Been meaning to ask this for a while...After 10yrs of applying I finally drew a 2B deer tag! Its the early hunt Oct 27-31, was wondering if anyone has a guide they can recommend that you Or a friend/family member used. Ive found 4 online that look pretty good but know nothing about them other than what on their websites. Any help is greatly appreciated, TIA!!!
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New Mexico Deer Unit 2B
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Last: 7 mo ago by silasd
Congrats on your tag!
If I were you, I'd be on the horn with all of those outfitters to see if they have openings to guide this year. Its pretty dang late in the game, BUT - there are likely some folks who pre-booked in hopes of drawing a tag. If they didn't, they will cancel and thats when you can jump in.
Best thing to do is call, ask about openings, and get references of other hunters. Call those other hunters and ask them about the guide, the service, etc.
If I had been waiting that long to draw a tag, I'd spend good money to get a good guide 1 to 1 and hunt my arse off. Good luck!
If I were you, I'd be on the horn with all of those outfitters to see if they have openings to guide this year. Its pretty dang late in the game, BUT - there are likely some folks who pre-booked in hopes of drawing a tag. If they didn't, they will cancel and thats when you can jump in.
Best thing to do is call, ask about openings, and get references of other hunters. Call those other hunters and ask them about the guide, the service, etc.
If I had been waiting that long to draw a tag, I'd spend good money to get a good guide 1 to 1 and hunt my arse off. Good luck!
Forgot to add...what a lot of guys do is book a guide with a downpayment and hope to draw. If they don't draw, they kick that payment down the road, keeping a spot with the guide just incase they draw.
I'll be hunting the same tag, but going the DIY route good luck.
Here's a 209" Unit 2B buck from 2006.
Call up a friend of mine....Dave Montoya and Drop Tine Outfitters. (505) 320-6036Burtron06 said:
Been meaning to ask this for a while...After 10yrs of applying I finally drew a 2B deer tag! Its the early hunt Oct 27-31, was wondering if anyone has a guide they can recommend that you Or a friend/family member used. Ive found 4 online that look pretty good but know nothing about them other than what on their websites. Any help is greatly appreciated, TIA!!!
Was that with Rob?
Not hunting with Rob anymore? I went with him in that unit on your suggestion. We had a good time but didn't see any big deer. We have moved on to DIY in CO every year but I wouldn't mind another shot at 2B.
Yes, the deer in the pic above was my 2nd hunt with Mountain States Guide Service (Rob Degner). Between elk and deer hunts, I have hunted a total of 9 times with MSGS since 2005. I consider myself to have been extremely fortunate to have drawn the tags and taken the game in some really cool country. In fact, if I never draw another tag in NM, I will feel a great sense of accomplishment in my experiences along the way.
I went on guided hunts with MSGS in 2005 (Rifle Elk), 2006 (Rifle Deer), 2008 (Rifle Deer), 2009 (Rifle Deer), 2010 (Rifle Deer), 2011 (Rifle Deer), 2014 (Rifle Deer), and two in 2016 (Muzzleloader Elk, Rifle Deer).
The last hunt was a 4 party hunt that I coordinated. One member of our group was another veterinarian who flew in from North Carolina for his 1st western states big game hunt (went 1x1). Another is a BQ buddy of mine that paid for a 1x1 hunt.
The rest of the story is one of bitter disappointment in how Rob and his group handled an overcrowded camp by soliciting assistance from family members to serve as guides without any advance notice to my group (or the rest of the hunters in camp). It was a colossal charlie foxtrot to say the least. There were 14 hunters in a camp that is set up to handle 6-8. Two in my group were paired up with inexperienced guides who knew NOTHING about the unit. Nice guys to have in camp but should NEVER have been taking paid hunters into the field. I voiced my concerns on Day 2 and it was never corrected. I expected Rob to call and apologize in an attempt to make things right after the season which he never did. I cherish the great times I had with Rob and his guides before this fiasco. Based upon this experience, I will not recommend them to anyone.
