First Elk Tag...advice needed!

[Ltsheets]

Hey guys. So I was fortunate enough today to be able to snag one of the late season bull elk tags for unit 34 mid Dec. The tag is for a bull with 6 points on one side or better so I know it will probably be a tough hunt but I don't care! I know I will learn a lot this year that I can put to use next year if I draw. I'm looking for any general information anyone has about the unit and any elk hunting advice you're willing to give a rookie who's eager to learn! Thanks in advance and no I'm not expecting anyone to give up a honey hole. I fully understand the time and effort it takes to find those.


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[Eberle]

New Mexico?

 

[Ltsheets]

Yea sorry. NM unit 34


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[Eberle]

Not familiar with 34, sorry wish I could help. Pretty good chance someone will pm you. Lots of good guys on here, with lots of knowledge. Before long people will be asking you for NM advice! Where do you live at out there?

 

[Ltsheets]

Not familiar with 34, sorry wish I could help. Pretty good chance someone will pm you. Lots of good guys on here, with lots of knowledge. Before long people will be asking you for NM advice! Where do you live at out there?

I just got here to Clovis NM about a month ago. I'm military and got PCSd from FL. I'm trading my boat and offshore fishing for hunting essentially. I've hunted whitetail all my life being from NC but it's always been a dream of mine to hunt the west. Now I'm getting the opportunity and I couldn't be more excited!


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[Eberle]

Well first off Thank You for your service to Our Country! If you get the urge to kill a whitetail you can come over to my place. I'm about 8 hours from Clovis. I've got a buddy that lived out there for a while. Really good dove & blue quail hunting in that area. I hunted 33 a few years ago for mulies but didn't kill anything. Saw some nice pronghorn in that area. How long will you get to stay in NM?

 

[Ltsheets]

Well first off Thank You for your service to Our Country! If you get the urge to kill a whitetail you can come over to my place. I'm about 8 hours from Clovis. I've got a buddy that lived out there for a while. Really good dove & blue quail hunting in that area. I hunted 33 a few years ago for mulies but didn't kill anything. Saw some nice pronghorn in that area. How long will you get to stay in NM?

PM sent. Sorry for the location confusion. I'm watching a movie and forgot which forum I was on! This is obviously not the tx hunting forum!


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[nebugle]

The first thing to remember is that elk are not deer. If you hunt them like white tails you will fail miserably!! They move around a lot more especially on public ground. The reson being graze hunting pressure and in new Mexico water and some others depending where you are hunting

 

[Ltsheets]

Gotcha. I'm fully expecting to be logging some miles. I think we are going to glass and stalk in the morning and try to sit over water in the afternoon.

 

[Ltsheets]

Weather question...how does snow on the ground affect elk and the hunt strategy?


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[tttoadman]

Look out for the cow in the front of the line and the one right in front of the bulls. They are the smart ones. When they stick their nose straight up, you better figure out what you are doing in a hurry.

Enough serious stuff. Have fun and get some pics to share.

 

[Ltsheets]

Bump


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[Ltsheets]

Anyone been up to 34 recently? We found a few on a day of scouting last week but could still use any advice people have for the late season archery hunt

 

[Ltsheets]

Bump...


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[Ltsheets]

Bump...


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[SansSouci]

Ltsheets,

I'm sure you know that elk are large animals. You might ruin a good elk trip were you to shoot. That's an old hunting joke. Anyway, be prepared to move a huge animal in order to gut it and move it to your vehicle. Here's a tip I've learned the hard way: if you're going to hunt a great distance from your vehicles, try to line up horses. If there are horse owners in the area you're going to hunt & if it's allowed by law, check with them before you hunt.

 

[Ltsheets]

Ltsheets,

I'm sure you know that elk are large animals. You might ruin a good elk trip were you to shoot. That's an old hunting joke. Anyway, be prepared to move a huge animal in order to gut it and move it to your vehicle. Here's a tip I've learned the hard way: if you're going to hunt a great distance from your vehicles, try to line up horses. If there are horse owners in the area you're going to hunt & if it's allowed by law, check with them before you hunt.

Thanks sans. I'm taking plenty of 550 chord and the plan is to quarter the elk and pack it out in 2 trips between me and my hunting buddy. If I'm lucky enough to shoot a bull big enough that I have to carry out the cape/antlers in a separate trip, then I'll consider that a good problem to have!


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[MrCreepy]

I would be looking at the areas bordering the Indian Res. I Don't have any personnel experience in this unit, but that's where i would start.

Good luck and enjoy your hunt!!

 

[tttoadman]

Thanks sans. I'm taking plenty of 550 chord and the plan is to quarter the elk and pack it out in 2 trips between me and my hunting buddy. If I'm lucky enough to shoot a bull big enough that I have to carry out the cape/antlers in a separate trip, then I'll consider that a good problem to have!


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Don't pack elk bones out if the forest. Take the time to bone it out gutless style and hang the meat up. Your back will love you for it.

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I'd bet if he got or gets one it will take the two of them more than two trips to the truck with all the meat, etc. It always takes me and my buddy three trips with one trip just to get the hindquarters out alone as heavy as they are and we do the gutless method.