New Mexico elk hunting

mickeyelk · Feb 26, 2004

My son and I are applying for an elk hunt in New Mexico. It will be his first elk hunt ever and he wants to archery hunt. Our hunt choice will be unit 15 for both archery seasons. I have hunted unit 15 with blackpowder in 2000 and got a nice 5x5. Is there other areas in the state, on public land, that I may find better odds and good hunting. Thanks

huntswnm · Mar 1, 2004

mickeyelk,
Unit 15 is a great unit, i have hunted it for the last three years and have had both of the archery hunts. 15 has a fairly good opportunity to draw and huge bulls if you know where to look. Other units are good as well. 16A is probably the most popular in the Gila, good bulls but slim chance to draw. 16B is also fairly good but most of it covers wilderness area so it would be tougher to hunt. Some of the units that are overlooked are units 13, 24 and 23. Very good chance to draw but the elk are usually in isolated pockets so some good scouting time would probably be in line for those units. If you happen to go to one of these others or have any questions you can message me.
Jeff

snowman22250 · Mar 1, 2004

Mickeyelk,

15 is what I put in for, then we use our landowner tags to hunt archery either sex. Our land unit borders the former named "baca" ranch. We get a dozen tags every year. There is plenty of opportunity at killing a branch antlered bull, and with my help I can put you in some area where you will see nice 6x6 bulls. The art of killing one will depend on your hunitng skills. We sell them for the going rate of $600. If you interested after you don't draw, give me a call. Odds on 15 muzzleoader went up to 1 in 18 for nonresidents last year. Prime archery is not that great either for nonresidents. It will be a long time before I draw that unit again.
Snowman

JFWRC · Mar 1, 2004

I'd be interested in a $600 landowner permit or two if you have them sewed up. Please shoot me an e-mail. Jim Welles

chinochief · Mar 1, 2004

Snowman, please check your inbox. I would really like to talk to you about your tags. Thanks,

David Pereda

DonV · Mar 1, 2004

I too am interested in your tags please shoot me an email at [email protected]

wmidbrook · Mar 2, 2004

That sounds like a reasonable deal Snowman. I hope they all aren't earmarked already. I sent you an email. Thanks.

WFGinNM · Mar 2, 2004

$600.00 landowner tag for 15, that's one heck of a deal.

--Bill

muzzy100 · Mar 2, 2004

mickeyelk,

Unit 24 offers an excellent youth hunt on the Ft. Bayard game refuge in the Silver City area. They offer 2 hunts, one mature bull and the other is cow only. Both hunts are limited to only 10 licenses, however, out-of-state applicants are guaranteed 2 tags. One for non-guided and the other for guided. Last year for the mature bull hunt there were only 7 first choice non-guided applicants from out of state, and only 4 first choice guided applicants from out of state according to the GF web site. The mature bull hunt is offered October 2-6 which falls during the rut and is a Saturday - Wednesday hunt.

I have accompanied several relatives on this hunt and highly recommend it. You will see elk and will have a great opportunity to take a 6x6.

jamaro · Mar 2, 2004

Fort Bayard... Yes it can be a great hunt... All summer we had bulls running around the grounds... there were some real nice bulls... Access is easy and I work here and I can help if you need anything...
j-dawg

crazyaboutcoues · Mar 2, 2004

$600.00 for a Unit 15 Landowner tag? Maybe for a cow hunt.

Coueswt · Mar 2, 2004

I've never heard of anything less then $2,500 for a bull tag in 15.

NMRaptor · Mar 2, 2004

Snowman,
Are your tags ES unit wide tags? If so, put me in line.
What is your ranch name?
-raptor

Agar426 · Mar 3, 2004

I don't believe Snowman's elk tags are for unit 15. He commented that he puts in for Unit 15, but his tags border the Baca Ranch (Now known as the Valles Caldera). That would put his tags in either 6a or 6c. I would guess 6c, since $600 is pretty consistent for bull tags in 6c (these days). 6a's tags have been going for a little more the past 2 or 3 years.

mickeyelk · Mar 3, 2004

Thanks huntswnm for the info. How was the hunting during the first archery season? Was the bulls moving and calling? Any info will make my choices easier to decide upon. Thanks again> Mickeyelk

snowman22250 · Mar 3, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Mar-04-04 AT 02:46AM (MST)[p]Agar,

Yes, unit 6c and 6a border the Baca.
My vouchers are for unit 6c. Someone knows his stuff.
Congrats Agar!!! everyone thinks I have 15 tags for $600. I have been slammed with emails. If you read my post correct like "agar" did, you would have known my tags are by the baca or now called Velles Caldera, unit 6's. It supprises me, that everyone is ready to commit to $600 for a tag they no nothing about, and they have no idea where the Velles Caldera is. Everyone thinks it is in unit 15. I guess everyone just goes by reputation.
All said, with the right locations (some of my honey holes) a good bowhunter can arrow a 320+ bull. You would be hunting around 9500 feet, not far from the Baca fences. There is a lot of bulls in this area.
Later
snowman

JFWRC · Mar 3, 2004

Snowmann-If you will recall, there is a famed "Baca" ranch in 15. Does Narciso Baca ring a bell? You were talking about 15 at the beginning of your post. Slamming those based on your poorly written post is pretty low.

WFGinNM · Mar 4, 2004

Snowman,
What side of the Baca do you border? I have property on the south end, 6c. I have a couple of friends that come out every year for archery and if they don't draw they do get landowner tags if possible. I might have a market if you have any leftover.

--Bill

snowman22250 · Mar 4, 2004

RFGYKYNDK???,,
Hello ???,
Fred, george, norm, franko, theo, what ever.

I apologize for my post. I thought I was doing good in just knowing how to spell correct most of the time!!!!!
Your right!! My post was poor. I jumped from 15 to 6c. However, the Famed Baca Ranch is now called the Velles Caldera. NOT the Baca in 15 your talking about. I cleared that up in the my second posting. But even after I cleared up the "Velles Caldera" issue, people still thought it was in unit 15.
Furthermore, I was very kind, as compared to most the hill billy, rednecks on this site.
NOT everyone is concerend and as nice as you are!! right JFWRCXYTFFFKER.......
lighten up. Get some sun, hooker, babysitter, priest, what ever it takes.
Later
Snowman

crazyaboutcoues · Mar 5, 2004

Easy there Frosty, I resemble that comment he he

I too was fooled by the post all I saw was "Unit 15, $600.00"

To good to be true

RMS55 · Mar 6, 2004

If it sounds to good to be true it's always NOT! Snowman I'm putting in for the 6's and may need a voucher, Please drop me an email. Thanx

sholo · Mar 18, 2004

snowman,

What is your email address?

Sholo

usa · Mar 19, 2004

SNOWMAN, are the tags for archery only ? If not I would like a tag or two, thanks Bill [email protected]

sfwapiti · Apr 25, 2004

What "Baca" ranch are you talking about? Do you mean one by unit 15, or are you talking about the famous "Baca" up north. Now the Valles Caldera National Preserve.