Finally success in New Mexico again. Drew unit 16 first season rifle. I think it's been 6 or 7 years since we've drawn out for Muley's.

I killed my bull on Cerrito del Padre.

CivilEng08 said:

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Log said:

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BBY-1-104
DER-1-333

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I hunted that unit just a few weeks back for aoudad. I had a great time, and I'm sure you'll get one.

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Got any tips on where to hunt? I've hunted 37 for deer before (killed 3), and have seen a couple random sheep, but no big herds. Any help is appreciated. I've got OnX if you've got any pins you want to share. Thanks!

Log said:

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I killed my bull on Cerrito del Padre.

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Dang that's really back in there. I live nearby to the unit, excited to camp and scout all summer/fall

If you hike in, go in on Iron Gate, not Jack's Creek. Much better/flatter trail.

Should draw 3rd rifle mule deer in unit 73 Colorado. My sister and BIL bought a place there that backs up to a BLM. Bunch of local friends there have said almost no pressure at all in the area and plenty of deer. I'm looking forward to having a nice comfortable house to sleep in every night rather than a tent or motel.

Alright guys, need some advice as I am likely not going to be able to make three trips from Houston out to NM..
What are your thoughts on these hunts and am I crazy for not doing anything I can to make all 3?
My thought is to go for the pronghorn with rifle in Sept as my odds of success are likely pretty high, skip out on the late season archery elk hunt, and then go back for the early Jan 2027 archery deer hunt and maybe hit the rut/get lucky. Can't believe I'm considering skipping a chance for an elk, but I think that will be a tough hunt.

1. DER-2-310
BOW | Jan 01-15 | FAD
Bag Limit: Any fork-antlered deer
Unit 32, including Prairie Chicken WMAs

2. ELK-2-355
BOW | Dec 19-23 | APRE/6/A
Bag Limit: 1 w/ 6 points on one side or antlerless
Unit 34

3. ANT-1-169
Any Legal Sporting Arm | Sep 26-28 | MB
Bag Limit: 1 mature buck
Unit 31 south of US 380

I agree with your thinking. That's a great area for pronghorn (this is the second year I've struck out on that tag as my first choice) and I think you'd have to be very fortunate to arrow an elk in late December outside of private land. I can recommend an awesome camping spot for your pronghorn hunt if you want

I'll take any help I can get!
Feel free to email me if you don't want to post/derail here. Thanks

Got it, you can take it down if you want

I was checking out Iron Gate during my Google Maps scouting, good to know I'm thinking the right area. Other thought was to go to Sipapu and find a way to work south from there

I finally drew New Mexico muley.

Unit 2B Rifle, Oct 24-28. Will probably be a tough hunt, but it's something!

Anyone hunted this unit before?

Congratulations and best of luck!

AG_2006 said:

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I drew 16C archery. Here we go!

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16C is one of my favorite places on earth. Been hunting there for 40 years. The country is rugged and raw which is why I like it.

Ag97 said:

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AG_2006 said:

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I drew 16C archery. Here we go!

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16C is one of my favorite places on earth. Been hunting there for 40 years. The country is rugged and raw which is why I like it.

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Let's see 'em!

Wasn't expecting it for a few more years but drew a LE archery tag for Fishlake in Utah. Won't have much time to scout so planning to hire a guide. Anyone have experience in the unit?

Squid94 said:

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Wasn't expecting it for a few more years but drew a LE archery tag for Fishlake in Utah. Won't have much time to scout so planning to hire a guide. Anyone have experience in the unit?

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No but I wish I did. Early or late archery?

I hunted Nebo just north of there and elk were easy to find in the late season. There was plenty of snow that year.

Early archery, August 15- Sept 15.
Sounds like the rut kicks off the latter part of the hunt.

WY elk ridiculous this year. Had 5 pts and nobody with 5 pts drew in regular and only 17% with 6.

Both my daughter and friend drew in Special with 4 pts each.

Guess I am gonna have to fork out 2K+ or start looking at Africa. And I thought there was a decent chance I would end up with 3 elk tags, how wrong I was.

Yep. I keep thinking all the price increases for NR will lower the pool and draw odds. So far it's just getting worse.

JFABNRGR said:

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WY elk ridiculous this year. Had 5 pts and nobody with 5 pts drew in regular and only 17% with 6.

Both my daughter and friend drew in Special with 4 pts each.

Guess I am gonna have to fork out 2K+ or start looking at Africa. And I thought there was a decent chance I would end up with 3 elk tags, how wrong I was.

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6 pts was 100%

In special or regular?

My outfitter buddy up there said only 17% in reg w 6.

DG96 said:

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Yep. I keep thinking all the price increases for NR will lower the pool and draw odds. So far it's just getting worse.

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I have not seen one unit/hunts draw odds improve in the last 15 years. Digital advancements have made it so much more approachable which i think is the main driver in demand.

JFABNRGR said:

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In special or regular?

My outfitter buddy up there said only 17% in reg w 6.

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Regular. Between 5 and 6 was 17%. 6 was 100. Assuming you are referring to western region although southern region is nearly identical with between 5 and 6 being 18%.

harge57 said:

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DG96 said:

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Yep. I keep thinking all the price increases for NR will lower the pool and draw odds. So far it's just getting worse.

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I have not seen one unit/hunts draw odds improve in the last 15 years. Digital advancements have made it so much more approachable which i think is the main driver in demand.

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To include 3rd party applicator services. Old days a guy would apply in 1-2 states now applying in 6-8 and just sends payment to a single party.

For sure. Just a lot more information out there makes things easy to apply. NR capped Idaho elk tags never used to sell out. We would buy one in September when we got there. 2019 was the last year for that I think. Now the draw odds for those tags are less than 5% even with having to buy a $200 license before hand.

I don't think there is that many more hunters, just the fact that they are hard to get tags makes everyone try to get one.

I did get a Montana combo and a New Mexico deer tag so I'll be busy. But the opportunities are hard to come by.

That's awesome! Post the hunt when you go

mtngoat3006 said:

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After 27 years of applying and building preference points, I got lucky today and drew a Shiras bull moose tag near Jackson, Wyoming just east of the Tetons. October can't get here quick enough...

Best of luck to the rest of y'all in the upcoming draws!!!

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Should be plenty wolves have them bunched up pretty good there.