I'd like to hear what you've figured out, since I've done a lot of hunting in NM. Feel free to PM/email me if you want to compare notes.

I applied for NM pronghorn, deer, and aoudad this year. Probably going to sit out elk. CO is up next, and I will be applying for a pronghorn permit, and probably PP's for deer, elk, and bear. And I'm probably going to apply for AZ Coue's down south somewhere, since from what I've gathered so far, no PP's are needed to draw. Damned Rinella and his sky island hunt created an itch that needs scratching.

Sean98 said:

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shaynew1 said:

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I think the west is big enough and the experience rich enough if everyone is headed out for the right reasons.

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I think the west is BIG enough that the ones that are in it for the wrong reasons will never set foot in the places that many of us hunt because they are hard to reach.

...the question is will it drive the "kinda-serious" hunters off the easy ground and into the high country?

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Good question. I am by no means a great hunter but to paint with a very wide brush there are many hunters that are lazy SOBs. The ATV proliferation has made a couple of generations of hunters plop their fat ass in an ATV, ride it as far as they care to and then hunt within a half mile of their ATV. Again, I am way over generalizing but I am trying to make a point.

A buddy and I noticed this. Hunt in a National Forest that has forest service roads = lots of hunters. Go where you actually have to work at it = not very many hunters. This became very clear when we hunted into the Frank Church Wilderness. No motorized or even mechanized devices allowed. This even means no mountain bikes or game carts. Walk 1/4 mile into the wilderness and you are alone. You occasionally will run into some serious hunters with horses, but those are far and few between.

That was a badass episode. One of the ones that made me realize I have to get into western hunting

Yes and no. We hunted in a Colorado wilderness area last elk season and we were three miles in at the end of trail head that was a long way from paved roads. There was more than I thought at the end of that trail head, but they typically didn't stray far from it.

Log said:

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I'd like to hear what you've figured out, since I've done a lot of hunting in NM. Feel free to PM/email me if you want to compare notes.

I applied for NM pronghorn, deer, and aoudad this year. Probably going to sit out elk. CO is up next, and I will be applying for a pronghorn permit, and probably PP's for deer, elk, and bear. And I'm probably going to apply for AZ Coue's down south somewhere, since from what I've gathered so far, no PP's are needed to draw. Damned Rinella and his sky island hunt created an itch that needs scratching.

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What's your email?

My NM deer app is completed. Need to get my elk app in today.

Jay Scott just had a good podcast episode with Cliff Gray that breaks down the CO draw options pretty well for anyone seeking more info. It's definitely worth a listen.

Putting in for NM elk, mule deer, ibex, Barbary sheep, and big horn sheep. Credit card hasn't seen a charge like this before. Lol.

Yeah, states that charge up-front costs can be scary...

If I hit the Wyoming moose or bison raffle and one of these NM tags on top of my Wyoming elk tag I will probably have all fall to hunt because my wife will be gone.

harge57 said:

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If I hit the Wyoming moose or bison raffle and one of these NM tags on top of my Wyoming elk tag I will probably have all fall to hunt because my wife will be gone.

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Win-Win?

harge57 said:

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Putting in for NM elk, mule deer, ibex, Barbary sheep, and big horn sheep. Credit card hasn't seen a charge like this before. Lol.

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I'm eyeballing that year long Barbary Sheep OTC tag... just b/c I like options.

Also, are you doing archery or rifle on the Ibex? And if you get drawn, do you plan on using an outfitter?

harge57 said:

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If I hit the Wyoming moose or bison raffle and one of these NM tags on top of my Wyoming elk tag I will probably have all fall to hunt because my wife will be gone.

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Right now is always a tricky time

Doing rifle, not using an outfitter.

Nice. Good luck on the draw, that's a helluva a tag to get (literally once in a lifetime).

My buddy and I have talked about the archery tag because the odds are so much better to draw, but the success rates are really low. I'm hoping to do it one day.

I've looked hard at this hunt and archery vs. rifle too. I became obsessed with it after me and a couple of other Ags went quail hunting in the foothills of the Florida's outside Deming a couple of years ago. I did a quick search on the Florida range when I got home and that's the first time I heard about the Ibex that lived there. Watched a few youtube hunts and been obsessed ever since.

On the archery tag I've heard the biggest difference between the October hunt and the January hunt is rattlesnakes.

The archery odds aren't terrible, keep applying and eventually you will get it. It's a hunt that I pretty much have to do before I die but I want to get way better with a bow before I start applying.

Water Turkey07 said:

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I've looked hard at this hunt and archery vs. rifle too. I became obsessed with it after me and a couple of other Ags went quail hunting in the foothills of the Florida's outside Deming a couple of years ago.

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NOW you're talking real hunting and you have my attention.... Was it just blues? Too far east for Mearn's quail, right?

It was almost all desert/Gambel's quail, I think we shot one blue in two days. All on BLM land.

Going on my first Elk hunt this year with a buddy from CO (3rd Rifle, OTC, Unit 55). I have read a decent amount about this unit, and it sounds like its gonna be a trek to get away from the crowds, but I got no problem with that, just wanna make sure I have enough of the right gear to make it enjoyable.

For all of you who have (hopefully) successfully pulled off one of these hunts, is the high end western state camo really worth it? Trying to keep this on a tight budget, and don't wanna waste all my money on Sitka gear. I have the baselayer and insulation layer covered, but I'm focusing on my outerlayer stuff now. Intrigued by the ASAT stuff, as it seems to be a fair price. Any input is greatly appreciated.

Also, I got a pair of Danner Pronghorns for my normal field boots, but didn't know if that'd be sufficient for that kind of terrain. Was looking at the Irish Setter VaprTeks the other day (a good bit lighter than the danners), but I'm leery of boots that are glued together, as I want em to last for more than one season.

The camo in question is far from a necessity...definitely a luxury. There are some cool things about it and ways to rationalize purchases, but you can have an awesome and comfortable hunt without it.

I have some of the expensive stuff but I've also killed elk wearing carhart green.

And 5pm today is the NM deadline.

Thanks. That what I was figuring (and I just used Sitka as an exaggerated example) but I figured it couldn't hurt to get some first hand experience.

shaynew1 said:

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And 5pm today is the NM deadline.

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Bout to throw up a Hail Mary on Elk draw.

Got mine in last night. See you in 16b?

Sure thing! I'll have breakfast ready opening morning.

Cool, thanks.

Interesting tidbit from Colorado I came across today:

Quote:

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It's legal to wear solid fluorescent pink clothing as an alternative to solid fluorescent orange.

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Lungblood said:

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Sure thing! I'll have breakfast ready opening morning.

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I will require no small meal. I'll be all bloody and busy for lunch and straining under a heavy laden pack the rest of the day.

You're gonna have to cook your own damn breakfast. I went 34/36/37... 2nd Archery

drew a muzzleloader tag there a few yrs ago. Saw and heard lots of elk.

BS. Elk are mute.

shaynew1 said:

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drew a muzzleloader tag there a few yrs ago. Saw and heard lots of elk.

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And den?

I killed one and ate him. I had a couple opportunities at a great bull but didn't take the shots. I had never killed anything w a muzzleloader and had decided to be pretty conservative w my shot choices. After I saw what it did to the one I killed I regret not chootin the big one.

Well post a pic or 2. I don't even recall this story.

Lungblood said:

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Well post a pic or 2. I don't even recall this story.

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This