NM applications

[Valley1320]

Twelfth year applying for an elk tag, hopefully this is my year! Feeling pretty good about deer tags in some “undesirable” units with muzzleloader tags, I have drawn a few of them and had a great time, even if it is mediocre hunting.

Those early muzzloader hunts can be good!

 

[D_Walt]

Those early muzzloader hunts can be good!

I enjoy them just as much for getting to access State Land and see some neat country as I do the chance at getting a deer. There’s a few areas in NM that I really enjoy spending time and I just want a tag to have an excuse to wander around for a few days. That said…I would really like to get an elk tag and a chance to hunt a big bull. Maybe the stars align and I’ll get the opportunity for both.

 

[CMF]

i did elk and barbary sheep. I guess this is what might light a fire under my ass to get back to being busy and making money. I'm debating putting in for sheep oryx and deer, but if i draw a sheep or oryx and my elk tag, i'm gonna be squeezed pretty tight (and possibly murdered in my sleep by my wife).

The chances of all three are pretty much zero...

Actually, the secret to drawing tags is being scared to draw. You’ll get it on the years you could live without them due to time constraints of money constraints.

Therefore, it’s smart to always be in time and money constraints

You're right about that, I drew co sheep last year and set my new home construction back more than 6 months... Oh well, got to have priorities... went ahead and threw some nm apps in the hat while I'm breaking ground, no way I'll draw

 

[Zim]

Exactly. Found out about the draw on my birthday. Wee bit drunk that night celebrating.

If I see a green box this year I’m quite sure my defibrillator will go off.

 

[The_Jim]

You're odds are all a little better this year. Started filling out my son and my applications - got called out on a service call and didn't make it home until after it was closed.

 

[PRO MO]

The chances of all three are pretty much zero...

but it could happen

 

[Blackcats06]

You may well be right but AZ didn’t crank up NR costs like NM did.. the cost to buy another elk point and stay in the game didn’t change in AZ, even if odds continue to erode. In NM the odds have been bad for awhile but the cost to play just jumped…
I for one was more ambivalent about applying this year.
I don’t have the numbers but it’s also interesting to consider the ratio of licenses, app fees, and tag fees charged to NRs. The odds are bad enough that a $25 license increase is probably more impactful than the tag increases. Which actually would make them sensitive to reduced application volumes due to NR demand destruction.
Will be interesting to see what happens.

You're right that az didn't increase prices but Wyoming has recently and there was no decrease in applicants

 

[gburk]

True. Implicit in my hastily assembled argument is the fact that NM is mostly coasting off a reputation gained years ago. I’ve been on a number of “HQ” deer hunts that were terrible. Elk is better off but it’s a short season, reduced trophy potential, drought ridden and just not the same experience as a Wyoming general tag.

We draw our fair share of tags as a group but only because I’m applying for myself and five sons; ie throwing away hundreds of dollars in non refundable license and app fees every year for that one tag (on average) we do draw.

That said we’re all a bunch of degenerate gamblers so the above logic does not apply and I will be soundly disproven shortly lol

You're right that az didn't increase prices but Wyoming has recently and there was no decrease in applicants

 

[David58]

It's rather nice to be in Idaho now.

David
FROM NM

 

[TheGreek]

Valles Caldera here I come!