Along the way, I also spent some time in the field with Dave 'Slick Top' Montoya with Drop Tine Outfitters in New Mexico. He is the real deal and the guide I recommend folks go with in Unit 2B.
TL;DR: I invested a lot of time and money over the course of a decade of New Mexico deer and elk hunting with a guide service and got burned on my last one. Still pissed about it.
I went on guided hunts with MSGS in 2005 (Rifle Elk), 2006 (Rifle Deer), 2008 (Rifle Deer), 2009 (Rifle Deer), 2010 (Rifle Deer), 2011 (Rifle Deer), 2014 (Rifle Deer), and two in 2016 (Muzzleloader Elk, Rifle Deer).
The last hunt was a 4 party hunt that I coordinated. One member of our group was another veterinarian who flew in from North Carolina for his 1st western states big game hunt (went 1x1). Another is a BQ buddy of mine that paid for a 1x1 hunt.
The rest of the story is one of bitter disappointment in how Rob and his group handled an overcrowded camp by soliciting assistance from family members to serve as guides without any advance notice to my group (or the rest of the hunters in camp). It was a colossal charlie foxtrot to say the least. There were 14 hunters in a camp that is set up to handle 6-8. Two in my group were paired up with inexperienced guides who knew NOTHING about the unit. Nice guys to have in camp but should NEVER have been taking paid hunters into the field. I voiced my concerns on Day 2 and it was never corrected. I expected Rob to call and apologize in an attempt to make things right after the season which he never did. I cherish the great times I had with Rob and his guides before this fiasco. Based upon this experience, I will not recommend them to anyone.
Along the way, I also spent some time in the field with Dave 'Slick Top' Montoya with Drop Tine Outfitters in New Mexico. He is the real deal and the guide I recommend folks go with in Unit 2B.
TL;DR: I invested a lot of time and money over the course of a decade of New Mexico deer and elk hunting with a guide service and got burned on my last one. Still pissed about it.
Rob Degner
Mountain States Guide Service
PO Box 6310
Navajo Dam, NM 87419
Re: October 22-26, 2016 Mule Deer Hunt
Dear Rob,
I am writing this letter to express how disappointed and unsatisfied I was with the 1on1 guided hunt I received this past October. I have mulled over whether or not I should even write this letter to you at this time but I'm still so aggravated at how that whole week went that I felt I should inform you of my frustrations.
Let me start by saying that my first hunt with you in November of 2014 was a huge success. I went on that hunt solely at the recommendation of TX COWDOC, who obviously has hunted with you many times, and everything that TX COWDOC promised came to fruition. He promised me a rigorous hunt that would challenge me mentally and physically, that I'd hike plenty but would see beautiful country and few other hunters, that I'd learn to glass, and if there were bucks moving about that your professional guides would put me in the best possible place to have a shot at one.
It turned out that you were my guide in 2014 and things went wonderfully. You had a plan every day based upon what happened the day before and we hunted hard up until I shot my buck the last morning. The success of my first hunt was not completely predicated on the fact that I killed a nice buck on the last day; it was the entire thrill of five days of tough hunting and everything that I learned. Needless to say, the bar was set high but I was extremely excited to return in 2016.
Our group arrived this past fall to a camp of 14 hunters. I understand that you have nothing to do with how many hunters you draw at any given time and I'm sure you did your best to find suitable guides to help handle the large volume. But the fact was evident that you brought in professional guides from other territories to help guide your clients through country that some of the guides knew very little or nothing about. It was disconcerting to me (and others but I shall only speak for myself) that the guide that I paid a 1on1 rate for ($3,900) was not familiar with the area in which he intended to lead me. However, because of the success of my previous hunt, TX COWDOC's trust in your outfit, and the fact that I had come a long way and sacrificed much to get there, I decided I had little option but to see how it worked out.
