Early Archery New Mexico unit 36 tactics

[THINKIN6X6]

36 is very steep country and full of prickly stuff in the burn areas. my advice to you is be in very good physical shape and have good boots, gaiters that are broken in. there are alot of elk but you need to be in very good shape to get to them.

 

[mdgray]

mdgray, It was awesome! Incredible area and lots of elk, I was into bulls almost every day. Ended up killing a 300" 6 point and had a great experience. Thanks for asking!

That's awesome, congrats on the bull. I cant wait. I'm taking the family on memorial day weekend for a quick vacation to Ruidoso and to check out the area some. I've talked to a couple of locals and they suggested staying in the low country and avoid the high country. They acted like there is elk in every part of the unit and most the other hunters go to the high elevation stuff and i would find just as many elk with less pressure in the lower country. Does that sound inline with your experience?

 

[brownbear932008]

That's awesome, congrats on the bull. I cant wait. I'm taking the family on memorial day weekend for a quick vacation to Ruidoso and to check out the area some. I've talked to a couple of locals and they suggested staying in the low country and avoid the high country. They acted like there is elk in every part of the unit and most the other hunters go to the high elevation stuff and i would find just as many elk with less pressure in the lower country. Does that sound inline with your experience?

It does not sound like the experience I had on two trips there. The low country is easier to get around but I personally saw way more elk in the high/tough country. Now bow season could be different but I doubt it makes that much difference. I hunted/scouted both areas,most days I would see between 5-15 elk low and 25-100 high as an example. You are in for a great hunt as dry as it is water could be key. It will effect horn growth if it continues to stay dry. My first hunt was a dry year and it was tough to find a six point. My second year was a good moisture year and 6 points were everywhere you looked.
I can't stress enough to get in shape the country is steep and high elevations.

 

[mdgray]

thank you for you in put. i cant wait for September.

 

[newtexican]

mdgray, It was awesome! Incredible area and lots of elk, I was into bulls almost every day. Ended up killing a 300" 6 point and had a great experience. Thanks for asking!

Curious what was the tactic used to take your bull?

We drew unit 36 early archery. Three tags so we will have our work cut out for us. In all reality I’ll be over the moon if we fill one

 

[Big daddy]

mdgray, It was awesome! Incredible area and lots of elk, I was into bulls almost every day. Ended up killing a 300" 6 point and had a great experience. Thanks for asking

Mike congratulations on your trip. Glad it was a success. We drew some 36 tags this year and if at all possible would like some direction on where to start. Not scared to hike. This will be our first elk hunt all info would be much appreciated.

 

[Dave N]

Mike congratulations on your trip. Glad it was a success. We drew some 36 tags this year and if at all possible would like some direction on where to start. Not scared to hike. This will be our first elk hunt all info would be much appreciated.

He hasn't been here for over 2 years.

 

[perma]

Tell us, Mike.

 

[brownbear932008]

Mike congratulations on your trip. Glad it was a success. We drew some 36 tags this year and if at all possible would like some direction on where to start. Not scared to hike. This will be our first elk hunt all info would be much appreciated.

Here's a tip, a quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know. It's a primo tag elk are not hard to find in a primo unit. You can throw a rock in about any direction and find elk in there. It's steep, it's rugged, it's full of elk, find a trailhead and walk and you can be assured you will see plenty of elk. Most of all be in shape, it will make or break you real quick if you hike in. Good luck, and hang around don't be the guy who grabs what he can and runs never to be seen again which is what 95% of these type post consist of.

 

[Horse]

Here's a tip, a quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know. It's a primo tag elk are not hard to find in a primo unit. You can throw a rock in about any direction and find elk in there. It's steep, it's rugged, it's full of elk, find a trailhead and walk and you can be assured you will see plenty of elk. Most of all be in shape, it will make or break you real quick if you hike in. Good luck, and hang around don't be the guy who grabs what he can and runs never to be seen again which is what 95% of these type post consist of.

