So I'm considering applying my hunting group of 3, for unit 5b for one of the two archery seasons. I see Gohunt mentions this being a tough hunt due to thick cover, but I see there are places where it this out, and I'm guessing those aren't as productive which eliminates some country. Is it really that thick to make this hunt more difficult? And I see a bunch of trails in the unit, so does anyone know if trail usage is mostly hunters during the archery seasons or will I run into other folks as well if we were to draw this unit? Basically just looking for an opportunity unit that might limit pressure so it isn't quite as tough as CO OTC. Am I way off base in looking at this area?
NM Group App
- Thread starter Gabenzeke
- Start date
My information is old so it might not be that useful. I deer hunted 5b 3 or 4 times from about 1995 to 2002, in September timeframe. I saw a few elk but it did not seem like a great spot so I never applied there (for elk). Maybe it is better now, the draw odds are sort of middle-of-the-pack.
Some of the higher elevations was typical pine forest, I don't recall it being that thick (again, 20 years ago). Some of the mid-level country was pretty thick oak brush and PJ, not unlike most of northern NM.
One year I did run into a group of non-resident archery elk hunters; they just had their camp robbed by some locals, "Welcome to New Mexico".
Overall I don't recall the hunting pressure being much of an issue, although I did have some competition at a water hole.
And by "trails", are you talking about old forest service roads?
Some of the higher elevations was typical pine forest, I don't recall it being that thick (again, 20 years ago). Some of the mid-level country was pretty thick oak brush and PJ, not unlike most of northern NM.
One year I did run into a group of non-resident archery elk hunters; they just had their camp robbed by some locals, "Welcome to New Mexico".
Overall I don't recall the hunting pressure being much of an issue, although I did have some competition at a water hole.
And by "trails", are you talking about old forest service roads?
I'm not sure on the trails...they show up as dotted white lines on onx maps. They seem to be everywhere. Some don't appear to connect what I would normally identify as a driveable road, so they could be old forest service roads or I thought maybe unmaintained trails? Thanks for the info you passed along though. Every little bit helps. I may have to look at other units for something with a larger population of elk.
You could cross check the "trails" with the Forest Service motor vehicle use map (MVUM) of the area. If it is legal to drive on you can bet there will be trucks and ATVs on it. And if it is just blocked off with a sign there will probably still be some yahoos driving on it. Even on archery hunts there will be lots of road hunters, just a fact of life.
Just found this link, might be useful:
https://apps.fs.usda.gov/TravelAccess/
Just found this link, might be useful:
https://apps.fs.usda.gov/TravelAccess/
Last edited:
With only 75 tags allocated that means for the 6% that goes to non-residents you only have 4.5 tags available to draw (not sure how the rounding works in this case?). Because you are applying as a group of 3 it looks like you are going to have to be either the first or second (if the first non-res to draw is in a party by himself) group drawn for that tag. Unlike Wyoming where they will give out more tags than are available if a group app exceeds what is left in the quota, in NM if there are 2 tags left and your party of 3 gets drawn they will skip over you and give those 2 tags to the next guy/group in line. When applying in a group I would pick a zone that has more tags available so that way you don't get shorted by having more in your group than tags left when your number gets picked.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2016
- Messages
- 1,273