From the first Saturday morning I set out with my guide it was evident that he was not suited to be guiding a hunt in that unit of New Mexico. All we did on Saturday was drive to locations off the road and walk no more than 100 yds to glass. If we didn't see any movement within 20-30 minutes, we were back in the truck and on to the next stop. Not only was this not the kind of hunt I had expected, but it was evident after our second stop that he had no plan or preconceived notion of where we were going to go for the rest of the day. He apologized, but he was merely pulling up to a spot that he was totally unfamiliar with, looking out his truck window, and deciding if we were going to get out or not. That is not the work of a professional guide.
Most of the hunters in camp had a similar "hit and move" hunting experience on Saturday so I decided not to complain and hope for better on Sunday. Unfortunately, Sunday was worse. The day started the same with 2 quick stops. The "hunting" was quick but it took a while to get to both spots. My guide had obviously been told 2 places to hunt but he couldn't find the locations. I lost count of how many times we turned around looking for our destinations. After we finally found both spots and neither worked, we were back to pulling off the side of the road and glassing canyons. The guide could sense that I was becoming very frustrated and angry with this so he decided it was time for us to take a break and get gas. We drove to the local station, we got gas, and he decided to drive back into camp to regroup. On our way to camp, he again apologized for not knowing where to go, but the simple fact was that this was not country he was familiar with. This is not the dialogue you want to hear from the "professional" guide whom you have paid for a 1on1 hunt. On the contrary, it's actually quite ridiculous and laughable.
When we arrived back at the camp, I was not surprised to see other "professional" guides there who were having similar problems. These guides, though professional in their own right and in their own country, were all frustrated because they didn't know where to go. Professional guides put in country that they know nothing about are nothing more than accomplished hunters who are looking for direction. These men did not know where to go nor did they have the tools to get to a preferred location even if told. I think that you would agree that this is absolutely unacceptable for a professional guide service.
My guide again apologized for not knowing where to go and took a seat in camp. As daylight on my second day slipped away, I tried to maintain my composure and suggested he text and call both you and Royce to get some direction. Understandably, we did not receive a response from either of you. My guide had earlier mentioned that you and Royce had taken him to a pond that was supposed to be a good spot. I reminded him of the conversation and asked if he could remember how to get to the pond. He thought he could so I asked to go. We left in the truck and actually found the location. The guide commented that it would be a 1.5 mile walk in. Great I said, I'm tired of the truck, let's go.
It took us a while to walk in because my guide needed frequent stops for his bad knees. While I felt for him and understood the need to rest if he was in pain, I also was aware of the fact that this should not be my problem and it is definitely not what I had paid for. We finally made it to the pond and I found a place downwind with a line of site over half of the pond. I cut some limbs and made a blind and settled in. My guide sat on the ground next to me but he had trouble getting comfortable. Within 20 minutes, 2 doe and a small buck approached the pond. The buck was not a shooter which was okay because the deer didn't hang around very long. My guide could not remain still on the ground and the noise from his movement scared the deer off. Within 30 more minutes, 3 more deer came to the pond but I did not have a clear line of sight of them through the brush. I waited for them to move clear of the brush but they were scared off before I got a good look. Again, my guide moved around on the ground and spooked the deer. Because of his discomfort and the noise he was making, he decided to go sit on a stump behind me. The stump had no cover, it left him fully exposed, and yet he sat down and began to whittle. This professional guide that I had paid for was making decisions in the woods that I would expect my 9 year old son to make. Despite all of this, another doe approached the pond. When the doe began to drink from the pond my guide let out a large sneeze. The doe of course bolted and screamed her head off as she ran up the mountain. My guide looked up at me and simply asked if that noise he heard was a bird. I cannot begin to tell you the frustration, aggravation, and anger I felt at this point. It was undoubtedly the most miserable hunting experience I had ever had, and I had the satisfaction of knowing I paid for it.
