Unit 45 Pecos Wilderness
- Thread starter Bullhonkey
- Start date
kesand72
Active Member
Hi everyone! First time post. A friend and I drew Pecos elk tags ( unit 45) Oct 12 to 16 hunt dates. I have hunted deer in Illinois for years, had an awesome black bear hunt in Wisconsin last year and have hunted deer and antelope in Wyoming, but never elk. 45 was my 3rd choice after studying the NM Mrs and am very excited to get after em.
I have been looking over my Pecos Wilderness map and feel kind of overwhelmed on where to start, so far as which TH to start at, how far to hike in to get away from other hunters, what elevation to begin looking, etc.
We plan to hike in on foot several miles and hunt out of a tent.
I notice a lot on the bow hunting side of it but not much on the Oct rifle hunt.
Any info is appreciated!
I have been looking over my Pecos Wilderness map and feel kind of overwhelmed on where to start, so far as which TH to start at, how far to hike in to get away from other hunters, what elevation to begin looking, etc.
We plan to hike in on foot several miles and hunt out of a tent.
I notice a lot on the bow hunting side of it but not much on the Oct rifle hunt.
Any info is appreciated!
kesand72
Active Member
Hi No. 7! Did you hunt Wyoming67 for antelope? I hunted it in `11 and took a great upper 70s buck diy on public ground on opening afternoon. Stayed comfortably in a hotel in River ton and had a great time!
jay
Active Member
Congrats on the tag kesand! I've found that hunt to be a little tough in these parts. Alot of hunters in the woods by the time first rifle comes around. Guys are archery hunting well thru September, then you got a muzzleloader hunt after that, then your tag. There's no doubt there are still plenty of bulls around just a little more spooked like anywhere else I suppose. PM me if you would like further info on TH's, areas, etc...
kesand72
Active Member
Well my buddy Rich n I finished our Pecos unit 45 elk hunt last week n had a rough go of it. We hiked up to the skyline trail out of Sparks TH, which didn't look to have been maintained in the last decade. Passed a couple of mule deer hunters from Missouri coming down with their buck, who hadn't seen or heard an elk in a week of hunting. Got up to skyline without seeing the slightest sign of elk, just crispy dry ground all torn up by cattle n cowboys.
Came back down the next day n poked around the lower elevations n found zero sign of elk so we headed to Alamitos TH where we immediately got into great sign on opening day the 12th. Did everything we could to get into elk, got off the trails, played the wind n hiked hiked hiked. On the 3rd evening we finally heard a bugle, n on the fourth morning we jumped a few in the brush that Rich got a glimpse of. Ran into a couple of fellow Eastman's subscribers from Texas ( Greg n Carlton i believe ) that were having similar luck (none!).
It was an adventure, I lost another 8 lbs ( plus 9 from training!), and I caught an awesome trout that we don't have in Illinois, but never saw an elk.
I would go again, but definitely not for first rifle in that unit. I have 8 points for Wyoming next year, hopefully I can lay eyes on 1 of those rascals!!
Greg n Carlton, if u c this let me know how u did!!
Kenny
Came back down the next day n poked around the lower elevations n found zero sign of elk so we headed to Alamitos TH where we immediately got into great sign on opening day the 12th. Did everything we could to get into elk, got off the trails, played the wind n hiked hiked hiked. On the 3rd evening we finally heard a bugle, n on the fourth morning we jumped a few in the brush that Rich got a glimpse of. Ran into a couple of fellow Eastman's subscribers from Texas ( Greg n Carlton i believe ) that were having similar luck (none!).
It was an adventure, I lost another 8 lbs ( plus 9 from training!), and I caught an awesome trout that we don't have in Illinois, but never saw an elk.
I would go again, but definitely not for first rifle in that unit. I have 8 points for Wyoming next year, hopefully I can lay eyes on 1 of those rascals!!
Greg n Carlton, if u c this let me know how u did!!
Kenny
Hi everyone,
Just joined today after Google brought me to Eastmans. My 12 yo son has a youth deer hunt in unit 45 day after thanksgiving. We'll be trying Elk Mtn. Curious if the deer will be hanging out in the Tres Lagunas burn scar. Anyone else been around that area since the fire?
Just joined today after Google brought me to Eastmans. My 12 yo son has a youth deer hunt in unit 45 day after thanksgiving. We'll be trying Elk Mtn. Curious if the deer will be hanging out in the Tres Lagunas burn scar. Anyone else been around that area since the fire?
jay
Active Member
jay
Active Member
Don K
Very Active Member
Jay,
Zim has been in China and will be back tomorrow afternoon. I will let him know your looking for him
Zim has been in China and will be back tomorrow afternoon. I will let him know your looking for him
Zim
Very Active Member
jay
Active Member
Zim
Very Active Member
Now that deadline passed I'm curious if there were any other nonresidents here that applied for Pecos archery elk tags. Really hoping we draw. We have a drop camp lined up.
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sticksnskullsia
New Member
Zim
Very Active Member
Which pool? Did you apply last year? The applicant numbers dropped last year for some reason. Can't figure out why, but I hope not many others noticed.
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Don K
Very Active Member
Zim
Very Active Member
sticksnskullsia
New Member
How often are you guys running into other hunters in 45 archery? I don't hunt NM but have considered starting to apply for it. That's after I get somemore experience. I'd rather screw up in Colorado where I can hunt the same place year after year instead of messing up on a low odd tag.
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swampokie
Veteran member
45 is just about like a southern Colorado otc unit. You might work your tail off and find a bull but chances are the 17% success rate will get ya! Pecos is rough rough rough! O its a good sheep area though