I dunno, the elevation difference isn't that crazy in 16E and they aren't going to be bedding in the middle of the plains when there's nice PJ cover nearby. I would look for them in the plains and watch where they go to bed.
I've got a tent and two jackets for sale. Open to offers and trades. All in great condition and never taken into the field:
Seek outside Little Bug Out base/vestibule with nest, stove jack, and carbon pole - 600$ shipped
First Lite seak rain jacket, large - 200 shipped
Sitka Jetstream, XL -...
if he lets you then you probably can but only on land he has a lease with the state land office for. The restriction on access is because state lands are by and large leased out to ranchers.
Sorry i missed this until the thread got resurrected. I ended up taking a cow my first morning out after spiking out the afternoon before. I actually spiked right on top of the herd and they kept me up all night. Easy to locate and move in on in the morning.
I mean, what advice can you really give about any of the Gila area units though. There's elk everywhere. If you can't find them then you need to go back to basics and try using some of the tools like what Randy puts out on how to scout and find elk...
My brother and his wife there in quemado would certainly be interested. Maybe not this year because its already hunting time and my brother drew a cow tag.