Back to the Gila Wilderness

[Newmexicohunter]

Iv herd rumors 16B has fallen off in the past years but I don't give two craps lol. I simply love this unit. Its where I shot my first elk years ago and never thought I would be fortunate enough to get drawn again, and better yet we'll be bow hunting second archery season. This year I got a buddy who is going to pack us in on his mules and with a little luck be packing us out heavy with two big bulls.

 

[Kalalau]

Incredible! Good luck bro! Hunted that unit in 2022.

 

[BUGLEnmIN]

 

[BUGLEnmIN]

N ALLL gila units have fallen!

 

[Treefiddy]

I saw elk all over the place right off the roads in that unit last June but when I went back in November they had vanished completely. This might be a stupid question but is that due entirely to hunting pressure? Maybe the sept. archery season? I assume they would move lower as the weather cools but they had beaten it out into the sticks.

For the record I wasn't hunting elk last year and I'm not going to this year. It was just something I noticed.

 

[ortegageno]

There are no elk left in the Gila, they all migrated to Mount Taylor.

 

[Servehim]

Yup, only foolish guys should apply for Gila units its a mass migration to unit 9 .

 

[BUGLEnmIN]

There are no elk left in the Gila, they all migrated to Mount Taylor.

 

[MrRogers]

I’ll blame the stupid wolves. I find them almost every time I am there. They lie about the wolf population or I’m just damn good at finding them. The Gila is definitely having a recession.

 

[Muleman]

It has definitely fallin off. Not near as many elk in the wilderness as 10 years ago, from wolves and mainly drought. The wilderness can be finicky as elk will move a lot based on conditions. Still a great hunt and should be great antler growth this year

 

[Mackey]

I’ll be snooping around in there somewhere in October. I drew a 16B rifle tag. Can’t wait!

Mackey

 

[SDBugler]

I've drawn the 16B NR early rifle tag twice - 2003 and 2013. My son drew it last year in 2023.

As others have said, the wolves have made an impact. The fires have also drastically changed things in that unit. With my limited experience I have found that the elk will move around a lot.

 

[Muleman]

Just spent a week riding around the wilderness. Never seen the country look so good at this time of year. Bulls are going to grow antlers to their full potential. Congrats to those that have a tag