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.