Unit 34 and 36 "Depredation" Cow Hunt

[NMhunter4life]

I have heard that G&F has been calling people who applied for these units and were unsuccessful in the draw and are giving them cow tags for a 10 day hunt starting in the next few weeks. This is interesting considering the G&F harvest data that is posted from 2011 and 2012 shows that the "sustainable harvest" numbers have been exceeded significantly for bulls in both units and at the max for cows in 36 and over the max for 34.

I spend quite a bit of time in 36 and I think the elk numbers are down and the quality and numbers of bulls has really taken a nose dive in the past several years. I don't think this hunt is needed and I find it interesting that G&F has not posted any announcements about this. I would like to hear their justification for having this hunt. My brother's coworker called G&F about this and they gave him a story about not meeting the harvest goals the past few years, which is not true when looking at their own harvest report data.

Has anyone else heard about this?

 

[NMPaul]

Yes, I got the call for my son.

I agree. It seems that every time someone dreams up a new hunt at NMG&F they dump tags into 34.

They gave us a list of Ranches that we have permission to hunt.

We are gonna do the hunt. (pretty hard to turn a hunt down).

Anyone know how many depredation tags there are?

 

[WapitiBob]

They're doing everything they can to shoot the unit down to 5x's and scrubs.

 

[sportsman01]

Picked up the late season 34 APRE 6 hunt...and I saw exactly what was stated. I saw 33 bulls in 4 days, had 5 in very close archery range and never saw a bull with a 6th point. tons of 5x5's, big an small. This is the second time that's happened on this hunt.

As an aside, they are doing the same with ibex. Depredation calls started yesterday. This was confirmed through G&F but no announcements are being posted.

 

[mcloakey]

I had the same experience as sportsman01. Lots of big 5X5s within 20 and 30 yards. Just could not put a 6th point on them. Heartbreaking.

 

[ELKMAN]

Why do they even have those stupid 6x bull hunts? It is just dumb!

As far as using depredations hunts, GREAT!

The alternative is the Jennings Law.

There are plenty of decent elk in 34. If you want horn porn apply for unit 17, and climb cliffs etc.