Are hunting forums not for asking and giving advice? I'm always willing to help other hunters out in units I've hunted in the past, especially ones that have low draw success or are limited entry units.
No, they absolutely are and they are a great place for it. Having a unit in a thread title and showing up as the very first thing a person sees when they google "new mexico elk unit 18" is the problem and you are contributing directly to the problem. I mean I'm sure that is exactly how you got here...
Well first off congrats on drawing a great tag! This will most likely be an awesome year to have a NM elk tag given current moisture. The issue here is you started asking for help and advice in less than 5 mins after creating your account here. People that contribute to this forum, consistently get help from others... There is a saying "you get what you give" I think this perfectly applies here rather then immediately asking for help. A tip I'll give you is, before putting in for any tag you should have a game plan and at least researched basic information online and escouted the area before applying. With over 50 years experience y'all should have some success.
Much appreciated! Honestly this was a surprise tag that we weren't expecting to get. Our chances were like 7% and this was the third choice tag we had in New Mexico. I spend a lot of time researching units and states and have points or applications in almost every state at any given time. I understand I'm new here and haven't contributed anything but everyone was new at one point. There is limited information online for this unit and hoping I can get some help. I've already planned on looking up other units I've drawn in wyoming Utah and Colorado to help out other hunters in those units. I live for elk hunting and am always willing to help others be successful in their hunts.
Well I'll be honest there is a large difference in a 19 point tag drawn and one that has no point system. Don't expect people to Willy nilly give you hard earned information with no skin in the game here. We see people sign up and do this numerous times every spring/summer. 98% of them only take and never give. So what have you drawn before maybe I'm needing some intel?
Completely understand. We are the only non resident hunters that even drew a tag for this unit. We had less than a 6% chance and will more than likely never hunt this unit ever again. I've hunted unit 76 colorado. Unit 38 wyoming. Mt Dutton in Utah, gravely mountains in Montana, and a couple of OTC units in Colorado.
Welcome.
Is it so much to ask for a GPS of every water hole and preferably have someone just put up tree stands for me before I get there?
Yes.
I'm sitting on some WY points that I may burn someday eventually. Of coarse the new changes could mess all those plans up. I think you got some pretty good advise above on 18. It could be a tough hunt but low density units can produce some big elk in NM. Good luck out there and please hang around would love to see the out come. Find the water find the elk especially on a dry year in NM.
Oh shit i'm a little late, but i can definitely give a few pointers to hunting this unit -
