New Mexico elk unit 36

[WapitiBob]

You'll be fine with the 2 days. The guide should get you up to speed on where the Elk normally hang and if he spent time in there last year can update on the burn. Feed should be good with the June monsoons.

 

[brooks]

I hope you guys have a great hunt !! and I am not wanting to discourage you at all but I can't stress it enough you have to be in the best shape ...legs and lungs you have ever been in or 36 will flat kick your butt !!! The elk in there don't have big, flat open meadows to stay in they have small meadows on hill sides and travel up and down the canyons that are full of oak brush and pines. Don't worry about the burn. The shape you are in will make or break a hunt I the White Mt. Wilderness!!! I will post up more pics if photobucket ever lets me. For some reason I can't get it to work again. Good luck.

 

[OregonJim]

Thanks for pics Brooks, that does look intimidating.....

-06 I’m not sure where you ran with idea of this being a pure solo hunt, I said I was going to go there soon to a solo run, do some camping, check out the terrain to see how I do with the elevation before just showing up blind in September. As someone that has never elk hunted before, I chose to go with the outfitter as a learning experience with teachers, this way would have help packing should I connect with an elk. Not knowing anyone in the area this was important to me especially given the warmer temps on the early hunts.

I am still going to research this and plan it as if I'm going solo and (hopefully) the guide(s) will look at my ideas an show me or tell me where I’m thinking right and wrong with my plans. The owner has been really encouraging and helpful so far, but Ive not really talked with him much since I started applying with him several years ago. I’ve never hired out help for hunting so I’m not sure what to expect. After asking around this guy did come recommended and I thought for my first hunt it would be worth the extra money and gamble. Time will tell and Ill post my opinion of them after the hunt.

I cant afford an fully guided hunt every year nor is it worth 2K$ extra just to increase my draw odds an extra 5-7% only to still not have a clue what Im doing. If Im going to cough up the extra money for that Im going to try to learn as much as possible in the process. I am contracted with him for the first 5 days and can do whatever after that, assuming I am still able to walk at that point. I can always add guides the days from day six to ten, but Ill just have to see how it all goes. One of my concerns is to have them just plop me down "here" on day one and I shoot some 1/2 tame bull thinking I’ve done something. What would I learn from that? He did encourage me that if that happened I was welcome to stay on with them and help others in camp which I thought was cool of him and plan to do just that should I tag early. Of course all of this is before the money changes hands and the drawing was done.

If my thought process/plan upsets you and "many other people" think I’m just taking advantage of the "deal", Im sorry, its just the nature of the game. It all comes down to money just about any way you slice it. I don’t like the fact folks can just plop down 2-10 grand on a landowner tag and bypass the draw every time, or maybe its just because I cant afford to do that. Come to think on it though, as much as I have spent on LE draws and gearing up to get ready to do an ek hunt over the last several years I might would have been money ahead to do just that, especially if I find this elk hunting aint for me.

All that said Ill still help anyone that needs any thing I might could help with concerning this hunt, even if its just, never again! or dont do this....

Best wishes.

No offense taken here TH55.
Thanks for clearing up the scenario.
I think folks (I) got the wrong idea because of the original statement "Silver lining for me is this is undoubtedly the closest elk country for me so it's going to be a much easier solo trip for the given drive"
It looks like the outfitter gets a client and you get the benefit of some mentoring; Win/Win.
Hopefully you have the option to call the outfitter back in for packing if you get something on your own.
Best of luck, you have set your sights high with that unit for a first hunt.
I have to admire that.

 

[brooks]

This is what part of the wilderness looked like last September. Not all of the White Mt. Wilderness was burnt.

 

[swampokie]

Great pix! I really hope I draw this unit someday. Tried three years and no dice. I have hunted bear and saw a lot of elk in this unit but they just won't give me an elk tag.

 

[brooks]

I killed this bull in the burn last year. We were high on top of a ridge when I arrowed him and this is how we found him....glad the trees were there to stop him !!



When we got him unhooked from the first tree and he rolled down to the next one.


Finally got him dressed out, skinned, quartered and packed.

 

[opssup]

Nice Bull and photos ,thanks for sharing. I see you have the luxury of horses...Gee would you like to rent one?

 

[jims]

I drew an antelope tag for 37 last year. I stayed in Ruidoso and drove across 36 each day. The locals are extremely nice and accommodating. If you need any information on local meat processors, rifle range, etc. I will try and help.

 

[brooks]

Nice Bull and photos ,thanks for sharing. I see you have the luxury of horses...Gee would you like to rent one?

opssup, hope to be using them myself again that time of year. Some of the stables close by might rent horses. ???????????

 

[Knappy]

I love unit 36 and the White Mountain Wilderness area. I have not hunted elk there but I have been out scouting for a few and saw some really nice bulls. But this was well over 10 years ago.... so I have no advice for you. I do remember it being rough but I hiked a decent amount up there. If you take your time.... you'll be ok. My old hunting buddy and I had a mountain lion sneak in on us while we were turkey hunting up there. I miss that place! Congrats on your tag and I wish you luck filling it.

 

[NMHUNTER]

You guys will have no trouble at all finding elk. Getting to them might be a different story lol. Pm me I can help you guys out hunted this unit nearly all my life