New to NM and elk hunting Unit 12

hank4elk said:
Their there, spread out across the unit. Lots of water & feed about. Check where the cattle drink....

I drew the same tag ,again. My brother bailed last night, again. LOL
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HI I am pondering Unit 12 Elk for 2025, which part of unit is best, looked on Google earth not many water spots are the eplus ranches a place to check since you note cattle water...Thank you
 
AggieNM said:
HI I am pondering Unit 12 Elk for 2025, which part of unit is best, looked on Google earth not many water spots are the eplus ranches a place to check since you note cattle water...Thank you
Click to expand...
Im in the same spot. I’m leaning toward unit 12 archer for its good draw to harvest success odds, but looking at the unit I’m worried it might be due to the fact that a lot of the unit is private land that guides or locals in the area might have access to.
 
Welcome to HT.
You can post some tales of your experiences on hunting public lands. Or about yourself and what brings you here.

Tired of requests for info and no payback. Your the third this week. Show me your serious and post.
That's how you'll get PM's from me from now on...


or Mrs. Fin telling me to ixnay on the ersway.
 
hank4elk said:
Welcome to HT.
You can post some tales of your experiences on hunting public lands. Or about yourself and what brings you here.

Tired of requests for info and no payback. Your the third this week. Show me your serious and post.
That's how you'll get PM's from me from now on...


or Mrs. Fin telling me to ixnay on the ersway.
Click to expand...
Sure thing. My name is Shawn and I'm from WI. My first elk hunt was last year (2024) in Wyoming. Drew a leftover tag that I knew I would have to hike several miles in to get to good elk habitat that was surrounded by private. I drove to Wyoming over Labor Day weekend to scout and packed two cases of water into the area I planned on camping ahead of time (no other water here). Got back out there in October and talked to two locals (women) that were on horses. They were packing up to leave and we got chatting with them. Long story short, the private ranch was running all the elk onto private and not allowing them to stay on public land. They also harassed the two women and followed them around on a side by side the whole time they were trying to hunt. Apparently the game warden was riding around with them in the side by side, so they must have been friends. Probably didn't pay to call the game and fish. It was also 90 degrees out so my friend and I decided it wasn't worth our time if they were going to follow us around with a loud ATV. It all made sense why there were leftover tags. Anyway, that was my first (bad) experience elk hunting (not really hunting). Fast forward to this year, I drew a NM unit 12 elk tag and will be going out there 1 week ahead of time to scout. Obviously don't know a ton about elk hunting so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can beforehand, even if it's just areas that don't hold elk so I don't waste my time scouting those areas. Sorry if I upset you-that wasn't my intention. Shawn
 
gingerninja said:
Sure thing. My name is Shawn and I'm from WI. My first elk hunt was last year (2024) in Wyoming. Drew a leftover tag that I knew I would have to hike several miles in to get to good elk habitat that was surrounded by private. I drove to Wyoming over Labor Day weekend to scout and packed two cases of water into the area I planned on camping ahead of time (no other water here). Got back out there in October and talked to two locals (women) that were on horses. They were packing up to leave and we got chatting with them. Long story short, the private ranch was running all the elk onto private and not allowing them to stay on public land. They also harassed the two women and followed them around on a side by side the whole time they were trying to hunt. Apparently the game warden was riding around with them in the side by side, so they must have been friends. Probably didn't pay to call the game and fish. It was also 90 degrees out so my friend and I decided it wasn't worth our time if they were going to follow us around with a loud ATV. It all made sense why there were leftover tags. Anyway, that was my first (bad) experience elk hunting (not really hunting). Fast forward to this year, I drew a NM unit 12 elk tag and will be going out there 1 week ahead of time to scout. Obviously don't know a ton about elk hunting so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can beforehand, even if it's just areas that don't hold elk so I don't waste my time scouting those areas. Sorry if I upset you-that wasn't my intention. Shawn
Click to expand...
I dont know anything about the unit really but I do know there are elk there
 
