Got Drawn for my first New Mexico deer hunt

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10
Hello!

Found out this week I will be hunting Muzzleloader in late september over in Unit 45 in New Mexico out of Santa Fe.. My question is, does anyone have any experience in this unit? Not looking for any honey holes by any means, just some general intel on good access points and if its feasible to camp out there or if I should stay in Santa Fe..

Thanks

Athlonopticsguy
 
Wish I could help you, but I've never been in that country.

Brian Latturner
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I've hunted it for 2Xs since 2010 for elk but wouldn't know where to start for deer. Huge, remote country so I believe there is potential for a pig, just don't know where I would start, sorry.
 
I hunted around Elk Mtn & saw some nice bucks once.There & just above the cyn of the Pecos. Seen them off Hamilton mesa too. But that was almost 10 yrs ago.
 
Alright, not too sure how to approach with out scaring you off! For starters, unit 45 is huge and has some very rugged country mixed in with high elevation . Not sure where your from or fitness level so I won't recommend an area if it might kill you. If you were to stay in Santa Fe, the area around Hyde park has some nice deer with well marked trails and is usually less hunted than other areas in unit 45. If you plan to bring an RV or tent camp, Davis Willow up towards elk mountain has decent deer numbers but has a ton of road hunters. Again deep canyons but manageable. The area around Valle de Ocha has good deer numbers but again a ton of road hunters. Hunt the north facing slopes and you should be able glass up a few, the area has a large burn scar which makes it easier to find deer. I have property close to Hartman canyon, there is a game preserve in the area and has a ton of deer. The down side is its very thick and can be intimidating. This area from Hartman canyon to the Barrillas look out has been good the last two seasons because of a bumper crop of pinon in the area. A couple bucks I helped get harvested for the youth hunt had a 3 inch layer of fat on them and the few bucks we saw this weekend looked pretty phenomenal with excellent Horn growth expected! I'm not sure if this was helpful but, feel free to ask any questions you might have and I will do my best to help out! I do have 6 friends and family members that also have tags for this unit not to mention others that I will give access to during the youth hunt so I can't pass on any honey holes this season but, it should be a great up coming season with a high survival rate from a mild winter and good feed. Good luck!
 
Thank you all for the responses, and keep them coming, all very helpful! Muleywhisperer thank you for the advice. I have the opportunity to visit the unit for about an hour last week, went up 63A road for a few miles.. It looks like phenomenal high country, similar to what I have hunted in Arizona in the past. I live in Phoenix, and do get to the mountains a bit, but I need to spend more time way up high.. 9000 feet can be tough on the lungs and heart... In pretty good shape, started training with several hikes per week recently, but still not where I want to be.. Is my thinking correct that with the first muzzleloader hunt, the deer won't be as spooked as say during rifle season? I realize there is archery for 3 weeks prior, but how many folks hunt in that area with a bow?
 
Something is wrong with this forum, I posted a reply and it won't show up!

Muleywhisperer and everyone else thank you for the advice. I live in Phoenix and have hunted high elevation before, but its been a while. I was able to take a quick peek at the unit last week for about an hour, southern end, up 63A. Beautiful rugged country, just what I was hoping for! Do you think that the deer will be spooked come first muzzleloader season ( my hunt)? How much pressure do they get during archery. Also, what would be a reasonable expectation on seeing bucks? Growing up in Arizona, its hard to get into deer, wondering what the population is like in 45?
 

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