What to expect in NorthCentral NM

[jvidrine]

I'm headed to Chimayo, NM in late September to hunt elk for the first time with my good friend from there. I am not here to ask where to hunt, as we are going with his father-in-law who has tons of experience.

I have a few questions about what to expect..

What is the elk population like in the area? Should I expect to see elk everyday?

During late September are the elk call shy or are they starting to heat up for the rut?

What should I expect the weather conditions to be like?

If there is any other helpful info or advice you can provide, much appreciated.

 

[tdcour]

I can't say I have a lot of information for you, but we are heading to NW NM the first of September to chase elk with a bow, so it is a little different area. I know in the area we are going they are call shy and rarely bugle, but the closer you get to the reservations where there is less hunting pressure, the bugles and calls start to work more. For your area, I'm not sure what it will be. Weather conditions will typically be hot and dry, but in September there can be some cool nights and some afternoon rains that come into the area. If you are hunting national forest, I wouldn't expect them to be as call shy, but again I haven't been to the specific area.

 

[swampokie]

I cant tell you any specific on hunting the sept rut but I have hunted the area several times in oct with rifle. There are a lot of elk in the area. It may take a little while to find them but once you do you should expect to see them everyday. If you are hunting public land there will probably be a lot of vehicle and atv traffic. The weather could be anything from summertime thunderstorms to snow in late sept. The weather should however be nice with 70,s in the day and 30,s at nite. LOTS of elk in nc new mexico! GET A BEAR TAG! One other thing unit 45 has some of the most brutal country and highest elevations in nm so conditioning will be key. Good luck

I'm headed to Chimayo, NM in late September to hunt elk for the first time with my good friend from there. I am not here to ask where to hunt, as we are going with his father-in-law who has tons of experience.

I have a few questions about what to expect..

What is the elk population like in the area? Should I expect to see elk everyday?

During late September are the elk call shy or are they starting to heat up for the rut?

What should I expect the weather conditions to be like?

If there is any other helpful info or advice you can provide, much appreciated.

 

[jvidrine]

I cant tell you any specific on hunting the sept rut but I have hunted the area several times in oct with rifle. There are a lot of elk in the area. It may take a little while to find them but once you do you should expect to see them everyday. If you are hunting public land there will probably be a lot of vehicle and atv traffic. The weather could be anything from summertime thunderstorms to snow in late sept. The weather should however be nice with 70,s in the day and 30,s at nite. LOTS of elk in nc new mexico! GET A BEAR TAG! One other thing unit 45 has some of the most brutal country and highest elevations in nm so conditioning will be key. Good luck

Man that is exactly what I was looking for. I am surprised that any one replied to my thread. Much appreciated! I definitely understand that you can't give specifics and I am not going to ask people for that because I know people work hard to find out that info.

I was looking on Google Earth and I see there is a lot of cedar in the area. Then, towards the northeast when you start getting to the Santa Fe National Forest you get into pine forests. I didn't see many parks in and around the dark timber. I may have not looked hard enough.

I'm interesting to hear what the most used strategy is for locating the elk in the area. Do you find a high point and glass until you find the elk or after scouting do you already know the general area of the elk and get into the dark timber and start calling. Would you think the elk tend to stay at the higher elevation in the early fall or could they be anywhere? Again, not asking for specifics just general common knowledge of the area.

What would you consider a trophy for that unit?

 

[swampokie]

The elk in the santa fe will be mostly high and in the dark timber at that time. This wont be as much of a glassing hunt as some other areas. You will need to read the fresh sign and use your ears. There are a lot of elk but you will work to find a 6pt most likely. 285 would be big for the unit. Not to say that there aren't some bruisers killed there that top the 300 mark. Did I mention lotsa bears?

 

[jvidrine]

You did mention bears! hahaha

Are we talking just black bears and how big are we talking about here?

I'm gonna look up bear tags for nonresidents right now.

 

[lappel65]

I have not hunted that exact area of N.M. for elk, but have elk hunted near Chama twice, last week of Sept each time. Very good population and definitely not call shy. Fun and exciting time to hunt. Those hunters during mid Sept. seemed to have had a less responsive experience. I had good weather both times, no rain or snow, however, always possible. Buggle to locate, cow call and rake to bring them in. Stand water holes/tanks if warm. Hunt as hard as you can. Best of luck.

 

[jvidrine]

Thanks for the tips!

Were you successful either of the times you hunted?

