New Mexico unit 51 setting my goal too high?

[Valley1320]

To note - I’ve been on all of the rifle hunts (as a guest, all my personal hunts in 51 were archery) and bulls were still talking each hunt.

If you are first hunt you could possibly have a wild, wild hunt.

When we are up there bear hunting after the archery hunts, bulls are absolutely ripping the bugles off.

 

[Dsnow9]

When we are up there bear hunting after the archery hunts, bulls are absolutely ripping the bugles off.

How late into October do they usually bugle down there? I’m used to high pressure, zero point, co units where hearing a bugle can be like seeing a unicorn.

 

[Valley1320]

How late into October do they usually bugle down there? I’m used to high pressure, zero point, co units where hearing a bugle can be like seeing a unicorn.

As far as how late idk forsure. We usually go bear hunt thru Sept 25th-Oct 13thish area. And they are bugling that whole time. But be slowing down a lil towards the end of that time period but definitely still hearing them

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

@Paul S17 - 10k is a good elevation. If you’re not in the spruce, too low. And on the topic of spruce things, pack some judo or blunt tips in your quiver.

 

[Paul S17]

100% this ^

No shortage of elk in the unit.
I’ve hunted second season there a few times and that’s typically where you’re seeing some of the better bulls moving around.

“Off the beaten path” is relative out there because there are so many roads in that unit. Just don’t overthink it and think you need to get super far away from the road.

Lots of weekend warriors in that unit. So any easy areas to access will probably have more traffic on the weekends.

Same goes for water. Most tanks that are easy to access will have lots of people showing up on ATVs to sit.

I know you’ve hunted elk a few times now and have had success, but as a fellow whitetail hunter I’m going to give you some advice that you didn’t ask for.

Don’t let your whitetail tactics throttle your elk tactics.

Be aggressive.
There are plenty of elk out there to test your abilities and master the craft.

Have fun and be safe.


Final pro tip - don’t talk to the guides. Find a rancher in an old pick up and make a friend. They know the units like the back of their hands and can help tell you where elk are.

Thank you for the information much appreciated! I agree with the aggressiveness. Thats exactly how we got it done last year. Dropped packs and leap frogged up the mountain with my buddy cow calling behind me. I will update. Y’all are awesome.

 

[Paul S17]

@Paul S17 - 10k is a good elevation. If you’re not in the spruce, too low. And on the topic of spruce things, pack some judo or blunt tips in your quiver.

Right on. Thank you!

 

[Andrey]

good day all. anyone still active on this post?

 

[brownbear932008]

You mean the thread the OP started after making his 10 post to get his information to never return? I'm gonna guess no since it's been two years and you found it in a Google search.

By the way congrats on a killer tag big bulls all over that unit.

 

[Andrey]

You mean the thread the OP started after making his 10 post to get his information to never return? I'm gonna guess no since it's been two years and you found it in a Google search.

By the way congrats on a killer tag big bulls all over that unit.

thank you. first year applying. drew with a buddy. last year got lucky with a moose in Maine.

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

thank you. first year applying. drew with a buddy. last year got lucky with a moose in Maine.

So I’ll talk with you and we can help each other out because I’m interested in ME moose.

 

[Andrey]

So I’ll talk with you and we can help each other out because I’m interested in ME moose.

have you been building points ?

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

have you been building points ?

No, I think I’ll start this year. I’ve been around the whole state, college in Waldo County.

 

[Andrey]

No, I think I’ll start this year. I’ve been around the whole state, college in Waldo County.

So I applied first time last year. Had zero points. And was lucky to get northern Maine. As a non res you can actually purchase multiple chances to better your odds.

 

[Stretch866]

I'll hop on the revive 51 train if anyone is going this year.

 

[jtbell86]

this thread was a good read as I have put in for this unit previously. Drew 34 this year and know that one much better being that I live right down the road

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

So I applied first time last year. Had zero points. And was lucky to get northern Maine. As a non res you can actually purchase multiple chances to better your odds.

Are you living up that way? It would be a major expense, only hunt of the year thing for me. Though there could be a processor that ships so that would cut out a 2500mi drive back.

 

[Andrey]

Are you living up that way? It would be a major expense, only hunt of the year thing for me. Though there could be a processor that ships so that would cut out a 2500mi drive back.

I’m outside nyc. It was about a 12 hour drive to the logging roads. Border of Canada / Maine. Cut up the meat with a buddy.

 

[Benfromalbuquerque]

I’m outside nyc. It was about a 12 hour drive to the logging roads. Border of Canada / Maine. Cut up the meat with a buddy.

I’ve been in The County and yeah, 95 to the end, bang a left. Suppose I could haul deboned quarters back to a butcher here, would be faster. Your three posts out from messaging.

 

[Andrey]

I’ve been in The County and yeah, 95 to the end, bang a left. Suppose I could haul deboned quarters back to a butcher here, would be faster. Your three posts out from messaging

I’ve been in The County and yeah, 95 to the end, bang a left. Suppose I could haul deboned quarters back to a butcher here, would be faster. Your three posts out from messaging.

since you don't choose your zone, the state does it for you, you could be anywhere in Maine. but you can actually swap tags with others. Another thing that was neat, is you can have a co hunter(sub-permitte).

I’ve been in The County and yeah, 95 to the end, bang a left. Suppose I could haul deboned quarters back to a butcher here, would be faster. Your three posts out from messaging.

I can messsage now.

 

[atshumaker]

Hey everyone, I have a New Mexico unit 51 rifle elk tag for the third rifle season (Oct. 21-25). I'm hoping to get a little more information about this unit. I have never done an out of state hunt, only hunted locally in southwest Montana. I am able to fill my elk tag every year so I have a decent understanding of what it takes to kill an elk in general units here in Montana. I won't be able to drive down to do any scouting or looking around before my season dates. I do plan to arrive 3-4 days before the season to do some scouting. From what I understand its a big unit and there are lots of roads. When hunting in my home state I prefer to hunt as far from roads as possible but it looks like in a lot of unit 51 the furthest you can get from a motorized road is about 2 miles. I've also heard that many locals take trucks and atv's down non-motorized roads. One of my concerns is the motorized traffic and how it will affect the elk behavior? Another is, with it being the 3rd rifle season, what affect the first two rifle seasons will have on elk behavior? My goal for this hunt is to harvest a mature bull, ideally a 6 point bull. I will be hunting with my brother so it won't be a solo hunt. We are willing to pack a bull out of any canyon or hole in the unit. We're going into this hunt with the mindset of no bull too far, too deep, too steep etc. What can I expect for mature bull behavior during the time of my hunt? Do they all go to private? Do they go nocturnal? I would imagine there are only small windows of time in the AM and PM to catch them on there feet. I would also guess by that time of year the mature bulls are off by themselves recovering from the rut. Are there certain areas or terrain features I should focus on to find an older bull? I'm not looking for waypoints, just basically wondering if we hunt very hard the whole time we're down there, will turning up a mature bull be more a matter of luck than hunting skill or effort?

How did this hunt go? I drew a unit 51 2nd season elk archery.