Valles Caldera 2nd Archery Elk!

gfontela · May 6, 2021

What's up guys. I decided to shoot for the stars on my NM elk application because I was only gonna have time for 1 big hunt this year, and actually drew this epic tag. The funny part is that it will only be my second elk hunt and first rut hunt, and I haven't killed an elk yet. My current plan is to hunt the last 7 days of the season which would be 9/18-9/24 (I can't swing all 10 days). If anyone has any general advice or thoughts on this unit, expectations, past experiences, etc., I would love to hear them.

It's time to dust off the bow and start doing some flat land training to get in shape!

txgirl300 · May 6, 2021

Congratulations drawing a amazing tag! I’ve been lucky to be apart of a few hunts on the valles caldera. Both times we went with 505 Outfitters and killed some great bulls . Pete and his guides are great guys and definitely showed a lot of patience along the way ( Missed shots) lol. I would definitely get ahold of them if they are not booked up already. Good luck and enjoy yourself it’s a beautiful place.

Katoom · May 6, 2021

There is no “i can’t swing the 10 days”
for a tag like that. Take the time. Pay your employer for days off if you have to. Bribe your significant other with whatever it takes. Likely you will never draw as good a tag again. No joke, if you are a new elk hunter you might not appreciate the gift you have in hand. Once in a lifetime. Enjoy it.

ortegageno · May 6, 2021

Make sure you bring help because you ain't getting an elk out of there in Sep by yourself. No vehicle or Atv allowed off the main road. So you better strap on the pack with 50 pounds while you are doing your training.

El Gringo · May 7, 2021

Katoom said:
There is no “i can’t swing the 10 days”
for a tag like that. Take the time. Pay your employer for days off if you have to. Bribe your significant other with whatever it takes. Likely you will never draw as good a tag again. No joke, if you are a new elk hunter you might not appreciate the gift you have in hand. Once in a lifetime. Enjoy it.

^^^^^ This^^^^^

nwhunter · May 7, 2021

You got my tag!! I got to hunt there fifteen years ago and have hunted many awesome elk hunts since then but the VC is my favorite place I have ever hunted .. You probly wont ever get to hunt there again like me and trust me I have put in every year and bought lots of raffle tickets before that.. If your not an experienced elk hunter with a bow either hire an outfitter or bring a really good partner. Realize you have a hunt that is what many guys would pay a lot of money to get so you can somehow afford to take the time off and spend the money to make it epic...Congrats and good luck..

Kooper1021 · May 7, 2021

Pretty awesome hunt to say the least here is the one I got a few years back

twdjr · May 7, 2021

Congrats on the tag!

arwaterfowler · May 8, 2021

El Gringo Loco said:
^^^^^ This^^^^^

Yup.

You need to invest a lot of time scouting and plan on staying the entire season. This is a dream tag that needs to be given its due. I’m typically a diy guy, but you may want to consider an outfitter. It will significantly help bridge any experience gap.

Good luck on an incredible tag. It will sound like Jurassic Park if the bulls are really bugling.

AaronS · May 9, 2021

It's been said, but count me as a +1 for figure out how to go all 10 days. On a once in a lifetime tag like that you'll be kicking yourself if you come home empty handed and didn't give it the full season.... especially if you have some close encounters and can't close the deal... or if you locate a bull that conditions don't present an optimal opportunity and you have to force something late in the hunt that doesn't work out. 10 days is a long long time if things aren't going your way, but be patient and stick it out. You may get discouraged and want to head home after 5-6 days, but 2 weeks later you'll kill or an extra few days in the woods.

Make sure you can shoot 50+, preferably 70-80 yards. Have fun and good luck!

nwhunter · May 9, 2021

What some guys forget is seven days seems like a long time but on these kind of archery hunts you get your few hours in the morning and few hours if your lucky at night and that's it. Your not hunting all day long and if you try to hunt the elk in their bedding areas your likely to blow them out and be starting over. Maybe sit water mid day but not sure that works to well on the VC.. Its a beautiful place to explore and look for sheds that your cant take out but you wont be bored that's for sure...

