NM Private Land Elk Hunt

[Sako76]

I hunted with Ridgeline Outfitters last year in Unit 12, never saw an elk.

 

[Bigeaux20]

Seems like it would be a balance now between what's available and would you really want it if it was. It appears a lot like duck blinds the weekend before opening weekend. IF it's still available, there might be a reason. There's always a chance someone backs out and is looking for a replacement.

 

[Short Track]

I hunted with Ridgeline Outfitters last year in Unit 12, never saw an elk.

I heard bad things about them on other forums. No personal experience.

 

[CaliforniaMuley]

I hunted with compass west outfitters in 2022. Private ranch unit 36. Was an awesome hunt for late season bulls. Killed a good one. PM me for more info if you want.

 

[Iowa.guy.7mmMag]

Long read but o well - A lot of people are against New Mexico landowner tags, but I love em and here's why-

I've killed every mid-west critter that walks with a bow, so I consider myself a decent hunter especially with the ole 300 Win. Mag. with that said, I spent 5000.00 door to door PER YEAR going on a decent private land elk hunt in Northeast Utah and the success was 30-40 percent with rifle - yeah it was a low cost, and it was overhunted but that's what you get for 5000.00 door to door - the landowner didn't care if you killed an elk or not, as long as he got paid. I learned a lot about elk hunting and killed one good 6x6 over 4 years and let a few rag horns go. So, I got tired of the ole crap shoot plus I had spent 20,000.00 over the years.

What I started doing since then is instead of going every year I made a plan to start going every other year and buying a great elk tag in a great unit in New Mexico for 10,000.00 so same money if you can add. Instead of going on a glorified camping trip or waiting 15 years building points - I am actually going on an Awesome elk hunt every other year where I have a chance every hunt at a 310" bull and can actually pass on them and hunt for the bigger bulls that are there in good numbers and if you keep your finger off the trigger you could have a crack at a 330" or better.

So, most of the people on here that complain about the outfitters or the number of permits they can't draw, well when you don't draw then you probably end up finding some cheap junk elk hunt somewhere every year anyhow like I did and don't even see a big elk 280" or better (glorified camping trip with buddies) and on the cheapest of elk hunts you're going to spend at least 3000.00 - 4000.00 door to door with gas, scouting and gear, and everything added up.

The landowner tags can solve the problem most of us have - if your spending 3000.00 per hunt per year then go every third year if your spending 5000.00 per year then go every other year. Do your research and go buy a great landowner private land tag and go on a great elk hunt - You don't have to wait 15 years and spend money on points to go on a great hunt - you're not going to go every year but make the year that you do go count. The other thing that makes it awesome is you know you're going on a private land coveted New Mexico elk hunt and that's as exciting as it gets plus you can plan, and you know you're going for sure that year it just makes everything fall into place in my opinion.

You still have to hunt, and you still have to make the shot so you're on private land and it's a little easier well that's why you waited 3 years and paid a little extra. No crying about this post please

Sorry for the length but just my 2 cents.

 

[MO Whitetails]

I am not trying to start an argument but there are some clarifications needed. 10% of draw tags are allocated to the outfitter pool. Residents have full access to this pool for MB ES, (and COW tags which only residents can draw). Zero landowner tags are allocated to the outfitters by NMGF. NMGF regs require outfitter's furnish a guide for 2 days, not 3 as was stated above. Many charge $1900 for 2 days of guided only, a bargain if using a reputable outfitter. This can be split between multiple hunters also with a very minimal upcharge.
ALL hunters have access to the eplus landowner tags, ranch or unit wide. NMGF website lists all these tags by unit, then by landowner authorizations with their contact info and number/type tags issued. Landowners can sell them to ANYONE. Some outfitters buy landowner authorizations but many do not. NM has some of the lowest property taxes and sales tax in the USA so non residents end up financing NMGF way more than residents. NR's pay 10x more for the actual tag also. Landowner authorizations are not tags but allow the holder to buy a tag from NMGF. Unit wide tags have same hunting time periods as draw tags for each weapon type. Ranch tags are good on ranches and do not include vehicle driving rights to hunt. Van be used on other ranches with permission. Several great management areas are resident only.
I would be happy to be in the resident pool! My state is 10 years into its testoration program and issues 5 tags per year.
The herd in NM is stable or growing in almost all units. NR's cannot draw a cow tag period. LO or Native American reservations the only option for NR'S for cow tags. I drew a 2024 MI tag in unit 34. An ANY weapon tag and ES also. Unit 34 has over 1500 cow tags but I cannot draw one. I harvested a 5x6 with 6th broken off opening day. Shot it on a private ranch but it had opted for unit wide tags which meant it was open to public hunting and permission is not required. While not required we went to the ranch house and informed them of what we planned to do. The landowner was very courteous and told us they would stay off that portion of the ranch as the rules require them to not interfere in any manner. As noted above the eplus tag system opens up much of the private land for the public to hunt. It's funny how residents think they OWN the hunting. All they have to do is pay more money like the rest of us. Ban NR's and NMGF will charge residents $xxxx to pay their expenses. NMGF"s system is the best on the West. No preference points. Level playing field for all NR's and all R's in their respective pools. IMHO the only way to improve it would be to not allow ANY tag holders to apply for, or buy tags the following season, but many of the 37000 tag holders would then be pissed off also. You can please some of the people some of the time but but not all of them all of the time. Until locals are willing to pony up the money, state game departments will do what they have to maintain quality hunting. Be careful what you wish for, you might not like what you get!

 

[gingerninja]

I hunted with Ridgeline Outfitters last year in Unit 12, never saw an elk.

Wow! Would you mind messaging me what area you focused on? I will focus elsewhere

 

[gingerninja]

I heard bad things about them on other forums. No personal experience.

Not good. Thanks for the info.

 

[dtrkyman]

Seeing no elk in unit 12 is an accomplishment for that outfitter/guide!

 

[WRO]

Seeing no elk in unit 12 is an accomplishment for that outfitter/guide!

I've hunted 12, you'd have to stay in the hotel room all day to not find elk there.

If you need a good one in 12, call sw big game brokerage, keith williams.

 

[LCguy]

I'd go with G3. I always DIY in the same units they hunt and every time I run into their guides, they are extremely friendly, respectful, and curteous. I will always recommend them even though I will never use an outfittre because of the following story:

Last year, I had scouted out where I wanted to hunt early in the summer and took two days off work before my muzzleloader elk hunt. During those two days I hiked back into the spot just to check on which bulls made it through the archery hunts. On opening day, later in the afternoon, their guides and a client walked up on me and my buddy at the place we were glassing. Long story short, they had access to a road we didn't so they were able to drive up to the base of nob while we had to hike 3 miles from the main road. When they realized we were there, they stopped, chatted with us and we each swapped a bit of intel about a giant mulie that lived in the unit that both myself and the guides knew about. After that, they, unprompted mentioned that since we had been in there for three days that they would hunt the rest of the hunt in a different area. I offered them the option that I would glass one way off the nob that evening and they could glass the other since it was not an easy climb to get up there. They were true to their word and we did not see them again but I know they killed a nice bull a little further south. All this to say, they are a very professional outfit and know how to put their clients on major trophies.