Nm gmu 2b

[ntodwild]

Anyone know anything about the quality of hunting as well as the quality of Elk in New Mexico Unit 2 Primarily 2B. This would be my first year applying in New Mexico and just trying to get a feel (not that I would get the draw). What units would be your first choice for a quality bull elk hunt in New Mexico?

As usual not looking for detailed info on the area as I am pretty confident in my e-scouting. No one give up their hunting area. Just need some basic info.

 

[BDH]

Is there a reason why you want 2B? With no point systems in NM why not swing for the fence, and make your first choice one in the Gila?

RLTW

 

[ntodwild]

Is there a reason why you want 2B? With no point systems in NM why not swing for the fence, and make your first choice one in the Gila?

RLTW

No reason whatsoever. I was just looking at the GMU map. I was also thinking Unit 16. I have not done any research at all. Just starting to look into it.

 

[dan.kirkpatrick]

2 b isn't great for elk but there was some sign in there in 2011 when I went for deer

 

[dididraw]

I hunted late deer in unit 2B years ago and saw a nice 300ish bull. However, it was the only elk I saw in four days of hunting.

 

[Jayden12]

NM looks at your 3 choices before moving on.Go big on your first choice or two,and higher odds 3rd choice.Good luck, I drew my 2 nd year applying with 10% odds

 

[Camdu7]

We saw a few elk in there hunting deer in early Nov. Didn't see any nice bulls but found this set of sheds. I would not apply for deer in that area again unless it was the Jan bow hunt.

 

[beginnerhunter]

Resurrecting this thread.

Sooo, there's not much information on the internet for this unit. Also, is the tag good for all three (2a,2b,2c)? According to top rut there aren't many NR tags given out but the unit is huge. The success rate seems good, something like 35% for rifle over 3 year period. What's missing here? Well, it's a huge unit and not many tags, which makes me think the people who draw this tag know where the elk are going to be. Maybe not a good unit to start out in NM? The NM folks probably know what's up.

 

[blueridge]

This is from San Juan River Outfitters:

Unit 2 is our home unit, and while it is a legendary mule deer unit, it is lesser known for it's rapidly expanding elk herd. We have steadily seen elk numbers increase and hunting opportunity improve. We a suggest a Unit 2 hunt as a good "third choice" on your application. While we do not begin to represent Unit 2 as being of the same quality of Units 34, 36, 51, or 52, it still offers a good hunt with great odds of being drawn for a tag.

I've read other reviews that seem to agree that the elk are spread out and you need to know the water sources they're using. Other comments that it's not "typical" habitat when you think of NW Elk hunting, and others commenting on the prevalence of gas/oil wells and compressor stations throughout the unit, as evidenced by the background of Camdu7's pic.

I've never been there, so this is just what I found when researching it myself. But you're right, Toprut is showing success rates of 19%, 48%, and 43% respectively for 2nd archery, muzzleloader, 1st rifle.

 

[beginnerhunter]

This is from San Juan River Outfitters:


I've read other reviews that seem to agree that the elk are spread out and you need to know the water sources they're using. Other comments that it's not "typical" habitat when you think of NW Elk hunting, and others commenting on the prevalence of gas/oil wells and compressor stations throughout the unit, as evidenced by the background of Camdu7's pic.

I've never been there, so this is just what I found when researching it myself. But you're right, Toprut is showing success rates of 19%, 48%, and 43% respectively for 2nd archery, muzzleloader, 1st rifle.

Ok makes sense. See, this is the deal when you get into success rates, etc. Sometimes the numbers aren't indicative of the overall quality or what works best for a DIYer.

RELATED: Who is the best person to contact in NM for advice? I've tried the conservation officers but they don't seem super eager to help. Which is fine, not their job I guess. Should I try to get a hold of the biologists? Forest service? Just wondering who you guys normally contact. Thanks!

 

[Topgun 30-06]

I've been on two five day rifle mule deer hunts a buddy has drawn in 2b in the last ten years. There are wells and compressor areas all over the unit, but the animals seem to disregard the noise. On those two hunts we were on the west side near the reservation the first time and well to the west near the lake the second time. We did a ton of glassing every day and only saw one small bunch of cows that had a nice bull with them on that second hunt and that's it.

 

[silasd]

Hi all,
I got lucky and drew 2B after three years of zero tags. It's the last Oct rifle hunt. I want to go up and scout in a couple of weeks just to get the lay of the land. If you had to pick a side, would you start scouting the Carson NF side or the lake side? Any pointers to focus me more are appreciated. Take care all.

 

[seeth07]

Hi all,
I got lucky and drew 2B after three years of zero tags. It's the last Oct rifle hunt. I want to go up and scout in a couple of weeks just to get the lay of the land. If you had to pick a side, would you start scouting the Carson NF side or the lake side? Any pointers to focus me more are appreciated. Take care all.

Deer or elk? I thought the elk tag was all of unit 2?

 

[silasd]

Deer or elk? I thought the elk tag was all of unit 2?

Sorry - deer.

 

[Benjiesam1]

Anyone know anything about the quality of hunting as well as the quality of Elk in New Mexico Unit 2 Primarily 2B. This would be my first year applying in New Mexico and just trying to get a feel (not that I would get the draw). What units would be your first choice for a quality bull elk hunt in New Mexico?

As usual not looking for detailed info on the area as I am pretty confident in my e-scouting. No one give up their hunting area. Just need some basic info.

Unit 2 is a good area for deer and elk hunting. I have seen some nice bull and mule deer bucks in there. That is always my first choice when i put in for the hunts. Unit 7 is also some good elk hunting areas. I am local in the area and live around unit 2 and unit 7.

 

[silasd]

Hey all - just thought I'd post this for those who are not aware...

 

[Dblaha]

Unit 2 is a good area for deer and elk hunting. I have seen some nice bull and mule deer bucks in there. That is always my first choice when i put in for the hunts. Unit 7 is also some good elk hunting areas. I am local in the area and live around unit 2 and unit 7.

How’s unit 2b looking? We were drawn for next weeks rifle season. Coming up from Texas, hoping to get a day and a half of scouting in. We have a couple ideas of where to start from talking to some hunters from last year, but any pointers?

 

[Dave N]

How’s unit 2b looking? We were drawn for next weeks rifle season. Coming up from Texas, hoping to get a day and a half of scouting in. We have a couple ideas of where to start from talking to some hunters from last year, but any pointers?

He was so full of information that he left the site after 3 days and 1 post!

 

[silasd]

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.