NM Youth Encouragement Hunts

[TexasDeerHunter]

I am looking at taking my daughter on her first elk hunt in 2016. I noticed New Mexico has youth encouragement hunts and am seeking any input from forum members as what areas have the best have the best hunting and/or success rates for acquiring a tag.

Thanks

 

[joens]

Welcome . head on over to the new member introduction page and tell us more about yourself. at least last year the NM youth encouragement hunts were OTC till they ran out so timing would have been a bit important. http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/plenty-of-youth-elk-hunting-licenses-for-sale/ there is an article about it. It includes a chart showing what GMUs were included. I have personal experience with only a few of them and those would have been Hard hunts for a youth. But friends of ours always took their kids to one of them one or more of the kids usually got one

 

[Tim McCoy]

Both my boys drew NM youth mule deer hunts, some years back. Great hunts with a decent amount of game. I think like most states, NM wants to see good success on youth hunts. I'd call the biologist.

 

[Doe Nob]

Cow elk in 16E would be a slam dunk in the flats between mountain ranges....

 

[TexasDeerHunter]

I have spoken with a guy at the NM Wildlife Office, and he gave me some info. That said, he was not clear on which units would be high probability of obtaining a tag. He simply told me that she did not have a chance at units 34 or 36. Although they are over the counter, it seems the first ten days or so they are only available to resident youth and non resident youth can pick the leftovers.

 

[xtreme]

Broke my ankle in 16c dec 28. Going for surgery tomorrow. We did get snowbound on opening morning, prior to that we had found three herds. Good opportunity.