Upon returning to camp, I was fully committed to asking you for my money back and going home. It was utterly defeating to me to know how much I had sacrificed to get to New Mexico just to be a part of such a ridiculous circus. I had worked extremely hard to be able to take time off from my job to go on this hunt. I was taking vacation time away from my family and spending it with your outfit, just to be subjected to a horrendous hunt. In fact, I had missed my youngest son's birthday, October 20th, because that's when we needed to leave in order to arrive in New Mexico on time and be ready to hunt. All of these sacrifices were my choice and I understood them all when I put in for the draw. But you should understand the complete disappointment I felt with the hunt I received after making these sacrifices.
TX COWDOC spoke to Royce about what was going on and to Royce's credit, he tried to do right by me. Royce took me along with TX COWDOC and __________ for the remainder of the week in an effort to provide me with the hunt I desired. While the hunting improved considerably over the remaining three days, there was a simple fact that still tarnished the hunt. I paid you to provide me with a professional guide for a 1on1 hunt for 5 days and I never came close to receiving that. At best, I absolutely wasted 2 days and the remaining 3 days were 2-3 hunters with 1 guide. The fee for a 2on1 hunt was $3,300, a $600 discount over what I paid. At the very least, I think I'm entitled to a refund of that $600 difference.
I tried to discuss this issue with you on Wednesday night when we got back to camp. Unfortunately, you had already begun to celebrate the end of the hunting week and were not in any condition to talk about this. In fact you were rather dismissive and told me you'd take care of me the next time I hunted with your outfit. When you made that comment, I realized you didn't understand the depth of my disappointment and I should try to discuss this again later.
While this letter is much later than I had intended, the message is still the same. The professional guide service I received from your outfit was completely unsatisfactory for all of the reasons detailed above. I feel that at a minimum I should receive a refund of $600, the difference between a 1on1 hunt that I paid for and a 2on1 hunt that I somewhat received. The mere suggestion that I should contract with you again and you will take care of me then is unsuitable. I don't think anyone who went through the experience I had should be forced to chance it again in an effort to receive just compensation for poor services rendered.
Rob, I know the kind of service your outfit is capable of providing and it is first rate. The accommodations, the food, the people, and the hunting your outfit normally provides are great and something you should be proud of. This problem arose from the fact that you had too many hunters and not enough guides with professional experience in that unit. This, however, should not have been my problem. I understand that you had other hunters in camp that had hunted with you many more times than me and they warranted preferential treatment with respect to guides. But no paying client should have to go through what I endured. I hope you would agree that the kind of service I received was absolutely unacceptable.
I hope you consider refunding me the $600 difference between a 1on1 hunt and a 2on1 hunt. It is time again for me to start making plans about whether or not I will put in for the New Mexico mule deer draw. After my first experience with you in 2014, I was sure I had found the outfitter I would always use in New Mexico. I had even discussed bringing my father along so that he could enjoy a hunt. But as it stands today, without you compensating me for the hunt last October, there is no way I could return to your camp nor recommend your services. I apologize for the length of this letter but I obviously still have very strong feelings about how things went last October and felt the need to share all of the details of my experience. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience if you would like to discuss this matter.
Regards,
Mountain States Guide Service
PO Box 6310
Navajo Dam, NM 87419
Re: October 22-26, 2016 Mule Deer Hunt
Dear Rob,
I am writing this letter to express how disappointed and unsatisfied I was with the 1on1 guided hunt I received this past October. I have mulled over whether or not I should even write this letter to you at this time but I'm still so aggravated at how that whole week went that I felt I should inform you of my frustrations.
Let me start by saying that my first hunt with you in November of 2014 was a huge success. I went on that hunt solely at the recommendation of TX COWDOC, who obviously has hunted with you many times, and everything that TX COWDOC promised came to fruition. He promised me a rigorous hunt that would challenge me mentally and physically, that I'd hike plenty but would see beautiful country and few other hunters, that I'd learn to glass, and if there were bucks moving about that your professional guides would put me in the best possible place to have a shot at one.
