Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting About New Mexico Elk Hunting

Is it too late to book for 2022? Do private land outfitters supply your tag? Is a reservation hunt the best option for a successful hunt on a trophy bull, or regular private land? How would you rate the reservations, from best to worst?

Might not be too late, but you’ll be behind the curve if you want to do a bunch of research and weed through outfitters. You might call some booking agents. I’ll throw The Draw guys out there. They’ll have some options. Private vs Reservation is tough. Depends on what kind of hunt you want. There’s a lot of differences across the state. Some private tags in the core have to adhere to state hunt dates. Some private tags can hunt any 5 days from Oct1 thru Dec 31(rifle. I assume you’re talking rifle.) Some hunts are high country some are desert mountain. Reservation hunts have the luxury of setting their own dates. As far as rating reservations, that’s just as tough. They can be pretty confusing. Many have a draw too and have passed. I’ll speak to the ones I have experience with. Acoma Pueblo has the chance to kill a 400+ and do every year. Usually the muzzleloader hunt is the best and repeat guys have the option so it’s hard to get in on the best hunts. I believe they are the most expensive probably around $18k I would think. It’s a tent hunt but nice wall tents with a shower trailer. Guides are provided.

Mescalero is a “gentlemen’s” hunt. You stay at the Inn of the Mountain Gods and can play golf during the day or gamble in the casino. Not too physical. I believe they average in the 320s. You could probably do better if you stay off the trigger and hunt hard. I think they around $13k. Guides are provided. They only offer rifle hunts but they are during the rut.

The Jicarilla has a ton of bulls but the top end is probably in the 340s, although there’s always a chance of bigger. Their hunts are more reasonable I think some are as low as $6k-7k. You have to book your own guide off the Guide list. And you have to provide your own lodging either the Best western in Dulce or Airbnb in pagosa. Guides and lodging brings those costs up but probably not as much as the other two. A late hunt could be fun and productive and give you the chance to see world class mule deer. I know some of the hunts are a draw. Not sure about all of the bull tags. Call and talk to Kyle Tator he is the biologist. He can give you the scoop.

The Navajo is complicated and I’m not up to date on it. It’s huge and made up of different units between Az and Nm. All are either draw or first come first serve, I believe.

They used to kill some giants on the Zuni but I haven’t heard much about it, and don’t know they’re process. Might be a sleeper.

Laguna is right next to Acoma but I don’t think they have as much elk country. Again I’m not sure on their regs. I know at one time you could do a DIY hunt without a guide. Might pay to look into that.

I’m sure there are other details that I’m forgetting. I can try to answer any other questions you might have. Keep this in mind, when hunting on Reservations you have to deal with Indians. I’m not trying to offend anyone but it is a consideration and a fact of life. Most are some of best hunters in the world but there are duds too.

NM has a draw and a Landowner Tag option. Landowner tags appear to be what you’re asking about. If I’m wrong, I apologize. Landowner tags can be found on smaller ranches all the way up to the big ranches @ 500,000 acres. Reservations also have landowner tags just like private ranches will.

Big bull opportunities via landowner tags tend to go quickly on properties that have a proven track record. And they are not cheap. Some ranches you’ll find are impossible to obtain a tag on because the same groups of hunters book every year….it’s like that on some ranches I’ve hunted. Others it’s “almost” impossible….you may have a chance if there’s some cancellations.

I’ve hunted on private ranches and on tribal properties. My opinion, based on my experiences, is that private ranches have been much better for me and it’s not even close. My personal observation is I’ve seen private ranches have a greater emphasis on providing you with a successful hunt than tribal lands and it wasn’t even close. It’s up to the individual hunter to define what they consider success. That is strictly a personal observation and others experiences may be different. The tribal properties I’ve hunted on gave me the impression that 1) they’d just as soon you not be on their land white man but 2) your money is green so hurry up and finish your hunt and leave asap. I’ve personally had guides that were visibly upset when I actually killed one of their elk…I’m not joking.

Elk hunting on private land is one situation where, for the most part, you’ll get what you pay for in terms of trophy quality and shot opportunities. With the understanding that some big elk are taken on less expensive hunts every year….generally I wouldn’t expect a 340 bull behind every tree on a $3500 hunt, so to speak.

If a ranch’s average bull taken is in the 330” range they will charge more (and get it) than the ranch that the average bull might be 260” . The law of supply and demand for good bulls means that usually you get what you pay for.

The better ranches are already booked for 2022 elk and 23 also. Call, talk with several ranches, get a feel for what you’re looking for and the costs involved….then ask to be placed on a waiting list in case some hunts are canceled. You may catch lightning in a bottle.

This is turning into the buy an elk rack forum.

Guy asked a question and we answered it the best we could. Go soak your [bleep] and weep into your soy latte or stroke your raghorn. I really don’t GAF.

Where was that GFY button again?

You’ve received some really good information. It may be too late for this year, but check Vermejo Ranch. It’s pricey, but the accommodations are first class and it’s worth something just to see the ranch.

Pistolero knows his stuff. I'd listen to him.

Thanks fellas, this gets me pointed in the right direction.

Don’t forget The Lodge at Chama.

sergeurge2hunt.com
Serge
415-706-1204
sergeurge2hunt.com
www.urge2hunt.com

Can't recommend but I contacted him and he had tags $$$$$

Off subject but do any of
You know a gentleman/guide named Jim Bobb. I did a couple of hunts some years back in the Lincoln North of
Ruidoao? I can’t find him in the register. Thanks for any help. He was a very knowledgeable and enjoyable hunting companion.

Vermejo is booked.

Lol, are you booked in for next year?

How many inches of antler are required, per dollar paid, to make a great hunt?

Backdoor, I don’t know wtf you’re talking about. Go run your cock holster somewhere else.

Go buy some antlers.

👍🤣