Don't let baranoia keep you out of the woods. I've never used a bear fence, and often cook in my tent... I know tempting fate. The bears that will get you are the ones you surprise on the bush. They aren't coming in looking to eat you in camp.
Can't your son apply for a NR "adult" tag? I guess I'm not sure why NR youth need to have any priority. If I remember right NM is one of the only places that offer youth tags for animals other than deer/elk, but I could be wrong.
Id like to shoot a few more animals/species with my muzzle loader. Like a brown bear, moose and a sheep.
I had a goal of shooting 12 rams, almost there.
I'm not sure what I would do, TBH. All three tags have their own challenges and rewards. I'd love to have a Chugach bear tag, not as big but a very cool experience. Id imagine it would be way cheaper as a NR too.
The current administration is doing its best to make BLM lands basically national park status. It will start with the extraction industry, to ranching, to ORVs, then hunters. That's where its going, like it not.
I think this is all great. The only thing I could see backfiring is the fact that the only thing to hunt in October is mule deer. All that idle time and itching to get out before elk opens.
Do you think the pressure will increase on mule deer? It seems like it would limit the opportunity mule...
IMO they are a bro org devoted to antidevelopment. No middle ground, no compromise, just a no. Sorry I won't support them. TU at least will compromise and come to middle ground.
Best of luck to you, but I'm glad Hunt quietly is making an impact. BHA is IMO nothing more than the Sierra Club...