2025 NM Elk Draw Thread

[Mojave]

25 apps, one youth oryx tag for my daughter, her second

I have 8 guys and gals I work with that all apply for everything in the state as residents.

So those 8, their spouses and and kids. A group of 30 people as residents applying for resident tags. With a big spread of archery, muzzleloader, and rifle for adults and youth tags across the board. Over 250 applications for 10 tags drawn.

Most kids got some kind of a tag, most adults got nothing.

So when nonresidents don't draw, I don't see how they have much of a shot at all.

Everyone I know uses the same strategy.

1. 1st tier Golden tag
2. 2nd tier Quality tag
3. 3rd tier Ok tag
4. 4th tier Tag with 500 of your best friends, because at least you are out there. What is crazy as I have only drawn one of these tags once. I don't hunt the weekend, I usually wait until Tuesday to start hunting.

LIving in Southern New Mexico, I quit applying for tags north of ALBQ except for Rocky Mountain Bighorns.

Out of those 9 people, 8 plus me. There are only two of us that apply in other states.

The only thing that New Mexico has going for it is quality public land hunting. At very reduced numbers.

If we had the same number of people as Utah, we would be screwed. I think Utah is kind off screwed anyway with their points system. I have 10 years in my Utah points and I am not sure how many years I will keep applying. So dumb. Wish I would have never plaid their game.

I didn't apply this year as we are still overseas.

 

[buffsmoker]

Not trying to be a downer as that’s an awesome tag but it’s been an extremely dry winter in southern NM. Keep an eye out for fires and monsoon moisture to give you an idea of realistic expectations. Best of luck

Lucky for me I don't really have any big expectations. I figured I was just donating to NMDGF this year, so this was an amazing surprise. I'm just looking to have a good time in an awesome place. My biggest worry is fires shutting down the area. Fingers crossed for a good monsoon season!

 

[awcopeland]

Lucky for me I don't really have any big expectations. I figured I was just donating to NMDGF this year, so this was an amazing surprise. I'm just looking to have a good time in an awesome place. My biggest worry is fires shutting down the area. Fingers crossed for a good monsoon season!

With that attitude I think you’ll do alright. Who knows, an early fire could turn out okay with an average monsoon, which looking at the ENSO data is all I expect for this year.

 

[NealS02]

Does anyone know when refunds are typically issued? The NM Game and Fish website just says “automatically” but have not received mine yet.

 

[Gila]

I have 8 guys and gals I work with that all apply for everything in the state as residents.

So those 8, their spouses and and kids. A group of 30 people as residents applying for resident tags. With a big spread of archery, muzzleloader, and rifle for adults and youth tags across the board. Over 250 applications for 10 tags drawn.

Most kids got some kind of a tag, most adults got nothing.

So when nonresidents don't draw, I don't see how they have much of a shot at all.

Everyone I know uses the same strategy.

1. 1st tier Golden tag
2. 2nd tier Quality tag
3. 3rd tier Ok tag
4. 4th tier Tag with 500 of your best friends, because at least you are out there. What is crazy as I have only drawn one of these tags once. I don't hunt the weekend, I usually wait until Tuesday to start hunting.

LIving in Southern New Mexico, I quit applying for tags north of ALBQ except for Rocky Mountain Bighorns.

Out of those 9 people, 8 plus me. There are only two of us that apply in other states.

The only thing that New Mexico has going for it is quality public land hunting. At very reduced numbers.

If we had the same number of people as Utah, we would be screwed. I think Utah is kind off screwed anyway with their points system. I have 10 years in my Utah points and I am not sure how many years I will keep applying. So dumb. Wish I would have never plaid their game.

I didn't apply this year as we are still overseas.

As much as I want to hunt those areas as a resident, I stopped putting in for 16A and Valle Vidal. Ended up being just wasted choices. Now more tags are getting dumped into E-Plus and taken from the public draw. I have been lucky over the years drawing a few great tags. During COVID I drew the most tags. I was able to buy an e-plus unit wide tag in the Gila once when there was a cancellation. The privatization of our hunting has devastated hunting opportunity on public lands. The youth hunting program is good, actually maybe too good. The DOW took the encouragement hunts away from seniors and gave it all to youth. What do we tell our kids and grandkids? Get your elk now because when you grow up you may not be able to draw a tag?

Everyone and their mother is an outfitter in New Mexico. Sometimes unit wide Land owner tags are sold two, three times. They are typically not sold to residents though, at any price. Quite a few people around my neck of the woods have just stopped hunting in New Mexico. One thing is for certain. The outfitter pool needs to go by the way of the dodo. I am pushing for a 90% resident 10% percent non-res split. Also need to reduce the number of unit wide landowner tags and get those tags back into the public draw for starters.

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

Does anyone know when refunds are typically issued? The NM Game and Fish website just says “automatically” but have not received mine yet.

Referencing the FAQ on the G&F website, should be within two days. I’d expect tomorrow for it to show up

 

[uthuntr]

As much as I want to hunt those areas as a resident, I stopped putting in for 16A and Valle Vidal. Ended up being just wasted choices. Now more tags are getting dumped into E-Plus and taken from the public draw. I have been lucky over the years drawing a few great tags. During COVID I drew the most tags. I was able to buy an e-plus unit wide tag in the Gila once when there was a cancellation. The privatization of our hunting has devastated hunting opportunity on public lands. The youth hunting program is good, actually maybe too good. The DOW took the encouragement hunts away from seniors and gave it all to youth. What do we tell our kids and grandkids? Get your elk now because when you grow up you may not be able to draw a tag?