Are you recommending horses to get into then? Compared from say hunting from truck camp and hiking in and out each day.

 

[WapitiBob]

I'm almost 70 and If I couldn't kill a Bull in 36 day hunting from my truck, I'd smash my bow and quit hunting.

 

[Big daddy]

Here's a tip, a quick Google search will tell you everything you need to know. It's a primo tag elk are not hard to find in a primo unit. You can throw a rock in about any direction and find elk in there. It's steep, it's rugged, it's full of elk, find a trailhead and walk and you can be assured you will see plenty of elk. Most of all be in shape, it will make or break you real quick if you hike in. Good luck, and hang around don't be the guy who grabs what he can and runs never to be seen again which is what 95% of these type post consist of.

Listen I know it an awesome unit. Just don’t know what to expect. This is literally my first elk hunt. We will be in shape. Have been in the mountians chasing deer. Steep and rugged is fine with us. We love it. Just don’t know if we need to get deep or truck hunt. I know both will probably be effective.

 

[PerezA]

I have the same hunt as yourself BD, lucky for me it’s only a few hours to drive to the mountain so I’ll be up there all summer long scouting, camping and fishing. Like everybody else said there is plenty of elk to chase and it shouldn’t be a problem finding elk to hunt. Things to expect, road hunters, hikers, lots of ppl just enjoying the woods camping and hopefully a few bugling bulls. This will be my first time chasing elk in this unit but not the first time in the unit, I grew up camping all over the mountain. I do have a few contacts for horse services if you would like them? They do drop camps, water hauls, horses rental and pack out services. Best of luck and I’ll see you out there

 

[Big daddy]

I have the same hunt as yourself BD, lucky for me it’s only a few hours to drive to the mountain so I’ll be up there all summer long scouting, camping and fishing. Like everybody else said there is plenty of elk to chase and it shouldn’t be a problem finding elk to hunt. Things to expect, road hunters, hikers, lots of ppl just enjoying the woods camping and hopefully a few bugling bulls. This will be my first time chasing elk in this unit but not the first time in the unit, I grew up camping all over the mountain. I do have a few contacts for horse services if you would like them? They do drop camps, water hauls, horses rental and pack out services. Best of luck and I’ll see you out there

Man that sounds great. Is there any way I could get a phone number or something so we could talk over the phone. ?

 

[Big daddy]

I have the same hunt as yourself BD, lucky for me it’s only a few hours to drive to the mountain so I’ll be up there all summer long scouting, camping and fishing. Like everybody else said there is plenty of elk to chase and it shouldn’t be a problem finding elk to hunt. Things to expect, road hunters, hikers, lots of ppl just enjoying the woods camping and hopefully a few bugling bulls. This will be my first time chasing elk in this unit but not the first time in the unit, I grew up camping all over the mountain. I do have a few contacts for horse services if you would like them? They do drop camps, water hauls, horses rental and pack out services. Best of luck and I’ll see you out there

We would definitely be interested in the pack out services. Since we have three tags to fill it would be better suited for us to have help as we kill so we can keep hunting.

 

[PerezA]

We would definitely be interested in the pack out services. Since we have three tags to fill it would be better suited for us to have help as we kill so we can keep hunting.

Three tags?? Dang you guys hit gold. NR or R?

 

[CMF]

Listen I know it an awesome unit. Just don’t know what to expect. This is literally my first elk hunt. We will be in shape. Have been in the mountians chasing deer. Steep and rugged is fine with us. We love it. Just don’t know if we need to get deep or truck hunt. I know both will probably be effective.

He told you exactly what to expect. You can go deep, but you'll be walking past elk...

 

[Big daddy]

Three tags?? Dang you guys hit gold. NR or R?

Yea. As a nr I was the group leader and the guys under me all got tags as well. So if I drew we all drew.

 

[RoughCountry]

Some guys make it sound like 36 is a cake walk but you can bet it has some of the roughest country in NM.

 

[Big daddy]

I’m sure. We ain’t scared to walk. One step at a time.