NM Private Land Elk Hunt

[4BarN]

I’m probably too late for 2025 but…

I’m seeking an outfitter/private ranch for two guys to rifle hunt this fall. I’ve got a long list of candidates that I have researched but keep find bad reviews on most of them. Frustrating. If anyone has had a good experience with an outfitter with landowner permits and is willing to share, I’d appreciate some recommendations.


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[WRO]

Keith Williams, sw big game brokerage. He’s always been a straight shooter with me and has a lot of tags and ranches.


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[4BarN]

Thank you


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[kipper09]

I hunted with Keith. He’s been the same with me, stand up guy and runs a very large operation with a ton of tags and ranches.


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[575 ELK]

You’re not too late. Right now is the time to be calling outfitters to get lined out on an elk hunt for 2025. There are a lot of good outfitters in NM. Remember outfitters are selling elk hunts, not elk. It’s still always hunting.

Some guys think if they hire an outfitter it’s a guarantee to kill a bull, it’s not. Your chances go way up because an outfitter lives in the area, the guides are looking for bulls long before the season and most know where to find them. NM Professional hunts, Joesph Graham Outfitters, Compass West, Frontier Outfitters, Carlton Armstrong ….Good luck.

 

[4BarN]

Thanks


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[Slick8]

Keith Williams, I've never hunted with him but talked to several who have and spoke highly. I had a hunt booked with him in 20 but covid stopped that one.

505 Outfitters, I've booked twice with Pete on the DIY public option. He was great to talk with and very helpful. His guides were great and worked hard for us.

Top Notch Outfitters, I hunted public with Brian in 21 and had a great hunt. Stayed in his lodge which was a bonus. He has some great private land leased and a lot of it.

 

[4BarN]

Thanks Slick8


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[Marine4life]

Going to just throw it out there and say it. You are contributing to the problem in New Mexico and a few other states in screwing both residents and out of state hunters, especially DIY, and I say this having been a resident of NM for 40+ years. The states already gives 10% of the draw tags to those residents and NRs (mostly NRs) who apply using an outfitter plus hundreds of landowner tags which most are unit wide. I would prefer outfitters not get the charity handouts or at least make it like Nevada (mule deer) where if you draw a tag using an outfitter to apply you cannot hunt unless accompanied by a guide where in NM you only have to have a guide for 3 days. So many loop holes for the outfitters to make make money with NRs. With access to hunt elk becoming more of an issue NM needs to stop catering to the outfitters and put these tags into the overall pool available to both Residents and NRs, find a way to open up the private land to successful draw tags and then let the outfitters earn their business. There are some great outfitters in NM that work hard and have great reputation but there is also a bunch that are nothing short of scam artists. But if I had the money to buy landowner tags guaranteeing me access every year I would probably feel differently.


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[4BarN]

I understand your stance, but I didn’t write the rules and regs. I’m sure we all have issues with the process in whatever state interests you.

I have strong opinions about the states controlling the wildlife on federal lands thereby virtually making it impossible for me to draw a tag, but that battle has been fought and lost. I see both sides of that argument, but we all gravitate to what is beneficial to us based on where we live.

I’ve been trying to draw a tag in NM for over ten years but my luck has not worked out. I believe non-residents are now allocated a measly 6% of the tags now. Poor odds.

I’m running out of time to hunt elk. A land owner permit, with or without an outfitter, is my best chance to make this happen. I’m blessed and will allocate the funds for this hunt if I can find one.

I get it. I prefer DIY too but the landscape has changed. I fear it’s only going to get worse regardless of what state you want to hunt. There are too many hunters, dwindling habitat, too much social media, too much technology, and too many guys killing multiple elk each year (we could banter about this one for hours…). I’m just trying to find the best opportunity to go hunt elk like everyone else.


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[RS_Non-Res]

Although there are some bad/incompetent outfitters, the bad reviews generally come from 1) hunters that think they are buying an elk, and 2) lousy interpersonal relationship skills.

Sometimes the outfitter is a jerk or has a short fuse and you don't want to pay for that, but it might work out. Sometimes the client is a jerk, and a good outfitter can handle that. Put two jerks together and a bad review shows up on the interwebs.

Post #10 suggests to me that you'll do just fine with #2.

Decide in advance if the terrain you'll be hunting is important, and if so, make sure the outfitter can accommodate the request.

 

[WRO]

Going to just throw it out there and say it. You are contributing to the problem in New Mexico and a few other states in screwing both residents and out of state hunters, especially DIY, and I say this having been a resident of NM for 40+ years. The states already gives 10% of the draw tags to those residents and NRs (mostly NRs) who apply using an outfitter plus hundreds of landowner tags which most are unit wide. I would prefer outfitters not get the charity handouts or at least make it like Nevada (mule deer) where if you draw a tag using an outfitter to apply you cannot hunt unless accompanied by a guide where in NM you only have to have a guide for 3 days. So many loop holes for the outfitters to make make money with NRs. With access to hunt elk becoming more of an issue NM needs to stop catering to the outfitters and put these tags into the overall pool available to both Residents and NRs, find a way to open up the private land to successful draw tags and then let the outfitters earn their business. There are some great outfitters in NM that work hard and have great reputation but there is also a bunch that are nothing short of scam artists. But if I had the money to buy landowner tags guaranteeing me access every year I would probably feel differently.


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The E plus system does open up a pile of private lands to the public to elk hunt on.

 

[Marine4life]

The E plus system does open up a pile of private lands to the public to elk hunt on.

You are correct, it can open up access to private land assuming land owners truly allow access, which many don’t and there is no enforcement of the policy. Some of these landowners getting vouchers even try to keep people of neighboring public land.

However, I feel this comes at the expense of a lot of tags not issued through the draw. Some tag numbers to consider based on last year’s landowner list and this year’s regulations.
There are approximately 15,280 mature bull and either sex tags issued through the draw. 6,657 of these are archery permits.
In 2024, landowners received 3841 Mature Bull authorizations and an additional 2432 archery authorizations.
40% of the total potential elk tags, 36% of archery tags, went to landowners. Is that the right way to do it? You decide.

Of the 3841 MB tags that went to landowners 2531 or 65% were ranch only tags and the other 35% were unit wide.
Of the 2432 bow tags that went to landowners 58% were ranch only. Public land tag holders do not have access to Ranch Only land. If they did then many of our social media stars wouldn’t pay big bucks for the tags - maybe.

IMO it’s a handout to landowners and outfitters and the state justifies it stating they are making habitat improvements for the elk. It is these same habitat improvements that pull elk off public land and there are a lot of people willing to spend money for those tags. That’s not going to change. I can’t blame the landowners for generating revenue or the outfitters but it does come at a cost to the resident and the DIY NR hunter and reduced. opportunity. The state, and it’s not just NM, needs to find a better way to increase access rather than just for those who are willing and able to pay big money for a voucher.

Not trying to start an argument nor am I jealous or trying to tell someone how to spend their money. After hunting NM for the first 45 years of my life and now not having drawn a single tag since I gave up my residency 10 years ago I will have all my apps in and hope to be one of the lucky ones in the 6% tag pool.


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