Unit 53 New Mexico solo. Bad idea?

[jadkins223]

I think I’ve found a landowner tag in 53 for rifle that I want to buy.

Everything I read says that place will kill a man if you truly want to find elk.

I’m 35, in good shape. But this would only be my 2nd elk hunt ever.

Is this unit too much without horses and going solo? Thanks for insight.

I killed my first bull last year solo in NM


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[dtrkyman]

It is a beautiful area! Hunt it and find out. You can definitely get into elk without killing yourself.

 

[jadkins223]

It is a beautiful area! Hunt it and find out. You can definitely get into elk without killing yourself.

Thanks for the reply. I would imagine getting in the wilderness away from roads would turn up something to put a tag on


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[Beendare]

53 is about the same topography as any other unit in the west.

The problem with that unit is it gets hunted all year- it's a very depressed area of the country.

 

[jgilber5]

PM me, very familiar with the unit

 

[trophyhill]

Be ready for snow and if you don't get any, it's an added bonus. Tough hunt no matter your conditioning. I hunted it a couple years ago and the snow was blinding. Great experience though.

 

[bz_711]

If it's your best option to elk hunt this year...do it! Especially if you went solo before with success...you know what to expect once the elk hits the ground.

I went solo last year for the first time and got my best bull. It only confirmed that I'll go solo anytime I need to.

Good Luck!

 

[jadkins223]

Thanks everyone. I’ll report back after the hunt for sure


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[Kw168504]

Thanks everyone. I’ll report back after the hunt for sure


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I am also ‘solo’ for the second archery. I might try to find packout help in case I need to go deeper than 2 miles. I’m still trying to figure it out / decide.

The good news is that I’m in better shape already this year vs when I shot my elk last yr.

 

[Kw168504]

Be ready for snow and if you don't get any, it's an added bonus. Tough hunt no matter your conditioning. I hunted it a couple years ago and the snow was blinding. Great experience though.

I’m going to probably allocate my time to the south section of the highway. I’m second archery. Are there any sections you would completely rule out based off of your experience? What do you think is a good expectation for a bull? 3.5 yr old or 300 incher?

 

[jadkins223]

I am also ‘solo’ for the second archery. I might try to find packout help in case I need to go deeper than 2 miles. I’m still trying to figure it out / decide.

The good news is that I’m in better shape already this year vs when I shot my elk last yr.

Contact Hank Lewis with bobcat pass for Packout


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[LCguy]

I’m going to probably allocate my time to the south section of the highway. I’m second archery. Are there any sections you would completely rule out based off of your experience? What do you think is a good expectation for a bull? 3.5 yr old or 300 incher?

That area of the state, I wouldn't pass up a nice 5x5. As someone mentioned above, it's an impoverished area outside of Taos Ski Valley and Red River so there is a lot of poaching that happens in that part of the State.

 

[Beendare]

I’m going to probably allocate my time to the south section of the highway. I’m second archery. Are there any sections you would completely rule out based off of your experience? What do you think is a good expectation for a bull? 3.5 yr old or 300 incher?

Maybe start where those Elk crossing signs are on the highway? Grin

Size; IMO, Holding out for a 300" bull is silly in that unit. Example; one year 3 of us were hunting a mountain and not getting into them. That night we had fresh snow and all 3 split up trying to find them. 3 guys covering a total of appx 30 miles and we cut exactly 2 cow tracks. This advice goes for just about every heavily hunted unit in the west, but Don't be afraid to move.

Always elk in those flats to the north- but hard to hunt with a bow.

 

[Kw168504]

Contact Hank Lewis with bobcat pass for Packout


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Sounds good. Thanks for the information.

 

[Kw168504]

That area of the state, I wouldn't pass up a nice 5x5. As someone mentioned above, it's an impoverished area outside of Taos Ski Valley and Red River so there is a lot of poaching that happens in that part of the State.

Got it. Unfortunate to hear about the poaching. I purchased one of the unit wide land owner tags because I was unlucky in the draws. Im just going to need to adjust my mindset/expectation that way I still have a ton of fun.

 

[Kw168504]

Maybe start where those Elk crossing signs are on the highway? Grin

Size; IMO, Holding out for a 300" bull is silly in that unit. Example; one year 3 of us were hunting a mountain and not getting into them. That night we had fresh snow and all 3 split up trying to find them. 3 guys covering a total of appx 30 miles and we cut exactly 2 cow tracks. This advice goes for just about every heavily hunted unit in the west, but Don't be afraid to move.

Always elk in those flats to the north- but hard to hunt with a bow.

Roger that! I’ll keep an eye out for the signs….

I’ve hunted/hiked/fished every western state except for New Mexico/Arizona so I don’t know what to expect. I’m heading out a week before my season starts to scout and acclimate. I’ll bivy hunt.

 

[jgilber5]

I'll second every word of Beendare's advice. Including the highway...
Not an easy hunt, spend some time on GE marking deadfall. I'd say over half the higher elevation stuff is impassable, even to elk. Find the pockets! I've seen elk literally on the highest peak to the bottom of the Rio Grande gorge in there, so hard to rule much out.

 

[go_deep]

To hunt elk or not? There is only one answer

 

[Kw168504]

I'll second every word of Beendare's advice. Including the highway...
Not an easy hunt, spend some time on GE marking deadfall. I'd say over half the higher elevation stuff is impassable, even to elk. Find the pockets! I've seen elk literally on the highest peak to the bottom of the Rio Grande gorge in there, so hard to rule much out.

Appreciate the insight. I panic purchased this tag because I didn’t want to miss out on elk hunting this year. This thread and some of the other conversations I’ve had are helping me reset my expectations(which is a good thing). It’s going to be hell so anything better than hell will be upside. Type 2 fun.

 

[Kw168504]

To hunt elk or not? There is only one answer

20+ days in New Mexico. I saved all my vacation for this. I like to fly fish too