New Mexico 2B bucks 2nd Rifle

hookiller · May 5, 2013

Hey MM members, We have two tags to hunt the Rio Arriba. I have been scouring maps, google earth, your posts, as well as many previous hunters. We are looking for a good DIY experience. I have a couple ideas that I would like to run past some of you past hunters. Please send me a pm. My buddy wants to shoot a 180. I will shoot the first 160 that I see. We will be hunting the second rifle season. I have most of the roads and terraign in my head. Logistics seem to be key here after the season opens. Wanna find some of those resident bucks that are rarely seen from the roads. I would like to have a plan A,B,C,D. I have yet to capture much intel from south side of 64. Can you tell me where the gates are on Rosa and Carracas mesa roads? Thanx, shoot straight be safe. Hookiller

Gator · May 6, 2013

Goggle earth can help you a lot.
Finding waterholes, closed road/well sites, out of the way places,etc.
Fish and game has a map they send out that has the roads and closed gates on them.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
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hookiller · May 6, 2013

I contacted F&G. Thanx for the good input. I have four plans so far, but have not got them in order. I will be hunting Nevada the week prior. If I tag out early I can scout a couple days before my buddy shows up. Gonna tent camp and be mobile. I havent found many successful hunters with mature bucks on this early season or even the late season last year. It was a dry year. Thanx, hookiller

sagebrush · May 7, 2013

Sounds like you are doing what I would do to prepare. Good luck on your hunt. It will be nice for you to be hunting where big bucks die. The rest is up to you. What else can we ask for as hunters?

acafton · May 9, 2013

It would be great if fish and game sent out a map with road closures......I hunted the same hunt last year and never got one.

wapitiwhistler · May 9, 2013

I hunted the Oct 26-31st hunt last year and what I gained from the 7 days down there scouting and hunting is it's a tough Unit. You will see lots and lots of deer which kept me entertained but for mature bucks you are going to have to hunt your butts off and hope for a little luck. That said I was able to score on a mature 165 buck(if he would of grown his back tines he would of been real close to 180) the last day. Here is the video I made on that hunt.

http://youtu.be/Aj3Fa_y1qyw

hookiller · May 15, 2013

where did you hunt and what method did you use?
Guided or diy?
Rosa road or nat forest?
What season?
I am hunting second rifle.
Gotta good lay of the land in my head.

hookiller · May 15, 2013

I have watched your video several times. Good job.
What finger of the lake did you hunt near? Second one up going north on Rosa road. Did you stay west of main road? How much traffic did you see? I am planning to perhaps hunt from a boat. Any recommendations? Again thanx for vid it gave me good insight to habitat.
Life is short, hunt hard.