It turned out that you were my guide in 2014 and things went wonderfully. You had a plan every day based upon what happened the day before and we hunted hard up until I shot my buck the last morning. The success of my first hunt was not completely predicated on the fact that I killed a nice buck on the last day; it was the entire thrill of five days of tough hunting and everything that I learned. Needless to say, the bar was set high but I was extremely excited to return in 2016.
Our group arrived this past fall to a camp of 14 hunters. I understand that you have nothing to do with how many hunters you draw at any given time and I'm sure you did your best to find suitable guides to help handle the large volume. But the fact was evident that you brought in professional guides from other territories to help guide your clients through country that some of the guides knew very little or nothing about. It was disconcerting to me (and others but I shall only speak for myself) that the guide that I paid a 1on1 rate for ($3,900) was not familiar with the area in which he intended to lead me. However, because of the success of my previous hunt, TX COWDOC's trust in your outfit, and the fact that I had come a long way and sacrificed much to get there, I decided I had little option but to see how it worked out.
From the first Saturday morning I set out with my guide it was evident that he was not suited to be guiding a hunt in that unit of New Mexico. All we did on Saturday was drive to locations off the road and walk no more than 100 yds to glass. If we didn't see any movement within 20-30 minutes, we were back in the truck and on to the next stop. Not only was this not the kind of hunt I had expected, but it was evident after our second stop that he had no plan or preconceived notion of where we were going to go for the rest of the day. He apologized, but he was merely pulling up to a spot that he was totally unfamiliar with, looking out his truck window, and deciding if we were going to get out or not. That is not the work of a professional guide.
Most of the hunters in camp had a similar "hit and move" hunting experience on Saturday so I decided not to complain and hope for better on Sunday. Unfortunately, Sunday was worse. The day started the same with 2 quick stops. The "hunting" was quick but it took a while to get to both spots. My guide had obviously been told 2 places to hunt but he couldn't find the locations. I lost count of how many times we turned around looking for our destinations. After we finally found both spots and neither worked, we were back to pulling off the side of the road and glassing canyons. The guide could sense that I was becoming very frustrated and angry with this so he decided it was time for us to take a break and get gas. We drove to the local station, we got gas, and he decided to drive back into camp to regroup. On our way to camp, he again apologized for not knowing where to go, but the simple fact was that this was not country he was familiar with. This is not the dialogue you want to hear from the "professional" guide whom you have paid for a 1on1 hunt. On the contrary, it's actually quite ridiculous and laughable.
When we arrived back at the camp, I was not surprised to see other "professional" guides there who were having similar problems. These guides, though professional in their own right and in their own country, were all frustrated because they didn't know where to go. Professional guides put in country that they know nothing about are nothing more than accomplished hunters who are looking for direction. These men did not know where to go nor did they have the tools to get to a preferred location even if told. I think that you would agree that this is absolutely unacceptable for a professional guide service.
My guide again apologized for not knowing where to go and took a seat in camp. As daylight on my second day slipped away, I tried to maintain my composure and suggested he text and call both you and Royce to get some direction. Understandably, we did not receive a response from either of you. My guide had earlier mentioned that you and Royce had taken him to a pond that was supposed to be a good spot. I reminded him of the conversation and asked if he could remember how to get to the pond. He thought he could so I asked to go. We left in the truck and actually found the location. The guide commented that it would be a 1.5 mile walk in. Great I said, I'm tired of the truck, let's go.
