NM 2’s, January archery

[jaytaylor]

Congratulations! That's the best - a hunt with one of your kids! And he tagged out! Doesn't get any better than this!

 

[Bobbyboe]

This evening is my last hunt. As I’m sitting here glassing I’m reflecting on the experience. This corner of the state just mesmerizes me. I can’t help but to think back and imagine the Native Americans roaming these same hills and valleys. It’s a place where I truly feel connected to the land. During the trip I found a petrified tree, which was amazing. There’s so much history to this land.

Now, here are a few things I learned about the January hunt:

It’s NOT easy! Being your own truck and tire chains. If you don’t have them you’ll be hunting from pavement. Make friends with the oil worker or any other local you see. They are super friendly and most often than not will help you out. At least for my unit, the deer seemed to be nomadic. Snow is terrible for stalking.

I think I hit the points. As I write this, I only saw 6 deer on public. One was a dandy 180” 4pt. The snow got me on the stalk and the buck busted from his bed before I could shoot. A local offered access to some private fields and drive me around half a day. There were a ton of deer on the fields, but nothing I wanted to take.

Overall an amazing experience. As always, New Mexico didn’t disappoint.

Can’t imagine how stupid good this area would be without all the roads and o/g platforms!

 

[butcherboy]

I’m glad you enjoyed your time here. Definitely unique and tons of history. As for all the roads and oil/gas well pads, I view it as they actually give great access. You saw how big the country is. Imagine trying to access hunting areas on foot 15-20 miles in. The deer love the well pads. They grow a lot of great grass for them to browse on. The oil and gas industry provided a lot of jobs over the years and revenue. I get it though. I have found so much pottery over the years it’s ridiculous. There are many found and unfound ruins and petroglyphs all over the whole four corners area. The late January hunt was always one of my favorites. Hunted almost everyday at times back in high school and no range finder back in those days. They didn’t exist. Still wish it was one unit instead of 3.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

This evening is my last hunt. As I’m sitting here glassing I’m reflecting on the experience. This corner of the state just mesmerizes me. I can’t help but to think back and imagine the Native Americans roaming these same hills and valleys. It’s a place where I truly feel connected to the land. During the trip I found a petrified tree, which was amazing. There’s so much history to this land.

Now, here are a few things I learned about the January hunt:

It’s NOT easy! Being your own truck and tire chains. If you don’t have them you’ll be hunting from pavement. Make friends with the oil worker or any other local you see. They are super friendly and most often than not will help you out. At least for my unit, the deer seemed to be nomadic. Snow is terrible for stalking.

I think I hit the points. As I write this, I only saw 6 deer on public. One was a dandy 180” 4pt. The snow got me on the stalk and the buck busted from his bed before I could shoot. A local offered access to some private fields and drive me around half a day. There were a ton of deer on the fields, but nothing I wanted to take.

Overall an amazing experience. As always, New Mexico didn’t disappoint.

Can’t imagine how stupid good this area would be without all the roads and o/g platforms!

Any luck on that last evening by chance?

To your point about the vehicle and chains, I was a little worried for you when I learned you were taking a rental truck in there but it seems like you figured that out quickly. Glad you at least got to lay eyes and get a stalk on one of the big ones in there.

 

[Bobbyboe]

Any luck on that last evening by chance?

To your point about the vehicle and chains, I was a little worried for you when I learned you were taking a rental truck in there but it seems like you figured that out quickly. Glad you at least got to lay eyes and get a stalk on one of the big ones in there.

I was going to post an update. Right at sunset two bucks stepped out and began fighting at 3/4 mile. With my 8x binos I could tell one was a big buck. They were positioned about 20 yards off of a dry creek bed. I made a stalk in and about 100 yards from where I last saw them, and on the opposite side of the creek I jumped them. Both were within 20 yards of my. The bigger one was a wide tall 3pt.

Can’t help but to think with someone spotting I would have had a very good opportunity. During the stalk I didn’t know they moved locations. It was a nice way to end the trip for sure.

 

[Wapiti1]

I just got back from 2C yesterday evening. I got the tag in the outfitter draw, and hunted with Anthony Hampton. The tag was drawn with Compass West, and Chris hooked me up with Anthony.

We ended up tracking bucks that crossed the road in the morning, or that we bumped in the juniper on foot. Had a couple of opportunities through the week, but none that worked as planned. Until Saturday morning. Took 8 hours of tracking to get a shot at this guy at 50 yards. He green scores 203".

Jeremy

 

[Bobbyboe]

I just got back from 2C yesterday evening. I got the tag in the outfitter draw, and hunted with Anthony Hampton. The tag was drawn with Compass West, and Chris hooked me up with Anthony.

We ended up tracking bucks that crossed the road in the morning, or that we bumped in the juniper on foot. Had a couple of opportunities through the week, but none that worked as planned. Until Saturday morning. Took 8 hours of tracking to get a shot at this guy at 50 yards. He green scores 203".

Jeremy

View attachment 499455

Wow! Congratulations! Interesting strategy your guide used. I suppose it makes sense. To me it seemed like these deer moved quite a bit day to day.

 

[Nickofthewoods]

I just got back from 2C yesterday evening. I got the tag in the outfitter draw, and hunted with Anthony Hampton. The tag was drawn with Compass West, and Chris hooked me up with Anthony.

We ended up tracking bucks that crossed the road in the morning, or that we bumped in the juniper on foot. Had a couple of opportunities through the week, but none that worked as planned. Until Saturday morning. Took 8 hours of tracking to get a shot at this guy at 50 yards. He green scores 203".

Jeremy

View attachment 499455

This hunt might need it's own writeup with more pics.

 

[Wapiti1]

Wow! Congratulations! Interesting strategy your guide used. I suppose it makes sense. To me it seemed like these deer moved quite a bit day to day.

Glassing and running the roads wasn't working. The only movement was at night and they were in bed by light. Too much food everywhere from rain this summer so they had no need to move.

We switched up to cutting tracks or just getting in there and rooting them out. Took 7 days to get it done. I had actually worked it out with my boss that morning to spend the full 15 day season trying since the hunting was proving to be a grind. It felt like it would happen, but the opportunities were going to be scarce.

Honestly, it was better than dealing with the crap roads after they thawed in the afternoon.

Jeremy

 

[Dwnw/theAltitudesickness]

Congrats on an awesome deer!

 

[JRay]

Archery bucks in January is pretty awesome