and deer there. that is my goal. I will most likely put in for those two.

Does anyone know the Access rules, for unit 34..EX. is it walk in only or can you have an ATV or Horse, can you camp in the middle of the NTL forest?
JT

 

[stinkystomper]

You can camp on the ntl forest. ATV's are outlawed when used off the road period. Pack in pack out only. Horses for elk will be a wast since roads are everywhere. Be prepared for the crowds.