Everyone and their mother is an outfitter in New Mexico. Sometimes unit wide Land owner tags are sold two, three times. They are typically not sold to residents though, at any price. Quite a few people around my neck of the woods have just stopped hunting in New Mexico. One thing is for certain. The outfitter pool needs to go by the way of the dodo. I am pushing for a 90% resident 10% percent non-res split. Also need to reduce the number of unit wide landowner tags and get those tags back into the public draw for starters.

Maybe if more people ran for office like @Gila we'd have opportunity around the west like we should. Unfortunately people like him are smart enough to avoid capitol hill like the plague. There's plenty of resources and land to go around. Problem is we have greed and politics that make the future of hunting, even in our home states, look pretty bleak. When will it stop

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

Referencing the FAQ on the G&F website, should be within two days. I’d expect tomorrow for it to show up

Just got a notification for a refund right after posting

 

[LostWapiti]

My card shows a pending refund but only for a little less than half of what I expect to recieve. I should be getting back close to $8k but current pending refund is $3,160. It would be best news ever if I actually drew 5k worth of tags magically after yesterdays Red Sea.

 

[desertdwellerdyl]

My card shows a pending refund but only for a little less than half of what I expect to recieve. I should be getting back close to $8k but current pending refund is $3,160. It would be best news ever if I actually drew 5k worth of tags magically after yesterdays Red Sea.

they’re breaking it up maybe or just isn’t updated? I received a portion but it was equivalent to one antelope or barb tag

 

[Jdeck09]

Our group managed one tag! Now I get to hunt for another drop camp option, which wasnt easy the first time

 

[Mojave]

As much as I want to hunt those areas as a resident, I stopped putting in for 16A and Valle Vidal. Ended up being just wasted choices. Now more tags are getting dumped into E-Plus and taken from the public draw. I have been lucky over the years drawing a few great tags. During COVID I drew the most tags. I was able to buy an e-plus unit wide tag in the Gila once when there was a cancellation. The privatization of our hunting has devastated hunting opportunity on public lands. The youth hunting program is good, actually maybe too good. The DOW took the encouragement hunts away from seniors and gave it all to youth. What do we tell our kids and grandkids? Get your elk now because when you grow up you may not be able to draw a tag?

Everyone and their mother is an outfitter in New Mexico. Sometimes unit wide Land owner tags are sold two, three times. They are typically not sold to residents though, at any price. Quite a few people around my neck of the woods have just stopped hunting in New Mexico. One thing is for certain. The outfitter pool needs to go by the way of the dodo. I am pushing for a 90% resident 10% percent non-res split. Also need to reduce the number of unit wide landowner tags and get those tags back into the public draw for starters.

Even during the height of Covid BS in 2020 I was not able to buy an antelope tag. There were a ton of cancellations and outfitters would not sell one to a resident.

One guy near offered me $1000 for the tag and $2000 to guide him. I said, dude it's a pronghorn I will sleep in my truck on BLM and give me a map. I even found some guys to dow it with me and buy all the tags and he wouldn't do it. Even doubling the tag price to $2000, no residents.

 

[KHNC]

Drew my first NM elk hunt. Unit 16E, bow, 2nd season Sept 15th. Likely going solo unless I can convince someone gullible enough to go hike around at 8000ft in 90 degree weather.

I woulda went there, but you got my tag apparently. lol

 

[shader112]

My pending refund today is aso 3,160. Should be over 4k in total so they must be splitting it up

 

[fatlander]

They must be breaking it up. I don’t have a refund showing yet, and I also don’t have a tag.


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[Turkeygetpwnd38]

NM refunds usually come in waves, split in different amounts over a couple of days.

 

[Gerbdog]

Looks like ill be calling bulls down in 16D for archery, my brother got the tag for the first couple weeks of September. Will be a good time and willing to give up my own archery time for this tag.

 

[dtrkyman]

Well holy chit, I drew an Elk tag, was giving up hope!!!


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[roadrunner]

16 applications, all red.

 

[roadrunner]

I have 8 guys and gals I work with that all apply for everything in the state as residents.

So those 8, their spouses and and kids. A group of 30 people as residents applying for resident tags. With a big spread of archery, muzzleloader, and rifle for adults and youth tags across the board. Over 250 applications for 10 tags drawn.

Most kids got some kind of a tag, most adults got nothing.

So when nonresidents don't draw, I don't see how they have much of a shot at all.

Everyone I know uses the same strategy.

1. 1st tier Golden tag
2. 2nd tier Quality tag
3. 3rd tier Ok tag
4. 4th tier Tag with 500 of your best friends, because at least you are out there. What is crazy as I have only drawn one of these tags once. I don't hunt the weekend, I usually wait until Tuesday to start hunting.

LIving in Southern New Mexico, I quit applying for tags north of ALBQ except for Rocky Mountain Bighorns.

Out of those 9 people, 8 plus me. There are only two of us that apply in other states.

The only thing that New Mexico has going for it is quality public land hunting. At very reduced numbers.

If we had the same number of people as Utah, we would be screwed. I think Utah is kind off screwed anyway with their points system. I have 10 years in my Utah points and I am not sure how many years I will keep applying. So dumb. Wish I would have never plaid their game.

I didn't apply this year as we are still overseas.

UT will give me a deer tag this year (unless something really weird happens) because of points.