All of the elk hunts are conducted in quality units in Southwest New Mexico, which
requires hunters to apply for tags through the New Mexico Department of Game and
Fish. Twelve percent of the lottery draw licenses are allocated for nonresidents
who hire an outfitter. By signing a contract to book a guided hunt with a licensed
outfitter, you may increase your odds of drawing a tag. Contracts, waiver and
release forms, and applicant information forms are available on our web site.
Our bow hunts begin around the first of September and last three weeks. This is
the best time of year for rutting bulls.
There’s nothing more exciting than calling one of these giants within bow range.
Other methods that can be effective this time of year are sitting water sources or
spot and stalk.
Muzzle loader and rifle hunts are spread throughout October and November. The
early October seasons sometimes offer the opportunity to hunt bugling bulls. When the
rut is over and the bulls have left the cows, glassing and stalking becomes the most
productive method of hunting.
A rifle, youth only elk hunt is available the first week of October including the Fort
Bayard State Game Refuge in unit 24.This is a great opportunity for a kid to
harvest a respectable bull. The hunter must have proof of passing New Mexico’s
or another state’s hunter education course and must be under the age of 18 on the
beginning date of the hunt.
DEER Hunts
Muzzle loader season begins the last week of September. The deer are usually in the
velvet this time of the year, which makes them a little less elusive as they try to protect the new antler growth. This makes for a great opportunity to see bigger bucks. Some units require the hunter to apply for a license and others the license may be purchased over the counter. Rifle season in New Mexico is during the months of November and December. During this time we like to concentrate on coues deer. New Mexico regulations allow a hunter to take any legal deer, mule or coues. We hunt areas that have both species, but more potential for record book coues deer. During these hunts we let our eyes do the walking
by taking advantage of good optics. We hunt in units where licenses may be purchased over the counter and also in quality units that require a hunter to draw.
The bow season runs the middle two weeks of January. There is opportunity to hunt both species, coues and mule deer. This particular hunt is during the rut. Glassing from vantage points lets us cover a lot of country in a short amount of time, which is most effective to find the buck you are looking for. Tree stands can be productive
as well.
