Trophy Expectations in Northeast New Mexico

[jvidrine]

It looks like this will be the year I finally get to go elk hunting. I will be going with my good friend and his Father-in-Law from New Mexico. We will be hunting in the Chimayo area.

What should I expect in regards to what would be a good elk in the area?

 

[Hilltop]

The genetics are there to grow 350"+ bulls if they live long enough to reach their full potential. Are you hunting private or forest? What area?

 

[jvidrine]

The genetics are there to grow 350"+ bulls if they live long enough to reach their full potential. Are you hunting private or forest? What area?

The FIL is a professional guide for a large ranch in the area. I can't afford that and I would rather DIY so I'm guessing we will be hunting public property the majority of the time. We will be leaving out on Thanksgiving afternoon and hunt that next week.

 

[chsdaddy]

I wouldn't pass up a 280-300 class bull in that area

 

[jvidrine]

Just a quick look on Google Earth and I see 2 public land areas.
Carson National Forest
Santa Fe National Forest

Does anyone have any experiences there?

 

[swampokie]

Three-fifty plus?

The genetics are there to grow 350"+ bulls if they live long enough to reach their full potential. Are you hunting private or forest? What area?

 

[swampokie]

chsdaddy has it about right in my experience. Lots of elk in the area but 6 pts are at a premium.

 

[Hilltop]

Three-fifty plus?

The genetics are there... Chimayo sits in Rio Arriba county. The number 2 typical in the state comes from that county- 398 3/8" taken in 2004. Surrounding counties also have top 10 elk in the registry. Taos county has 2 listed in the top 10 as does Mora county. I do think it is unrealistic to set your expectations at 350 hunting public land but he didn't state that in his original post.

 

[jvidrine]

The genetics are there... Chimayo sits in Rio Arriba county. The number 2 typical in the state comes from that county- 398 3/8" taken in 2004. Surrounding counties also have top 10 elk in the registry. Taos county has 2 listed in the top 10 as does Mora county. I do think it is unrealistic to set your expectations at 350 hunting public land but he didn't state that in his original post.

Everytime you post, you have great information and good opinions. I wish I could buy you beer.

Since this is my first elk hunt, I'm going to go in with a super positive attitude, do a ton of research and hunt my butt off. If I come away with a bull, I'll count it as lagniappe.

We're going in late November fyi.. will the second rut be over then?


Lagniappe- a cajun term for "a little extra"

 

[Alabama]

Everytime you post, you have great information and good opinions. I wish I could buy you beer.

Since this is my first elk hunt, I'm going to go in with a super positive attitude, do a ton of research and hunt my butt off. If I come away with a bull, I'll count it as lagniappe.

We're going in late November fyi.. will the second rut be over then?


Lagniappe- a cajun term for "a little extra"

Lagniappe: I like that! Good luck with the hunt jvidrine.

 

[jvidrine]

I spoke with the FIL who will be our semi-guide for the week and he informed me that we would be hunting in the Carson National Forest.

He's working on getting me a landowner tag that can be used on public land as well. I like that option because it gives us more freedom. I'm starting to get really excited.