New Mexico 16B Packers/Wranglers

[Lordnorvelli]

I have drawn an elk tag in NM 16B (Southern Gila). I have been considering hiring someone to take me in with my gear and pick me up at the end. The first quote I received seemed quite high to me. $1300 in and out on horseback and another $850 if I have to haul out my elk quarters. I have called another packer but have yet to receive a quote yet. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

 

[hogcarpy]

That is a touch high for where I hunt. Supply and demand down on the Gila might warrant the higher price though. My guess is it will be difficult to get a cheaper price this close to the hunt.


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[Umpcoos]

I have drawn an elk tag in NM 16B (Southern Gila). I have been considering hiring someone to take me in with my gear and pick me up at the end. The first quote I received seemed quite high to me. $1300 in and out on horseback and another $850 if I have to haul out my elk quarters. I have called another packer but have yet to receive a quote yet. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.

Seems reasonable to me. There are a lot factors and variables but, generally speaking, drop camps in wilderness areas often run $1800+ per person, meat hauling included. The fact that you were given a split price, dependent on a harvest, seems generous, especially if it was on short notice.

 

[WIBowhunter23]

hogcarpy curious how your hunt turned out last year...was it archery? I drew 16B/22 for 2nd season archery this fall. Do you end up getting packed in and out? If so, would you be willing to share cost and who you ended up using. Would you do anything different?...Any info you'd be willing to share would be GREATLY appreciated!

 

[Brooks]

He was probably a one hit wonder ....join in here for some info never to be heard from again.

 

[WIBowhunter23]

His profile says he has been on here this week...

 

[Robdog20]

That quote seems about right for the Gila. I live in that area and know some of the guides.


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[Brooks]

Price of horses, feed, riding saddles, pack saddles, pickup trucks, horse trailers, knowing the country, fuel, time, experience, hired help, no wanton waste......sounds about average. Every year I have guys calling needing horses because they didn’t know how big, steep and deep some of this elk country is here in NM. Just think of how heavy water is and how much you can carry and how much a horse can carry.. I hauled a guy 14 one gallon jugs in last year on one horse, one trip. If he could have carried say 4 jugs by himself per trip that would have been about 4 trips for him. 5 miles up to his camp and 5 miles back to his truck 4 times just to get water up to camp, then he would have to start hauling his camp up.

 

[JPD350]

I think that was a fair price compared to hunting around all the friggin people, the first 4 miles of the wilderness is just like an OTC hunt in Colorado. Last year I was 3.5 miles in and called a group of people in, after 30 min of them trying to call in the bull to their horrible cow calls a girl walks up the hill and takes a dump 50 yds from me, goes back down the hill and they resume their calls. Come to find out their was nine other hunters in a 4 mile square, the problem with packing camp in 2 to 4 miles is that you have to pack water prior to your camp and if you get over run by others you are either stuck or you break down camp dump your water and move then re pack camp and water in somewhere else.

Yep 1,300 is a pretty good price if you can swing it!

 

[trophyhill]

I made a few phone calls to a few folks down there a couple years ago when I hunted it. Pricing sounds like I remember.

I can vouch that you better be willing to haul water.

 

[.270]

Have you contacted san francisco river outfitters? They might offer spike camps. Also Hunt Hard and Premium hunts offer hunts in that area. Contact them and they could help you out.

 

[Firewater]

hogcarpy curious how your hunt turned out last year...was it archery? I drew 16B/22 for 2nd season archery this fall. Do you end up getting packed in and out? If so, would you be willing to share cost and who you ended up using. Would you do anything different?...Any info you'd be willing to share would be GREATLY appreciated!

Are you looking to only get packed in or guided? Send me a pm, I might be able to help or guide to a few people.