It took us a while to walk in because my guide needed frequent stops for his bad knees. While I felt for him and understood the need to rest if he was in pain, I also was aware of the fact that this should not be my problem and it is definitely not what I had paid for. We finally made it to the pond and I found a place downwind with a line of site over half of the pond. I cut some limbs and made a blind and settled in. My guide sat on the ground next to me but he had trouble getting comfortable. Within 20 minutes, 2 doe and a small buck approached the pond. The buck was not a shooter which was okay because the deer didn't hang around very long. My guide could not remain still on the ground and the noise from his movement scared the deer off. Within 30 more minutes, 3 more deer came to the pond but I did not have a clear line of sight of them through the brush. I waited for them to move clear of the brush but they were scared off before I got a good look. Again, my guide moved around on the ground and spooked the deer. Because of his discomfort and the noise he was making, he decided to go sit on a stump behind me. The stump had no cover, it left him fully exposed, and yet he sat down and began to whittle. This professional guide that I had paid for was making decisions in the woods that I would expect my 9 year old son to make. Despite all of this, another doe approached the pond. When the doe began to drink from the pond my guide let out a large sneeze. The doe of course bolted and screamed her head off as she ran up the mountain. My guide looked up at me and simply asked if that noise he heard was a bird. I cannot begin to tell you the frustration, aggravation, and anger I felt at this point. It was undoubtedly the most miserable hunting experience I had ever had, and I had the satisfaction of knowing I paid for it.
Upon returning to camp, I was fully committed to asking you for my money back and going home. It was utterly defeating to me to know how much I had sacrificed to get to New Mexico just to be a part of such a ridiculous circus. I had worked extremely hard to be able to take time off from my job to go on this hunt. I was taking vacation time away from my family and spending it with your outfit, just to be subjected to a horrendous hunt. In fact, I had missed my youngest son's birthday, October 20th, because that's when we needed to leave in order to arrive in New Mexico on time and be ready to hunt. All of these sacrifices were my choice and I understood them all when I put in for the draw. But you should understand the complete disappointment I felt with the hunt I received after making these sacrifices.
TX COWDOC spoke to Royce about what was going on and to Royce's credit, he tried to do right by me. Royce took me along with TX COWDOC and __________ for the remainder of the week in an effort to provide me with the hunt I desired. While the hunting improved considerably over the remaining three days, there was a simple fact that still tarnished the hunt. I paid you to provide me with a professional guide for a 1on1 hunt for 5 days and I never came close to receiving that. At best, I absolutely wasted 2 days and the remaining 3 days were 2-3 hunters with 1 guide. The fee for a 2on1 hunt was $3,300, a $600 discount over what I paid. At the very least, I think I'm entitled to a refund of that $600 difference.
I tried to discuss this issue with you on Wednesday night when we got back to camp. Unfortunately, you had already begun to celebrate the end of the hunting week and were not in any condition to talk about this. In fact you were rather dismissive and told me you'd take care of me the next time I hunted with your outfit. When you made that comment, I realized you didn't understand the depth of my disappointment and I should try to discuss this again later.
While this letter is much later than I had intended, the message is still the same. The professional guide service I received from your outfit was completely unsatisfactory for all of the reasons detailed above. I feel that at a minimum I should receive a refund of $600, the difference between a 1on1 hunt that I paid for and a 2on1 hunt that I somewhat received. The mere suggestion that I should contract with you again and you will take care of me then is unsuitable. I don't think anyone who went through the experience I had should be forced to chance it again in an effort to receive just compensation for poor services rendered.
Rob, I know the kind of service your outfit is capable of providing and it is first rate. The accommodations, the food, the people, and the hunting your outfit normally provides are great and something you should be proud of. This problem arose from the fact that you had too many hunters and not enough guides with professional experience in that unit. This, however, should not have been my problem. I understand that you had other hunters in camp that had hunted with you many more times than me and they warranted preferential treatment with respect to guides. But no paying client should have to go through what I endured. I hope you would agree that the kind of service I received was absolutely unacceptable.
I hope you consider refunding me the $600 difference between a 1on1 hunt and a 2on1 hunt. It is time again for me to start making plans about whether or not I will put in for the New Mexico mule deer draw. After my first experience with you in 2014, I was sure I had found the outfitter I would always use in New Mexico. I had even discussed bringing my father along so that he could enjoy a hunt. But as it stands today, without you compensating me for the hunt last October, there is no way I could return to your camp nor recommend your services. I apologize for the length of this letter but I obviously still have very strong feelings about how things went last October and felt the need to share all of the details of my experience. Please feel free to contact me at your convenience if you would like to discuss this matter.
