The worst 24 Season of my 60 years Elk hunting NM

[Mike76]

Hey there, my Friends I have not been on since my trip in September but wanted all to hear about this F'd up hunt we were on as I told all I would do good or bad.
On a 14-mile ride in my horse completely fell at about 12 miles in through m and I landed on my head.
They were going to take me out, but I did not want to ruin my kids' chance at a good bull so elected to ride all the way in.
After 7 days I had enough as I was not doing well at all. So, the kid called for us to get taken out. @ days later they show up and listen to this one.
They not only put me back on the horse I rode in to on but while packing up that horse just standing there fell off his feet twice sleeping. LOL i asked is this going to happen again. she stated they all do that! I said why are not of the others falling? no reply.
On the way out all was going good and finally close to the truck that horse fell again with me on him, and I didn't think I was going to make it out of there.
We got to the truck, and they had to find something I could climb off the horse high enough to get me off then my son put me in the truck as he loaded all our bags from the trip.
Now here is the other Joke I call it as we have both been Elk hunting probably as much as anyone that takes you in on these hunts just not with an outfitter always on our own. But! when you get a hunt like this you want the best. Well! We didn't have that for sure. Everything was set up before the hunt for a location. When we got close to the end, we headed up —- I said we are supposed to go up ——.
She said it too far I'm dropping you in —-and so about a 1/4 mile up —— we were dropped on the creek the only water withing 2-3 miles. I said why would we get dropped on water that I'd think ELK might be using. No reply! they unloaded and off they went. Not only pissed off hurting, I sat in that camp for 7 days then had enough and had to get out of there. stumbling around until the kid got back after walking 8-10 miles Aday looking for elk and only saw 7 young Bulls on the first day and not another thing in 7 days everyday up and gone at 3 AM and back at dark every Nite and said he covered so much ground it was crazy for the low number of animals in that area that is supposed to be a great spot.
Not that all Outfitters are the same, but I'd never Hire an outfitter ever again.

 

[mike.adams.467]

Did you check their references?

 

[Tbone26]

I feel like I read this story already.

 

[Marble]

I have had horses do that before. It's usually because they are tired or injured.

I would guess the outfitters that were there with you were not very experienced with those particular horses, or just didn't know what they were doing. If that horse had never done that before, then there was a reason why it was doing it. Everything should have been thoroughly checked by the outfitter as soon as it happened.

 

[Mike76]

Did you check their references?

I did check the references as many said she does know the wilderness well but did not get them into elk either. But we didn't need her for that as we did a drop and up to us to locate elk. But when your dropped right in the middle of water and water being 3-5 miles from the water, we were on something is said she didn't have a clue about the hunting world.
Plus, it was the first long ride her horses had.
Checking everything you can as I did for 9 months u still don't know. I'd never pay the outfitter ever before the hunt if you do your than at their hands and mercy. I had one outfitter say she was one to go in with as she knows the country like no one else but her clients dont kill much at all.

 

[Mike76]

I have had horses do that before. It's usually because they are tired or injured.

I would guess the outfitters that were there with you were not very experienced with those particular horses, or just didn't know what they were doing. If that horse had never done that before, then there was a reason why it was doing it. Everything should have been thoroughly checked by the outfitter as soon as it happened.

here is what she indicated after the horse fell and I had enough sense to understand her the son and I were to heavy for her horses. I said if you thought that than why in the hell did you take us in.
It was the first long ride those horses had and 14 miles out of shape is not a good thing she said she had some of the best horses for the wilderness. go figure.

 

[Erict]

But when your dropped right in the middle of water and water being 3-5 miles from the water, we were on something is said she didn't have a clue about the hunting world.

Sounds like you hit your head.

 

[OlderGobbler]

That was one of the most challenging exercises I've ever endured.

 

[Huntnnw]

That was one of the most challenging exercises I've ever endured.

my head hurts reading that

 

[NB7]

I feel like I read this story already.

