Unbelievable Draw!!

N

northwesthunter

Guest
I am still in shock guys I got an email today saying I won the raffle to hunt on the Valles Caldera Preserve!! I bought one raffle tag this spring for the archery tag and I guess somebody has to win. Called to verify it and they said yep and I will have the info packet in aweek. Never been there before but do Know a guy that guided on the ranch before the state bought it and he gave me a couple videos to watch. I am just a do it yourself gungho bowhunter that could never think of a pay to hunt deal so this is a dream come true....I hope! Any info or advice will be appreciated. nwhunter
 
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! See, it can happen. Congrats on a super tag. Have you thought about playing the powerball or something? I would! I hope you have a great hunt too, but I would reccommend a good outfitter, they don't let you scout except the day before and I don't think you can camp there either....just what i was told, don't know the truth to it, could be wrong.
 
talk to jim welles at newmexicobiggamehunting.com he has the caldera hook up
great tag!!!
 
Congratulations Bud!!

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Chef
"I Love Animals...They're Delicious!"
 
Always is right you cant camp on the preserve etc but you can get it done by yourself just take a buddie save your cash for the taxidermy bill not an outfitter.
 
northwesthunter,

check my reply on the general hunting forum. i drew one of the late rifle tags last year. if you need help you can send me a pm or email me at [email protected]. you should do well. no need for a guide there are plenty of big elk.

jason sanders
 
Congrats NWH,
You took my tag!! I actually hunted 6C which borders the VC a few years ago and decided to try and draw a tag in the lottery and have yet to do so. I purchase about 8 tickets a year and you drew with only one ticket!, wow that's awesome. We heard nemerous bulls bugling in the VC all night long. You should have a really good hunt.
Fstop
 
I assume if you didn't get an e-mail you didn't draw.

Tried to check the website but it does not tell who drew.

Archer
 
Ok day two and I'm still pumped. Glad to hear the positves on do it yourself cause thats what I am doing. Nothing against guides or those who use them we are just do it ourselves guys. I will gather all the info I can and we will do the best we can. Thanks nwhunter
 
I'm still in shock myself. I drew the second season archery tag also. I spoke to a friend of mine who hunted the unit with a rifle in October last year. He shot a 365 bull that had 12 inches of eye guard missing, they guessed the bull would have scored in the 380's. He said you don't need a guide as there are guy's from the preserve that are out in the field to help as far as pointing you in the right direction as to where the elk move and bed down and feed and all of that. He said everyone is really nice and helpful. The other thing he said is that if for some reason the area you select doesn't have a number of bulls in it, that on the second or third day of the hunt they will put you in a unit with good anumals. He said hunting there is like stepping back in time 100 years, he was so excited talking to me about the area. He said to take a camcorder because you'll see more big bulls than you've ever seen in your life. They rough score your bull when you leave, once you've filled out you have to leave and can't go back in, he shot his bull the first evening of the first day, he said he wished he would have waited but he couldn't pass up the bull he took. He did see a couple of bulls that were at least 400 inches. He said you can't camp in the preserve, there are areas just outside on forest land to camp or you can try to get a room at the La Cueva Lodge which is just 15-20 minutes outside of the main entrance. He said they open the gate at 5:00 am every morning and that they will even come and help you get your bull out with horses or game carts. He said you can take one guest with you and that for $100 a day you can take an additional person. I think the phone number is 505-829-3300. Good luck to you, I'll see you on the mountain.
 
Hey JJ300, THanks for the post thats cool 2 mmuley fans hunting this premier hunt the same season. I will email you when I have more time. Did your friend say that you choose your hunt area or is it a draw. Also are you camping or moteling it? Will talk later its my anniversary and my wife is tiring of all this elk hunt talk!! Better take her to dinner, its going to be a looong 2 months huh.nwhunter
 
We will be staying at the La Cueva Lodge just 15 minutes down the road from the main gate. We draw our unit inside the preserve on thursday night in Los Alamos. Email me at [email protected] and we can figure it out.

Jed
 
V.C. Rut audio rec.

That should be a fun hunt! My mother-in -law was working out there the year after the state bought the place. She was staying there in a cabin and doing field studies during the rut. Thats before they allowed hunting. She set up a field mic and recorded two hours of tape during the rut. It is unreal! Bulls bugling over each other non-stop! She said there were thousands of elk within sight of the cabin, just outside the door. I just had a friend do a little post-production on the original and he took out the hiss and it sounds awesome. Was thinking about doing a little cover art and getting some copies made. I could probably get 8-10 bucks a copy, whatta ya'll think?
 
Jed (JJ300) or NWhunter,
Please send me a personal email to [email protected]. I would like to visit with you regarding your hunt! Congrats on drawing an awesome tag! You are in for the time of your life.

Arizona Bull
 

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