16b Gila Wilderness water sources for horses

[acmckeage03]

Hey guys,

My buddy and I have second archery season elk tags and are bringing horses in from out of state. Was hoping someone could help me out with water sources and feed conditions. Trying to hash out some of the logistics of bringing horses out of state. Thank you!

 

[LCguy]

Plenty of water. There are a dozen permanent streams in there. Find one on the map and set up camp near it.

 

[trophyhill]

Just be cognizant that the terrain isn't as easy as it looks on maps and there could be deadfall across the trails. Id bring a chainsaw fo sho.

 

[acmckeage03]

Just be cognizant that the terrain isn't as easy as it looks on maps and there could be deadfall across the trails. Id bring a chainsaw fo sho.

Thats what I’ve gathered. The maps make it look easy to hang around the rivers for water but it sounds like it’s fairly difficult to access them.

 

[Indian Summer]

Omax Maps should show you what you need to know. Be aware that if you are bringing or buying hay to use while camping on national forest it has to be certified weed/seed free.

 

[yfarm]

Went in 16b on a packtrip 1st week of Sept. Left from the Airplane Mesa campground going SE. at that time the grass was good, horses grazed at night, were fed sweetfeed and pellets in the morning. Our water and theirs came out of the creeks which was no issue. Archery was open and saw a few hunters going in solo on a horse with no pack animals. Full backpack on the hunter with full saddle bags. Horses were overloaded. As you get near the river the terrain gets “challenging”. The outfitter told me they had been weathered in once and went out to the south by the cliff dwellings, said he did not want to ever do that again.

 

[acmckeage03]

Omax Maps should show you what you need to know. Be aware that if you are bringing or buying hay to use while camping on national forest it has to be certified weed/seed free.

Great advice. Thank you.

 

[acmckeage03]

Exactly what I’m trying to figure out. Thank you

 

[yfarm]

Once you cross the wilderness boundary, mechanized devices are forbidden except with FS approval.

 

[awcopeland]

In case you aren’t tracking, there is and has been some fires in the wilderness already this year. Currently, the Turkeyfeather fire is burning. It seems like it’ll be more good than bad as it’s burning old snags from the Whitewater fire of 2012.

As far as water goes, it’s going to depend on where exactly in 16B you’re looking at. The high stuff to the west has more water than the central and eastern lower areas in broad statements. Just because OnX shows a tank, I would NOT bet my life on it actually having water in it.

Do a google search for Gila trail information. You can easily find what you’re looking for.

 

[rayporter]

have your health papers in order----i have been checked. when i was just going through i was pulled over in New Mexico.

 

[BBob]

have your health papers in order----i have been checked. when i was just going through i was pulled over in New Mexico.

What health papers? Not the Grisham covid vaccination travel restriction crap? If so that ended in ‘23 I think? Other than that I’m not aware of a requirement to ever have any sort of health papers traveling to NM.

Edit: Mby health papers for the horses? That makes more sense.

 

[yfarm]

Spent a lot of time in NM even during covid and have never been stopped or asked for “health papers”. There was a rumor there was a checkpoint south of Taos, I went thru there during covid and saw nothing.

 

[rayporter]

yes
for equines

the cow cop will throw his weight around

 

[acmckeage03]

In case you aren’t tracking, there is and has been some fires in the wilderness already this year. Currently, the Turkeyfeather fire is burning. It seems like it’ll be more good than bad as it’s burning old snags from the Whitewater fire of 2012.

As far as water goes, it’s going to depend on where exactly in 16B you’re looking at. The high stuff to the west has more water than the central and eastern lower areas in broad statements. Just because OnX shows a tank, I would NOT bet my life on it actually having water in it.

Do a google search for Gila trail information. You can easily find what you’re looking for.

This was my main concern. It’s easy to look at tanks and make a plan. However I’ve talked with multiple people who were planning on a tank only to arrive and discover it’s dry.