>Here is the problem with all
>the comments. I am certainly
>no guide, but you guys
>are painting an unrealistic picture
>of this Unit. The
>guy is from out of
>state, he has no time
>to scout and you guys
>are making it seem as
>though he will see bulls
>everyday and probably 2 or
>3 350 plus bulls in
>the season. Its a
>five day season and it
>is very possible that he
>may not see a bull
>the entire season. The
>success rate on this hunt
>is around 17%. It
>isn't so low because everyone
>is trophy hunting and passing
>up raghorns. The guy
>wanted honest answers about the
>general state of the unit.
> I know it sounds
>great that a couple of
>guys feel that they
>can kill a 350 plus
>bull in the unit anytime
>they want if they work
>hard enough but the reality
>of your situation, to put
>it bluntly: If you
>don't scout and if you
>don't hire a guide it
>is unlikely that you will
>kill a bull, not just
>a big bull, but a
>bull. The fact is
>that in this unit during
>this hunt you may not
>even see a bull the
>entire hunt unless you are
>an expert caller or are
>a very experienced elk hunter.
> My resounding answer to
>you would be to hire
>a guide. If you
>do you will probably post
>on this board some pictures
>of the bull you killed
>or tell us of some
>great opportunities. If you
>do not you will be
>very disappointed in your hunt
>and we will not hear
>from you about this hunt
>again. The kill statistics
>published by the state do
>not lie. With Land
>owner tags included there may
>be around 40 people hunting
>during your hunt. 15%
>KILL RATE MEANS ONLY about
>6 PEOPLE KILL A BULL
>DURING YOUR HUNT total.
>That is guided and unguided.
> Of those 6 bulls
>how many are above 350
>inches not sure, but not
>many? So at the
>Max maybe one or two
>big bulls are killed in
>the hunt. Again statistics
>are an unfortunate reality in
>this unit. All Gila
>units are not equal.
>16 A, D and 15
> are still on a
>different level than C.
>16 E and C are
>very comparable. Good luck.
> Not trying to be
>mean to you bro, I
>would really like you to
>be successful, but be realistic
>with yourself and make it
>a great hunt. I
>'ve seen way too many
>guys real frustrated on this
>hunt and never want to
>put in for New Mexico
>again. It's a tough
>hunt, put the odds in
>your favor.
Toole, I appreciate the time and effort you have put into downplaying the quality of 16C. Unfortunately, it shows what you and many NM residents know about the unit. Like me, you probably know that there were several 370+ bulls killed in "C" during the course of the 2012 seasons. In fact, more than were killed in 21A over the past two years. While the 21A harvest percentages may account for more animals being killed, the age class of animals taken in 21A is nothing compared to that of 16C. 16C always has and continues to produce mature animals. While it is not a high kill percentage unit, it is a unit outfitters have become famous for killing big bulls off of; both on private and public lands. In fact, if you search this forum, you will see that two out of the largest bulls posted on this forum in the past 6 years came out of 16C. 16C is one of those low success rate, high age-class kill units.
Tough hunt? Yes. Low success rates? Yes. Monster bull unit? Yes. Unit where an untested elk hunter will go home empty-handed. Absolutely.
You also likely know that 16C is currently harboring what could be one of the greatest elk this state has ever produced. I know because I missed him at 168 yards straight downhill last year during a rifle hunt after hearing about him from everyone that had located him from the air. 16C is coming back on the radar for good reason. Big bulls.
-Cody
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