gingerninja said:
Sure thing. My name is Shawn and I'm from WI. My first elk hunt was last year (2024) in Wyoming. Drew a leftover tag that I knew I would have to hike several miles in to get to good elk habitat that was surrounded by private. I drove to Wyoming over Labor Day weekend to scout and packed two cases of water into the area I planned on camping ahead of time (no other water here). Got back out there in October and talked to two locals (women) that were on horses. They were packing up to leave and we got chatting with them. Long story short, the private ranch was running all the elk onto private and not allowing them to stay on public land. They also harassed the two women and followed them around on a side by side the whole time they were trying to hunt. Apparently the game warden was riding around with them in the side by side, so they must have been friends. Probably didn't pay to call the game and fish. It was also 90 degrees out so my friend and I decided it wasn't worth our time if they were going to follow us around with a loud ATV. It all made sense why there were leftover tags. Anyway, that was my first (bad) experience elk hunting (not really hunting). Fast forward to this year, I drew a NM unit 12 elk tag and will be going out there 1 week ahead of time to scout. Obviously don't know a ton about elk hunting so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can beforehand, even if it's just areas that don't hold elk so I don't waste my time scouting those areas. Sorry if I upset you-that wasn't my intention. Shawn
Click to expand...
Sorry Shawn, I'm a little testy these days and an old asshole in general at times. LOL
Welcome to HT and elk hunting. Bunch of what I would call experts here.
Not me, but I know a few things about NM and this unit.
A tease of monsoon. Extreme drought in general.
Lot's of elk.
I'll PM you.

Hank
 
hank4elk said:
Sorry Shawn, I'm a little testy these days and an old asshole in general at times. LOL
Welcome to HT and elk hunting. Bunch of what I would call experts here.
Not me, but I know a few things about NM and this unit.
A tease of monsoon. Extreme drought in general.
Lot's of elk.
I'll PM you.

Hank
Click to expand...
Thanks Hank, I look forward to your PM and chatting further. Thanks. Shawn
 
Shawn you can’t even compare your 50’s wy tag to the tag you drew this year. Those 50”s tags can be great with horses and residents but outside of that it’s a grind. Your 12 tag will be the hunt of a lifetime you better enjoy it as you’ll be trying for years to get back in there. I’ve been trying for 5 years and haven’t even sniffed another new mex tag. You will have a great time make the best of it.
 
Kids legit.
Damn lucky in the draws too. Just spent a while talking.
Young civil eng. and as he is telling me he drew 1st UW bull here, he just saw he drew a Navajo Rez. 1st MZ tag.......................LOL!!!!
He just say's I guess I'll be out there a month.
Met a guy in ND hunting that lives near the Rez.................................LOL Told him to try..................LOL
So kid has a place up north and a lead or two around here.

Cool things do happen.
 
hank4elk said:
Kids legit.
Damn lucky in the draws too. Just spent a while talking.
Young civil eng. and as he is telling me he drew 1st UW bull here, he just saw he drew a Navajo Rez. 1st MZ tag.......................LOL!!!!
He just say's I guess I'll be out there a month.
Met a guy in ND hunting that lives near the Rez.................................LOL Told him to try..................LOL
So kid has a place up north and a lead or two around here.

Cool things do happen.
Click to expand...
Great talking with you Hank. Appreciate the knowledge. I'll keep in touch and give you a call the week beforehand when I'm in NM scouting and take you out for dinner. Thanks again. Shawn
 
1.30 inches so far this summer, not much on the west side of state.
Record rains on the east.
Light rain today and more this next week. Could be a good finish on monsoon season into Oct. One can hope.

With ranchers selling off cattle, some relief on the range.

Good Luck and Good Hunting all!
 
Always enjoy getting your updates, Hank. I really like your slice of the world. Good food, incomparable sunsets, and fond memories.


Photo Oct 22, 1 19 16 PM.jpegPhoto Oct 23, 7 38 01 PM.jpeg
 
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