Regards,
And the response?
Man, sorry to hear that story CowDoc.
This is an important lesson to learn - because I've heard this story many times before: If you pay money to go guided, and you do it enough, you will get burned.
Sadly, some folks get burned on the first time out. Others, like Cow, get some great experiences and animals before hitting that wall. Its part of the chance you take when hiring a guide, and I've heard it happen on high, high dollar hunts. Even the best money spent doesn't guarantee a good experience, much less a good animal.
DIY solves a lot of the problems. You now control it all. Including the success or failure. And if you don't live in the country, and don't know the animals, you just gotta hope enough hard work and some luck falls your way.
This is an important lesson to learn - because I've heard this story many times before: If you pay money to go guided, and you do it enough, you will get burned.
Sadly, some folks get burned on the first time out. Others, like Cow, get some great experiences and animals before hitting that wall. Its part of the chance you take when hiring a guide, and I've heard it happen on high, high dollar hunts. Even the best money spent doesn't guarantee a good experience, much less a good animal.
DIY solves a lot of the problems. You now control it all. Including the success or failure. And if you don't live in the country, and don't know the animals, you just gotta hope enough hard work and some luck falls your way.
The guy that wrote the letter got a $600 check in the mail. No apology.blazing7s94 said:
And the response?
Hmm hunted with him in 2013 and had the same problem. Never mentioned it much on here because I knew you were friends with him and Royce. One group was stuck with Corky who proceeded to smoke pot back at the truck when they were "hunting ridgelines". The other guy in my group got stuck with an uncle who missed half a day of hunting bc the guys truck broke down and had to go to town to get it fixed. They hunted the same spot every single hunt. I had Royce 1x1 and couldn't have been more happy with him and the service. Really burned us on outfitters which is why we DIY now. Same group of guys every year since. We have a 204" and a 170" under our belts and still trying to find those elusive beasts.
Sad that it ended that way for y'all. What's Royce up to? He really was the bright spot in that entire outfit.
Sad that it ended that way for y'all. What's Royce up to? He really was the bright spot in that entire outfit.
At the time of the 2016 hunt, Royce was going to buy MSGS from Rob. I've not heard any updates. Royce was a lot of fun to hunt with. We hunted hard and as a result went to places that most won't get to go because of the miles involved. I've got several great deer and an elk to show for it. I have great memories hunting with Rob and Royce. Considered them friends which is what is most irritating about how this all ended. I sent a lot of business their way over the years. Obviously I don't do that now.Maverick06 said:
What's Royce up to? He really was the bright spot in that entire outfit.
Corky has always been a pot-head. If you're into smoking weed while you hunt, then he's your man.
Fugin outfitters are their shady ass. How can you take peoples hard earned money, screw em, and sleep at night?
I enjoyed guiding around parts of northern NM.....but I will say the pot usage among other guides is a major reason I didn't do it very long. I can't stand the smell, the results annoy the crap out of me.
CowDoc, thanks for the recommendation and the heads up on Degner, he was one i was looking at! I called Dave and unfortunately he will be guiding in a another unit during the second season but he did recommend 2 others, he was very helpful and informative. After talking with him for a while Im leaning toward doing an unguided hunt through him.TX_COWDOC said:Call up a friend of mine....Dave Montoya and Drop Tine Outfitters. (505) 320-6036Burtron06 said:
Been meaning to ask this for a while...After 10yrs of applying I finally drew a 2B deer tag! Its the early hunt Oct 27-31, was wondering if anyone has a guide they can recommend that you Or a friend/family member used. Ive found 4 online that look pretty good but know nothing about them other than what on their websites. Any help is greatly appreciated, TIA!!!
Sorry to hear about your experience with degner, that would be infuriating!
Burtron06,Burtron06 said:
CowDoc, thanks for the recommendation and the heads up on Degner, he was one i was looking at! I called Dave and unfortunately he will be guiding in a another unit during the second season but he did recommend 2 others, he was very helpful and informative. After talking with him for a while Im leaning toward doing an unguided hunt through him.