Before Elk Hunting with a Guide/Outfitter In NM>

From good experience After I Add my opinion you can do as you may. First Never ever pay that guide /outfitter prior to you hunt and have everything in writing. The area your hunting in. that that outfitter will be with you not someone who doesn't know the country inside and out. How reputable...

rokslide.com

16B NM Archery Hunt

Well, My Friends those who helped out in a great many ways prior to the Archery Hunt in 16B. I said I would spend the time and let the site know how our hunt went. First, I will say this before my story of the hunt goes. PLEASE! when you hire an Outfitter/Guide or just a wrangler that will take...

rokslide.com

 

[Tbone26]

Before Elk Hunting with a Guide/Outfitter In NM>

From good experience After I Add my opinion you can do as you may. First Never ever pay that guide /outfitter prior to you hunt and have everything in writing. The area your hunting in. that that outfitter will be with you not someone who doesn't know the country inside and out. How reputable...

rokslide.com

16B NM Archery Hunt

Well, My Friends those who helped out in a great many ways prior to the Archery Hunt in 16B. I said I would spend the time and let the site know how our hunt went. First, I will say this before my story of the hunt goes. PLEASE! when you hire an Outfitter/Guide or just a wrangler that will take...

rokslide.com

Good content, it's worth reading a few times.

 

[Mike76]

Sounds like you hit your head.

the creek was about 100 yrds long and we were sitting right on the creek. If you think elk were going to come to that creek for a drink u have rocks in your head plenty of them. Cant anyone would say something that stupid. Do you hunt or just someone trying to disagree with something stupid that went on.

 

[LongWayAround]

Good content, it's worth reading a few times.

You have to read it a few times for it to start making sense.

 

[Mike76]

You have to read it a few times for it to start making sense.

Sorry for that as I'm 77 and English was not my subject but sorry if you can't understand it.
Just best to say I have killed more than my share of Bulls and some good ones.
My elk hunting is over, and I can enjoy my Salmon fishing and Duck and goose hunting.

 

[87TT]

How many posts or times you gonna tell this story?

 

[mike.adams.467]

I did check the references as many said she does know the wilderness well but did not get them into elk either. But we didn't need her for that as we did a drop and up to us to locate elk. But when your dropped right in the middle of water and water being 3-5 miles from the water, we were on something is said she didn't have a clue about the hunting world.
Plus, it was the first long ride her horses had.
Checking everything you can as I did for 9 months u still don't know. I'd never pay the outfitter ever before the hunt if you do your than at their hands and mercy. I had one outfitter say she was one to go in with as she knows the country like no one else but her clients dont kill much at all.

Well, if you were told her clients don't kill much game, then..........

 

[bnsafe]

I feel your pain. I dropped a load of pp and money on a guide to give my daughter her best chance. guide was awful. yes, I did references etc.

 

[Fatcamp]

Sorry for that as I'm 77 and English was not my subject but sorry if you can't understand it.
Just best to say I have killed more than my share of Bulls and some good ones.
My elk hunting is over, and I can enjoy my Salmon fishing and Duck and goose hunting.

Did you go get checked out by a doctor after hitting your head?

 

[Beendare]

Fwiw,
We talked by PM.

This was a very hard to draw Gila tag and I told him to be wary of doing this.

. Outfitters don’t want to drop camp you in their best spots. Sadly, it turned out even worse than imagined.

 

[Beendare]

I would also say to others reading this;

take note of this thread

Just because some of these units are very hard to draw does not mean there is an elk around every tree. Elk have become very educated by hunters over the years..

I sometimes help a guide buddy with his rifle hunters in a hard to draw unit in Arizona. Every year we talk to hunters on the road that have been hunting for a week and have not seen an elk.


Outfitters will always give priority to their higher paying clients.

The strategy is always to talk to every single hunter from the previous year,that did what you are proposing to do. If a few of them do not call you back you can assume they had a bad experience and they do not want to badmouth the outfitter..

If they are taking you in on horses, and you have no riding experience, you need to let them know that you are holding them personally responsible for your safety.

Horses can be dangerous animals. I have ridden a fair amount and still been dumped and stomped on more than a couple of times. It happens. Don’t assume these animals are like jumping in a car.

If you must ride an unfamiliar horse, be spring loaded and paying attention every second with your feet light in the stirrups ready to bail. You literally never know what is going to spook them.