Mescalero cow elk hunt

[plumber1969]

I am only posting this as a warning to others who may try this in the future. We called the Inn of the Mountain Gods Big Game Hunt people and asked a specific question, "will the results be available prior to April 3rd?" We were told the drawing would be on March 19th and we could call on the 26th of March to get the results. Well we did that, and were told to call back today. Now today they are saying next week. I explained to him that this is unacceptable and I asked a specific question about us being notified prior to the deadline for Colorado. Now he is saying well you can try back on Friday. The issue I have is when I ask a specific question all I want is the truth. I don't have 4 weeks to take off and drive across the country 2 different times nor do I want to. I also had to send a cashiers check for that hunt for the 2 of us. You are at their mercy when they send it back, allegedly May 1st.

Has anybody else dealt with this when dealing with them? Makes me really appreciate CPW and the WGF. Sorry for the rant.

 

[HighDesertSage]

Yes. There terrible to deal with. It is what it is though. There not going to move faster for you or care about your emergencies. I tried for cow elk hunt a few years back with them and won’t do it again. If I remember correctly their self guided cow elk hunts were a pretty fair deal.

 

[plumber1969]

Yes the price is nice. I'm not a fan of being lied to and the only recourse I have is to let everyone know online so they do not have the same experience.

 

[HighDesertSage]

What's a cow hunt in the Sacramento's on the res cost these days? I imagine bull has got to be up around 20k now.

 

[plumber1969]

$650 a person.

 

[noharleyyet]

Ouch...any qualifying verbiage, written or otherwise in the run up plumber? Or a simple caveat emptor transaction?

 

[plumber1969]

Ouch...any qualifying verbiage, written or otherwise in the run up plumber? Or a simple caveat emptor transaction?

The original application had the dates listed but it has now been removed from the application. Since then, it’s been nothing but phone calls and lies. This was going to be a bit of a vacation for my wife after me dragging her through the Mountains last year on our elk hunt. Again all I wanted was honesty. Their attitudes have been what shocks me the most.

 

[bobbydean]

Our family used to have our reunion at the Inn of The Mountain Gods yearly in conjunction with The All American quarterhorse trials.

Absolutely. Each year service got worse and prices went up. The Mescalero's have always done what they want in their time frame. When Chino took control of the tribe, it got worse.

The tribe can get away with because they own one the most beautiful real estate sites in the US. They also have prime elk herds that keep growing and accessible on the reservation.

Used to be automatic to draw a cow elk. Demand picked up and prices went up. I think just a few years age, cow elk was $300.

Plumber1969, I am sorry for your problem, but do not have a solution.

 

[barefooter19]

The Inn is used to dealing with the high rollers from Texas that hunt there every year. They show up with their big diesel pushers or fly in and stay for a month. When they’re not being lead around the res they’re in the casino or in Ruidoso at the track/casino spending some of the Texas gold. If you get to the IOTMG check out their trophy building, it will make you wish you had a bull tag !!

 

[plumber1969]

The tragic thing is, I'm not far away from being able to afford a bull hunt like that. Rest assured, I will never spend my money with them after this fiasco has been resolved. I deal with Government Contracting personnel all day and they seem like they are on fire compared to these people at the Inn. We did get some better news from CPW, and it appears we can apply for the draw, without a $1300 hold on my CC and if selected, you have a period of time in which to pay. So we are applying this afternoon and really hoping to not get drawn at the Inn just because it has left a bad taste. Thanks again folks, this is why I enjoy this site so much!

 

[hank4elk]

I have heard some similar stories of all the Rez hunts here with maybe The Jic & how their game program works the exception. But they are pricey up front.
I hear they save good game areas for the rollers & common folk get what they choose to do that day....
If I had the $ I would hunt the Jic. Maybe. Probably just do a real lodge on a ranch with access to hunt solo...

 

[plumber1969]

True be told, I enjoy the pursuit much more than the kill. If selected for the Inn, this is a gift after the hunt last year in Colorado. She is still pouting about the 11 mile hike I put her through. I am hoping that we are not selected and go on back to Colorado. We are applying for the cow muzzle loader for her and ES archery again for me. She realized last year what her limitation with archery equipment are and this is a great compromise for both of us.

 

[barefooter19]

The $14,500 they get for a bull hunt will get a guy a whole lot different treatment than the $650 cow hunt. I have never hunted on the res but live very close to it. I haven’t heard anything bad about the hunts there to be honest but I see some very impressive bulls there every year. You can buy some real good elk meat from the butcher shop at their hunting headquarters. I think some of the Texans take the antlers and leave the meat because they always have a lot of meat for sale. Good luck.

 

[prhunter]

The Inn is used to dealing with the high rollers from Texas that hunt there every year. They show up with their big diesel pushers or fly in and stay for a month. When they’re not being lead around the res they’re in the casino or in Ruidoso at the track/casino spending some of the Texas gold. If you get to the IOTMG check out their trophy building, it will make you wish you had a bull tag !!

Not all Texans are high rollers driving big diesel trucks.

OP: The results should be out by now. I know of two hunters that found out they drew yesterday.

 

[noharleyyet]

Again with the low fruit anecdotal default aspersions....not all big diesel truck owners are high rollers and most work their asses off.

 

[barefooter19]

Nobody said all Texans..... but ....the ones that I see that hunt bulls on the res every year and the ones I know that have second homes or ranches around here and fly in and out of Ruidoso are very much High Rollers !! Not talking about the average Joe trying to scratch out a living and not talking about diesel pickup trucks. A diesel pusher is a high dollar diesel powered RV coach. Come hunting season the Inn’s hunting vehicle parking lot is lined up with beautiful diesel pusher coaches!!

 

[bobbydean]

Texans built Ruidoso and made it popular. 90% of license plates in the summer have the Don't Mess with Texas. Been going to Ruidoso Downs for 50 years, The crowd is mostly Texans and nice Texans. The best restaurant town is the Texas Club (great steaks).

 

[hank4elk]

Ruidoso is real nice in the off seasons too. Stayed there a few times in nice old cabins.

 

[plumber1969]

We have been drawn. We will make the most of it and learn form this. Ironically enough, you are not given a email confirmation or any confirmation other that "yes you were drawn". We booked our room already and we will make the most of it and hopefully get an cow elk or two. We are calling CPW today to try and get our application amended to only buy the points. I know this is more of a vacation and not exactly DIY, but we will make do. It is something my wife wanted to try, so as the saying goes, happy wife happy life. I really enjoyed the physical aspect of our excursions last year and even though we didn't kill anything, that is not why I hunt. Again, thank you to all on this forum and good luck to everyone this year.

 

[noharleyyet]

Good for you plumber, enjoy the beautiful country.