Sorry to hear about your experience with degner, that would be infuriating!
I've hunted that country so many times that I personally would not hesitate to go it on my own.
Here's what you need for success:
Good glass;
Patience;
Ability to shoot 300-500 yards;
Willingness to hike where others won't / can't.
You'll see lots of road hunters aka poachers. Get back off the roads and set up on the points over looking the sage flats before 1st light.
Best of Luck!
TX COWDOC
Howdy,harge57 said:
I'll be hunting the same tag, but going the DIY route good luck.
I just found out that I drew a 2b deer tag for the end of October.
Any luck in 2b last year?
Any tips you willing to share?
Gig'em! JM
You look an awful lot like a buddy I used to hunt with on the Arrow S Ranch in the early 90s. Hope you are doing well.TX_COWDOC said:
Here's a 209" Unit 2B buck from 2006.
Last year was ALL about water. Almost all the water holes were dried up. So hunting around the lake was where all the does were. The bucks really hadn't migrated in. We saw a ton of does around the lake but no mature bucks.
I shot mine back towards the national forest a couple miles behind a closed gate.
I think a lot of people use boats to access some good parts of the unit.
A bike may be useful as there are a few roads they shut down on 10/15. You could get away from some people. However there were definitely people that either are or know landman out there that access the closed areas via vehicle and hunt. Can be pretty depressing to hike 4 miles in then have someone drive by road hunting. We called it in and they were not happy, but don't think were able to get over and do anything.
Howdy Ags,
I drew Unit NM 2B early rifle (Oct25-29) this year after YEARS of applying. I'm trying to put together a scouting plan and would welcome any pointers. I'm planning on poking around the Carson NF portion of the unit and along the eastern side of the SJ River, around Cabresto Canyon. Appreciate any help. Thanks.
I drew Unit NM 2B early rifle (Oct25-29) this year after YEARS of applying. I'm trying to put together a scouting plan and would welcome any pointers. I'm planning on poking around the Carson NF portion of the unit and along the eastern side of the SJ River, around Cabresto Canyon. Appreciate any help. Thanks.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band '85
IZ 2010-2011
Q8 2015-2016
Retired Army
IZ 2010-2011
Q8 2015-2016
Retired Army
Heckuva 1st post only 11 years in the making there BQ.
Congrats on the tag. I've hunted 2B a lot. Reach out and we can chat about some places.
Congrats on the tag. I've hunted 2B a lot. Reach out and we can chat about some places.
www.southpawprecision.com
Type 07 FFL / Class 2 SOT
Nightforce Optics Dealer
AGM Night Vision Dealer
Type 07 FFL / Class 2 SOT
Nightforce Optics Dealer
AGM Night Vision Dealer
You made me laugh out loud there, tx_cowdoc! I'd like to tell you I've been hitting it hard during that 11 years, but it's been ... busy. Let me just say my kids started playing hockey and I'll leave it at that! When I drew this tag, my first thought was I need t get back on the forum to see what's up. Would love to hear about your hunt and what worked. I'll be doing it DIY. Let me know how you want to connect.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band '85
IZ 2010-2011
Q8 2015-2016
Retired Army
IZ 2010-2011
Q8 2015-2016
Retired Army
9 seven 9 triple 7 9650
Shoot me a text with your info. Thanks
Shoot me a text with your info. Thanks
www.southpawprecision.com
Type 07 FFL / Class 2 SOT
Nightforce Optics Dealer
AGM Night Vision Dealer
Type 07 FFL / Class 2 SOT
Nightforce Optics Dealer
AGM Night Vision Dealer
Question - does anyone know if 310 runs up to Buzzard Park? Doesn't seem to on my USGS maps. Thanks.
Fightin' Texas Aggie Band '85
IZ 2010-2011
Q8 2015-2016
Retired Army
IZ 2010-2011
Q8 2015-2016
Retired Army
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