Unit 2B Mule Deer Recap (TLDR: did not tag out)
Hi All,
First I want to thank everyone who shared info and pointers with me on this unit. Your advice was invaluable. I did not connect, but it wasn't for want of deer. Just want of bucks at the right place right time. I have hunted a lot of units in NM and never seen as many animals in one unit as this one.
I went up a few weeks early to scout - thanks to all who said be sure to bring chains. YOU ARE NOT KIDDING. I was unable to fully scout the area because it rained almost all weekend and the roads were a mess. Without chains, I would have lost my truck over a drop off, no doubt. For those not familiar, the soil is a fine power/sand that fills your treads and then cakes your wheels. When the sand/clay donut that used to be your tire is in contact with the same wet sand/clay surface, you have no traction. In my case, I was scouting a forect road off 64 with some steep grades and got caught in a shower on an already wet day. I did not notice my tires had slicked up until I tried to brake and continued sliding. Luckily, the truck came to a stop and I got out and chained up. After that is was no problem. Still slow going but no more sliding. I'll also say this. I had used chains before so I know how to put them on. If you haven't doe it before, be sure to do a dry run. When your truck is perched on the side of a 7-8 degree slope, you want to know your system.
For everyone who said find a locked gate and pursue game at least a mile beyond it, thank you. That is what I did, and I saw deer every day. The day before my tag opened, I saw a shooter buck I'd have been happy to take, but try as I might I couldn't find him. Or any other day for that matter. Every day I saw a least three does - 9 on the last day.
BRING BEAR SPRAY. I was putting a predawn sneak on an area and jumped a mama and her Gen x cubs. I say Gen x because they were so big, they must've gone to college and came back home to live. Mama was even bigger, and I have seen a lot of NM bears. She was pissed and started at me. For those veterans who crave that combat zone adrenalin rush when sh*t's getting real, this is how you get your fix. I was about to start feeding her 45 caliber bruin snacks when she turned and hightailed it after her "cubs." Ironically, I had a bear and cougar tag but NMDGF closed the unit to bear harvests a few weeks back. If you're wondering why I didn't spray her, I was downwind. They were by a well and I was on my ebike with a green light headlamp, so I am guessing they couldn't smell or hear me. They exploded out of the sage brush when I rolled in. I dumped the bike, and started walking backwards like Michael Jackson moonwalking at the Grammys - just as smooth and as fast as the laws of nature would allow. Suffice it to say, the predawn sneak was aborted.
There are lots of road hunters. The winner of NM road hunter of the year goes to the dude in a lawn chair with a suppressor on his rifle riding in the back of his bud's truck, which was loaded with kids. Why to raise em right, dad. Again, find a spot off the road and start hiking in. Find the game trails and read the tracks. You will see deer. On my last day I saw 3 does at noon and three more at 4 PM. They were pretty relaxed. I believe the 9 on my last day is because the road pressure pushed them in. If only they'd brought their boyfriends.
As for the roads, the oil and gas roads are well maintained. The guys who work there are good dudes. I pulled over when the sand trucks and water trucks were coming at me or behind me and got a thank you every time. We're there to hunt for recreation; they are there to get a job done.
Bring EVERYTHING you need. There are no stores for miles. So bring a jerry can of fuel just in case. That said, I fueled up in Chama every trip and made it in and home on one tank (27 gal - 2014 Dodge Ram Diesel).
I also brought an ebike. Don't bother. The terrain is pretty rugged and the hassle of humping around locked gates, while doable, ain't worth it. Adding a rifle to the mix just makes it harder. You'll get to the end of the well pad and have to to ditch the bike in the bushes. And if you leave it on your truck, you'll worry about it.
Camping - I camped right off the road near my spot. Plenty of spaces for tents. Bring earplugs because if it ain't the fracking ops, it's the sand trucks, or the rigs. It's noisy.
Also - fire ban in effect.
That's all, folks. Disappointed I didn't harvest but I had a great time. Rugged country that tests you, and bears that remind you you're alive.
Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations, and you'll have really good days. RWH
IZ 10-11
Q8 15-16
