Pics to follow when I am at home and can upload them...
Lets just say, I learned a new state and area. Also learned the second season hunts can be tougher than expected even in the famed Gila. It all started in the spring when I do my usual and put in for a bunch of states. My and dad and I were sick of not drawing NM, so I put in a second season hunt that had some better draw odds. Lets just say, by June, my wife wanted to kill me. Not only did I draw two great NM tags, I knew I was burning my points in CO for elk and I somehow drew a UT Limited Entry Muzzy Deer Tag...
For this story, it will be just the NM Elk tag, second rifle in the Gila. Dad and I took off a few days earlier and headed 12 hours south and set up camp. We got a good look at the country and got everything organized for the hunt. Since we have never hunted NM and I wouldn't have time to scout, we booked our 2nd guided hunt ever.
Opening morning came and went with me only seeing small bulls and some coyotes. That evening, I passed a 300 class bull. My dad on the other hand, had seen a big bull and all plans were made to go after the big guy.
Fast forward until the last day of the hunt, so far I had passed several ok bulls, went over a 330 class bull the second to last morning and my dad had has no luck finding a bull that we wanted to tag within 3,000 yds, They were good at spotting them in the distance and then making a game plan that didn't work. The final morning, we headed back to a ridge to glass that had held a 350 class bull the first season that hasn't shown up in a week. I put my swaros up and on a far ridge 1,500 yards or so away spotted a good bull. I took some video of him in spotting scope and called the guide over. We made a game plan and jetted back to the truck to see if we could get lucky cutting the distance and before they feed into the trees. As luck would have it, they were not in the open when we made it over closer to the far ridge, so we decided to gamble and head into the trees. My guide knew that we were near the only watering hole around and hoped they would be feeding to the water hole. Lets just saw we got lucky, sneaking through the ponderosa pines and at 50 yards, we came face to face with the bull. As luck would have it, he happened to be leading a few cows and two other bulls. If any of the other elk would have been in front, it would have been game over. I was able to squeeze a shot through the trees and branches at 50 yds to double lung and anchor him. The best part, he is a way cool bull and its all on video!
stay tuned, pics to come
Lets just say, I learned a new state and area. Also learned the second season hunts can be tougher than expected even in the famed Gila. It all started in the spring when I do my usual and put in for a bunch of states. My and dad and I were sick of not drawing NM, so I put in a second season hunt that had some better draw odds. Lets just say, by June, my wife wanted to kill me. Not only did I draw two great NM tags, I knew I was burning my points in CO for elk and I somehow drew a UT Limited Entry Muzzy Deer Tag...
For this story, it will be just the NM Elk tag, second rifle in the Gila. Dad and I took off a few days earlier and headed 12 hours south and set up camp. We got a good look at the country and got everything organized for the hunt. Since we have never hunted NM and I wouldn't have time to scout, we booked our 2nd guided hunt ever.
Opening morning came and went with me only seeing small bulls and some coyotes. That evening, I passed a 300 class bull. My dad on the other hand, had seen a big bull and all plans were made to go after the big guy.
Fast forward until the last day of the hunt, so far I had passed several ok bulls, went over a 330 class bull the second to last morning and my dad had has no luck finding a bull that we wanted to tag within 3,000 yds, They were good at spotting them in the distance and then making a game plan that didn't work. The final morning, we headed back to a ridge to glass that had held a 350 class bull the first season that hasn't shown up in a week. I put my swaros up and on a far ridge 1,500 yards or so away spotted a good bull. I took some video of him in spotting scope and called the guide over. We made a game plan and jetted back to the truck to see if we could get lucky cutting the distance and before they feed into the trees. As luck would have it, they were not in the open when we made it over closer to the far ridge, so we decided to gamble and head into the trees. My guide knew that we were near the only watering hole around and hoped they would be feeding to the water hole. Lets just saw we got lucky, sneaking through the ponderosa pines and at 50 yards, we came face to face with the bull. As luck would have it, he happened to be leading a few cows and two other bulls. If any of the other elk would have been in front, it would have been game over. I was able to squeeze a shot through the trees and branches at 50 yds to double lung and anchor him. The best part, he is a way cool bull and its all on video!
stay tuned, pics to come
