New mex landowner tag?

slim23

New Member
Jul 8, 2014
31
0
I am going to apply in New Mexico again this year but knowing the draw odds I am planning on buying a landowner tag. I am looking at the 36 and the more wilderness 16 units. I am wanting less roads and more backcountry areas where lots of walking could pay off. Suggestions? Also I have seen almost none of these tags for sale. Where do you find them? I am a Huntin fool member and have checked quite a few online tag sites and haven't even seen any for sale in the last few years. Ideas?
 

kesand72

Active Member
May 5, 2013
373
8
Joliet, Il
Less roads and more back country is naturally gonna equal fewer landowners and landowner tags. Plus you will pay thru the nose for a landowner tag in NM. R u getting points in other states?!
 

chsdaddy

Member
Feb 12, 2012
87
1
Los Alamos, NM
http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/recreation/hunting/documents/E-PLUS-land/2014-EPLUS-Landowner-List.pdf?ver=8.13

Here's the link to the landowner list for the E-plus system. It has all the landowners who get tags, how many they get by sex/archery and a contact number.

Here's how it works. When a ranch signs up for the system they have to designate whether they are ranch only, RO or unit wide UW. If they designate RO, their tags are only good on the ranch, not the surrounding public area and they can post their land no hunting. If they designate unit wide the tag is good anywhere in the unit, but they have to let others hunt their land. So big ranches with lots of tags lease their land and accompanying tags to outfitters who run the hunts and designate RO so they can control the hunt. That's why you can see people advertise guaranteed tags and hunts in NM. These will not be for sale to anyone who doesn't book a hunt with an outfitter on private. Little ranches with just a few tags typically either use the tags themselves or sell them and designate UW. These tags are priced so high because the outfitters buy them and use them on private land they already have leased where they can sell a hunt for $7500.

It sucks, back in the day you could buy a landowner tag for 600-700, now they start at 2500-3000. An outfitter who already has a ranch leased can afford 3k for another tag, cause after paying a guide and food for one more hunter he's looking at 3k profit, or 100% return on his 3k investment. Stupid economics, these guys are driving the prices up. Your best bet is to start on that list with all the UW tag holders with the fewest tags now and see if you can sew something up for next year. Maybe you'll find someone who needs cash now.

Sometimes you can find last minute deals on Craigslist too when people hold out and nobody buys their tags.
Good luck.
 

slim23

New Member
Jul 8, 2014
31
0
Great info Oregon Jim. Thanks! And yes I'm building points in every state. 5-7 now everywhere but my friend can't go this coming fall and a solo hunt there is what I am wanting
 

ScottR

Eastmans' Staff / Moderator
Staff member
Feb 3, 2014
7,940
2,820
www.eastmans.com
Get a cow tag in one of the better units on your radar and get to know it without paying out the nose.
 

chsdaddy

Member
Feb 12, 2012
87
1
Los Alamos, NM
Unfortunately for NR you can't draw a cow tag, don't know if you can purchase a landowner cow tag. The regulations don't list a license fee for NR antlerless elk but they also say landowner tags are not subject to the quota. I'm sure if you called a landowner they would know.
 

slim23

New Member
Jul 8, 2014
31
0
Talked with 2 different ranch managers about purchasing there tags so far. Still waiting on the other 3 with unit wide tags. $5000 seems to be the going rate that they are getting but they both sell there's direct to a outfitter every year. And this is for unit 36.
 

buckbull

Veteran member
Jun 20, 2011
2,167
1,354
Talked with 2 different ranch managers about purchasing there tags so far. Still waiting on the other 3 with unit wide tags. $5000 seems to be the going rate that they are getting but they both sell there's direct to a outfitter every year. And this is for unit 36.
Wow. Thats not affordable for the average guy.
 

slim23

New Member
Jul 8, 2014
31
0
Yeah New Mexico changed the percentages that go to non residents a few years ago-lowered them. And that drove landowner tags even higher.