NM Unit 17 2nd Muzzleloader - still bugling?

[LCguy]

Hey all, I drew the second muzzleloader bull hunt for unit 17 in New Mexico. I'm very familiar with the unit having turkey hunted there and I killed a cow in there last year. My question is for anyone who has had this hunt in the past - are the bulls still bugling or should I not worry too much about it and just rely on glass/timber creeps?

 

[NMT]

Depends on weather leading up to the hunt. Might be a good idea to scout the weekend or two before to see what they are doing.

I'd think they'd be winding down at least by that time unless its been unusually hot.

 

[LCguy]

Depends on weather leading up to the hunt. Might be a good idea to scout the weekend or two before to see what they are doing.

I'd think they'd be winding down at least by that time unless its been unusually hot.

Thank you! That was my plan, get out there the two weekends prior and then take the two days before hand off work and see what's going on.

 

[Marine4life]

Not likely that late in Oct but I have heard bulls bugle in January. I wouldn’t plan on them being consistent enough to locate or being responsive to calling. If the tag was mine I would plan on glassing, glassing and glassing some more.


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[loboelk422]

Maybe opening day ...I'll b there on the 1st hunt

 

[naneumranch]

Both times we have had the tag the bulls had already pulled off and started to form bachelor herds again.


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[ChasenH1-8s]

Hey all, I drew the second muzzleloader bull hunt for unit 17 in New Mexico. I'm very familiar with the unit having turkey hunted there and I killed a cow in there last year. My question is for anyone who has had this hunt in the past - are the bulls still bugling or should I not worry too much about it and just rely on glass/timber creeps?

Checking here too… just seeing how folks did on this hunt. The fun part of the draw process is the dreaming and hoping!!

 

[LCguy]

Checking here too… just seeing how folks did on this hunt. The fun part of the draw process is the dreaming and hoping!!

Didn't get a kill but got 75 yards from the biggest bull I've ever seen in my life. Needed him to take one more step for a shot but ran out of legal shooting light before he did. Saw some absolute monsters and yes, the small bulls were still bulging and pushing cows. Big boys were all solo or with the very, very young bulls.

Hoping to draw again because I know he's still in there (saw him on my buddies cow hunt after all the bull hunts were over) but more than likely gonna draw the cow hunt I put in for third choice, which is fine with me!

 

[ChasenH1-8s]

Wow. That is so fun. What were the dates you were in there?

 

[ChasenH1-8s]

Didn't get a kill but got 75 yards from the biggest bull I've ever seen in my life. Needed him to take one more step for a shot but ran out of legal shooting light before he did. Saw some absolute monsters and yes, the small bulls were still bulging and pushing cows. Big boys were all solo or with the very, very young bulls.

Hoping to draw again because I know he's still in there (saw him on my buddies cow hunt after all the bull hunts were over) but more than likely gonna draw the cow hunt I put in for third choice, which is fine with me!

Wow. That is so fun. What were the dates you were in there?

 

[LCguy]

Wow. That is so fun. What were the dates you were in there?

Yeah, it was an awesome hunt! Oct. 19-23 which I believe is around the dates of the first muzzleloader hunt this year. The second Muzzleloader this year is the 25th-29th.

 

[ChasenH1-8s]

Yeah, it was an awesome hunt! Oct. 19-23 which I believe is around the dates of the first muzzleloader hunt this year. The second Muzzleloader this year is the 25th-29th.

That is great to hear. The youth permit is Oct. 11 and he would be thrilled with any decent bull, 5 pt or of course better. Glad they are still bugling then, makes it so much more fun. He almost connected 2 years on archery but no shot, same one more step. Ha. Bull was screaming his head off. So fun. Caught it all on video. Such good stuff.