This is in no way a defense of the outfitter, sounds like the OP got a bad deal.
The outfitter would have a hard time selling a hunt any higher than that if a person looks at the make up of unit 46. The unit is made up of a bunch of small “ranches”, 50 to 300 acres with most being less than 300. There are some larger places, but not many.
Unlike other units, all authorizations are ranch only, but you are allowed to hunt other properties with written permission. You may hunt a 100 acre place in the AM and have to go 10 miles to another property that the outfitter has access to to hunt 60 acres in the PM.
The cost of private ground hunts with an outfitter on bigger ranches, in better units in NM cost twice that partially due to an authorization from a better unit running $3,500 to $10,000. A unit 46 mature bull authorization sales for ~$1,000 to $1,500 when they can find a buyer. ( which is hard)
Again, not defending the outfitter at all, it sounds like he is not up front on the hunt, just giving a little perspective.