 

[swampokie]

Yes black bears. They don't get quite as big as eastern bears as a general rule but there is the occasional exception. 290 dollars over the counter for nr I believe. Good luck!

You did mention bears! hahaha

Are we talking just black bears and how big are we talking about here?

I'm gonna look up bear tags for nonresidents right now.

 

[jvidrine]

Yes black bears. They don't get quite as big as eastern bears as a general rule but there is the occasional exception. 290 dollars over the counter for nr I believe. Good luck!

Yeah I'm gonna have to get a bear tag for sure. I'll only have 4 days to hunt because of my work schedule but I guess it's good to have it in the pocket.

 

[lappel65]

Thanks for the tips!

Were you successful either of the times you hunted?

Yes, a 300 class 6 X 6 in 2001 [rifle] and a 5 X 6 in 2011 [bow].

 

[mrcowboy]

You mention late September....are you hunting the Muzz hunt the first week of October? Don't know of any unit 45 public land hunts with rifle or muzz in September. September is the bow season in 45. My experience is by early Oct they can be in the dark timber. Some years I've heard them bugle and other years not so much. Be ready to cover some ground until you find a group and or good sign. In the wilderness sections of unit 45, there are no ATV's allowed. Shoe leather express or by horse.

 

[1seth]

I drew a archery tag for deer in 45 this year. Never been hunting in 45. I have a question also. For guys that have hunted the unit. Would you hike into the wilderness area and camp 3 to 4 days Or would you camp at your vehicle and day hike in and hunt different spots. I have all the backcountry camping equipment, but If its reasobably possible i would love to drive around to different areas and hike in early and come out late just too see more of the unit. Maybe a dumb question but did not know if the National Forest outside the wilderness area held good deer populations are not.

 

[jvidrine]

You mention late September....are you hunting the Muzz hunt the first week of October? Don't know of any unit 45 public land hunts with rifle or muzz in September. September is the bow season in 45. My experience is by early Oct they can be in the dark timber. Some years I've heard them bugle and other years not so much. Be ready to cover some ground until you find a group and or good sign. In the wilderness sections of unit 45, there are no ATV's allowed. Shoe leather express or by horse.

Well here is the deal, I don't have a tag per say. My good friend and his cousin got drawn and I just found out today that they got
rifle tags. I'm going for the experience and to learn how to elk hunt so I can put my name in next year. Im just going to learn and help pack out some meat. Im from south Louisiana so Im gonna bring fresh shrimp from the boat to trade for some elk meat.

When is the rifle season for unit 45?

 

[swampokie]

Oct 11-15 and oct 18-22

 

[Hilltop]

I guided in the Chama area for a year... If those elk are anything like the Chama area elk, they are vocal much later than in northern states. We actually had elk bugling in December. In September we had poor luck calling elk in but in early and mid-October they came in pretty good to a cow call...this has been several years ago so elk education and hunter trends may have an impact on what they do now. September was strictly water hole/stand hunts or spot and stalk for us. Compared to hunting Wyoming it was hot...and dry for the most part.

 

[swampokie]

Yes hilltop in my experience they are a few weeks later than northern elk.

 

[jvidrine]

Oct 11-15 and oct 18-22

Thanks Swamp

So what is it like going hunting without a tag? I understand I will be helping with the glassing, obviously. Do you normally hang back when they are making a stalk or what? I'm just interested in how it's going to go down. I have spot and stalked whitetail one time and that was last year in the hill country of Texas.

 

[swampokie]

Glassing and packing hopefully! You may set up on feeding locations and hunt them like you would whitetails that time of year with a rifle. If you can find hidden meadows near dark timber they should be feeding there in the late eve and early morn.

Thanks Swamp

So what is it like going hunting without a tag? I understand I will be helping with the glassing, obviously. Do you normally hang back when they are making a stalk or what? I'm just interested in how it's going to go down. I have spot and stalked whitetail one time and that was last year in the hill country of Texas.

 

[jvidrine]

Glassing and packing hopefully! You may set up on feeding locations and hunt them like you would whitetails that time of year with a rifle. If you can find hidden meadows near dark timber they should be feeding there in the late eve and early morn.

When we're talking about NC NM, do the elk prefer to feed in the open parks or do they also feed in the dark timber?

I am looking a lot at Google Earth and I see some stands of aspen/non-conifers. Do the elk like those areas and if so why?

As you can see I know very little about elk habits and preferences. haha Just tryin to learn.