AaronS · May 9, 2021

nwhunter said:
What some guys forget is seven days seems like a long time but on these kind of archery hunts you get your few hours in the morning and few hours if your lucky at night and that's it. Your not hunting all day long and if you try to hunt the elk in their bedding areas your likely to blow them out and be starting over. Maybe sit water mid day but not sure that works to well on the VC.. Its a beautiful place to explore and look for sheds that your cant take out but you wont be bored that's for sure...

Great point. 7 days of hunting translates to a few hours of prime time that go by pretty quick. Before you know it you’ve had a lot of close encounters and are thinking it’s about to go your way, then you realize it’s day 6 or 7 and time to load up and head home.

PacificFork · May 10, 2021

Not hunting all 10 days on a tag like that is like saying you can’t make the birth of your first born child or the podium on your wedding day. Zero excuses! Good luck and don’t shoot the first 300 bull you see..

El Gringo · May 10, 2021

PacificFork said:
Not hunting all 10 days on a tag like that is like saying you can’t make the birth of your first born child or the podium on your wedding day. Zero excuses! Good luck and don’t shoot the first 300 bull you see..

^^^ This too^^^^

roadrunner · May 18, 2021

The later in the season, the more "cowed up" good bulls will be. Sometimes it's better to hunt a little earlier.

I hunted it in 2014, the last year they offered the separate lottery draw and we were not assigned a specific area.

280 to 300 bulls were plentiful and messed up on some 340 class bulls.

Ended up with a younger 6x6 toward the end of the hunt.

Shoot the bull you want and you won't regret it.

Mule675 · May 19, 2021

Congratulations drawing a amazing tag

gfontela · May 20, 2021

Thanks for all your thoughts guys. I will be going with an outfitter to try and maximize the tag. Unfortunately I just can't swing more then 7 hunt days, but will do everything I can to maximize those days and will be hunting the last 7 days of the season. I will be meeting my guide the afternoon before, so depending on what time I get in and how long it takes to pack in maybe I'll be able to get a little hunt time in that afternoon before the last 7 days of the season. Anyways, I'll make sure to keep everyone posted on how the hunt goes.

Of course I will need to see how things are going during the hunt, but I will try to hold out for a 340 type bull for the first few days and may lower my standards a bit after that. I definitely don't want to eat tag soup as I've never even killed an elk yet!

Reuben_Soady · May 21, 2021

Uh, Don't you have to sit for an orientation the day before the opener? That would suggest that hunting the first part and going home when you harvest might be the better schedule, thereby hedging your bets on how long you stay in the field.

callsalot · May 21, 2021

I drew this tag the second year that it was offered with a lottery tag through the RMEF fundraising event. I think it's ran a little different now days but then you had to sit through an orientation two days before the hunt and you got one day before to scout. You also had to draw a subsection of the ranch which was divided into ten area's and two hunters were assigned per area and you could only move subunits once other hunters tagged out. I grew up in elk country and hunt them every year so did it DIY and brought a good friend which I don't regret. Took a nice 323 bull and saw a few bigger but my hunt was early starting on 9/5 if I remember right. With a guide 340 is probably a good place to start but just enjoy seeing all the elk and beautiful country and don't put to much pressure on yourself just drink it all in and have a great adventure.

nripepi · May 24, 2021

gfontela said:
Thanks for all your thoughts guys. I will be going with an outfitter to try and maximize the tag. Unfortunately I just can't swing more then 7 hunt days, but will do everything I can to maximize those days and will be hunting the last 7 days of the season. I will be meeting my guide the afternoon before, so depending on what time I get in and how long it takes to pack in maybe I'll be able to get a little hunt time in that afternoon before the last 7 days of the season. Anyways, I'll make sure to keep everyone posted on how the hunt goes.

Of course I will need to see how things are going during the hunt, but I will try to hold out for a 340 type bull for the first few days and may lower my standards a bit after that. I definitely don't want to eat tag soup as I've never even killed an elk yet!

Remember the old adage, shoot on the first day what you would shoot on the last. Haha, just joking, I don't totally buy that saying, but it might have some merit especially with a bow. So much can go wrong with a bow and you are only going to get a couple of chances in that week. If you have a slam dunk shot at a 320 or even 300 inch bull, that could be really hard to pass. Good luck!