Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Managed to Score a Coupla' Tags

Neither of my daughters (14 and 17) were successful in the NM draw this year. My 17 YO was pretty bummed as this is her last year as a youth hunter. Fortunately, today they opened the youth encouragement hunts, with youths who were unsuccessful in the draw getting the first shot. I was able to nab both of them Cow Elk Tags in unit 15 just after Thanksgiving. They have both hunted cows in this area before and they're both 2 for 2. My oldest daughter is ecstatic that she gets to hunt 1 more time as a youth. I'm absolutely thrilled to get to take them hunting again! I'll be chasing a Bull Elk in the same area a month earlier so I hope it's an active year!

Anyway, just wanted to share my excitement about another hunt with the kiddos!

Good for them! Know it’ll be a blast to take em hunting in that unit. Best of luck.

They're awesome kids and we always have a ton of fun. My folks still go with us each time so it's great family time. We chose not to do this hunt in 2020 to spend Thanksgiving with family.

2018:




2019 (oldest daughter was sick, but still pulled it off)

Good sock daddy !!!



Know you'll all have a "blast" !

That will be a fun adventure no doubt. Unit 15 is a fun unit and it looks like you know your way around it. Congrats.

good for y'all

Thanks, gents. Got a lot of work to do before the hunt since I sold my Super Duty and bought an F-150. Need to sell the 5th wheel that's too big for the new truck and (try) to find a decent smaller tongue pull. If need be we'll use the tent, but we've been down there during that time frame when it's been nasty, wet, windy, and cold.

Should be a fun and rewarding time with the daughters. Congrats on getting the permits.

Congrats SP for you and the girls hunt. It will cost some cash but you will be enriched. Good luck to the gals. Mb

That is so cool. My daughter will be 2 in September and we have another due in October. I can’t wait to take them hunting and fishing. Hope you guys have a great time and good luck!

Beautiful family! Cherish every minute together.

Nice score Sock !

I’m stoked as well for you and your girls.

They’ll fill the freezer, while you concentrate on chasing tall bones.

🦫👍🏼

That's the master plan, Brother Beav! Funny, I don't get nearly as excited about my own hunts as I do theirs. On their last hunt in this area, we hunted for 5 days solid and finally closed the deal in the last ~hour of the last day. No whining was heard, just focus on getting it done. Good girls, I tell ya!

I am very happy for you and the girls SP. I hope you'll keep us posted here. What general area of NM do you hunt?

Thanks, Paul. This will be GMU 15 in west-central NM near the AZ line.

On the opposite side...the 15 yo son of a friend of mine wants a bull in the worst way. He's passed up a couple chances to get a cow tag, holding out for a bull tag. There's still one zone in western ID with quite a few bull tags available but they'll have to drive over 250 miles to hunt. I don't know if they'll go for it or not.

This one will be a tad more than that each way. Never thought twice about it as we have fun on the drive, too. I'll be in the same unit a month earlier chasing a bull, and my Mom (at 69 years old) will hunt the week after the girls. Someday I'll just buy a little property in the area.

Good Stuff!
Good Luck, and Enjoy!
Keep us posted!

That's interesting. In looking for a place for summer/fall retirement cabin, I have looked at that area. It's easy to find very good land prices on land that adjoins the Gila. Are you an NM resident? If so, how hard is it to get elk tags?

Yes. We have to put in for the draw, no point system. Very few available for outright purchase. Land owner tags are available if you own enough, but I'm not sure about the details on that.