ELK?

[thechamp]

Been looking around for some inexpensive yet productive elk hunts. Found this bunch in New Mexico. They have alfalfa fields and evidently have more elk then they know what to do with. Also the terrain isn't pure mountains. Here is a video of a herd of bulls they had on the property on 11-8-2009
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BZuGfO4EaY


Another video of a herd of elk on the property in December of 09.
http://www.youtube.com/user/tone30185#p/u/3/5m_v4LndO4o


Like fat boys coming to a buffett....

[mauserman]

How do they price the hunts?

[thechamp]

How do they price the hunts?

From what I can tell, little foggy on the specs. $2,800 for the tag and the hunt, you buy your own license and take care of your own accomodations - near as I can tell that's how they work. Really isn't bad when you consider just the land owner tags usually go for about $4,000. plus license, etc. So he's not far off. One catch seems to be that they hunt migratory herds, which obviously means when they're on the ranch you'll probably do fine. If not you may strike out. Saw something in the writeup that if you don't succeed you can go back the next year and only pay for your license - pretty good deal in that case. Definitely some big bulls and lots of animals when they're in those alfalfa fields.

[mauserman]

I just spent the last 15mins trying to figure out New Mexico's licensing. There are 3 types of mature bull elk tags. i couldn't figure out if we have to get on a draw or can we just buy the tag?
I about died laughing when I saw the deer tag and then the quality deer tag!
The 2800 doesn't sound bad if there is some decent hunting.

[thechamp]

I just spent the last 15mins trying to figure out New Mexico's licensing. There are 3 types of mature bull elk tags. i couldn't figure out if we have to get on a draw or can we just buy the tag?
I about died laughing when I saw the deer tag and then the quality deer tag!
The 2800 doesn't sound bad if there is some decent hunting.

Ah yes, New Mexico's licensing system - sucks....

Where Steve lives in Unit 34 a bull license cost us over $700. This guy is in another area and according to his ad the tags there are $345, which is actually what a cow elk license cost. Bull tags are over $700 for 'us' out of staters for those bulls too. From what I gather the area this guy ($2,800) is in does have a lot of elk and they are migratory elk from northern New Mexico and Colorado. There are a lot of 225 up to 275 bulls in those herds with an occassional big one.

The 'Quality" tags are in certain areas that are prone to have trophy class animals. (And if you believe that one...) You have a snow ball chance in Haitis of getting a trophy class animal on public land. On private the odds are fair to good. My GF's boss killed a really nice mule deer last year in New Mexico on private.

The cheapest out of state tag is the 'draw' tags that you can put in for in each unit and if you get one you pay for the license from the state. It allows you to hunt Elk on public land and if you can get permission from a land owner in that unit you can hunt on his property.

They have 'land owner unit wide' tags which are confusing. The land owner gets them and can sell them but if he doesn't want you to hunt on his property he doesn't have to allow it. You can hunt public land all over the unit and again anybody else who'll let you tresspass. (FAT chance of that happening - trust me, the people HATE out of state hunters no matter how much money we spend in their state!) But it does give you a tag to use if you put in for the draw and don't get one....

If a ranch owner will allow you to hunt on his land he should get the 'unit wide' tag which will first off let you hunt on his land but secondly if there is adjacent public land that is 'landlocked', so to speak from the general public you can then also hunt that property which can be very good also. Those tags are running around $4,000 plus license fees and your accomodations while there.

The last ones are the true land owner tags that they get which allow hunting on that ranch and only on that ranch. Unless the ranch is of size or been well managed that one can be frustrating. I can tell you I've been on some ranches out there hunting mule deer and never even seen an elk on the property.

Believe me it does get confusing.