CouesKilla

short but sweet clip I recorded a couple years ago. Desert Buck. I imagine he is at least 180. IMG_1088.MOV

I got the late October rifle bull hunt in 16A. So pumped. This will be my 4th bull hunt in 20 years.

I had a license # next to my application # yesterday. I see it is gone now. Anyone know if that means I got a tag?

I ran across a buyer this weekend, in NM, and he was offering $12/lbs.

I know the area I hunt is thick with bucks during the rut, but in early November I struggle to spot a single one. I also rarely find sheds where I hunt. This leads me to believe they move into the area to rut and then move out after the rut. I at first thought they are just really nocturnal until the rut, but the lack of sheds suggests they are just gone come shed season. I hunt at 3100 ft so my guess is the bucks I hunt move high in the summer.

I like a flash light over a head lamp so you can keep it pointed towards the ground at all times. Use a GPS if you got it so you don't zig-zag your way into your spot and waste time. Time the walk in ahead of time so your are set up and ready to glass about 45 minutes before sunrise. Legal shooting light is usually about 30 minutes before sunrise (when you can safely identify your target and beyond). Remember walking in the dark typically takes a little longer than in the daylight. If I accidently knock over a rock or snap a stick on the way in I will try and kill the light and set motionless for about 5 minutes until the attention is off you then begin moving again. Above all keep it slow and quiet.

This has me concerned. I just moved to Las Cruces after being in Tucson for 35 years. In my efforts of trying to figure out where to hunt deer here I have been greeted in a not nice way by a rancher already. Best I can do is find a map and pray. I thought it was wierd not seeing many posting signs or fences, so now I understand why. I got a left over 20 tag, so i may just hit the national forest so I can be safe from the Catron County Boys. I do love desert hunting and have noticed the desert in southern NM looks like crap compared to AZ. Just miles and miles of creosote and bald hills. Also I had to get a leftover tag, because I didnt get drawn. I got drawn in AZ 99% of the time. A lot fewer tags available here.

Anyone know when they will list the avaialbe leftover tags in NM?

Hmmmm? my app still says pending. Did you check via the nmdgf website?

I am thinking of taking a trip back home and visiting either Roosevelt or San Carlos. Anyone having luck out there yet? What is the state of San Carlos? I heard it was shut down last year for a bit.

I've seen action clear through the archery hunt. I find it to be tapering off a bit now compared to a couple weeks ago.

I typically find desert mule deer bedded in washes (with thicker vegetation) during this time of year during the day. At the same time I have seen them bedded up on flats as well. Really no rhyme or reason to where they are, when they are not watering, if you ask me. I think they can find feed and bed just about anywhere to an extent. I usually try and catch them rutting and feeding on hill sides and flats in the early morning then work towards the washes as the day progresses. I have my best luck around water in the late afternoon and evenings. I have found some escape routes that seem to be the best thing to key on consistently, as opposed to feed and bed, if there are other hunters in the area . Unfortunatley I think feed and bed can change from day to day and you just need to glass alot of ground and be lucky. They for sure like certain hills/washes more than others as I seem more numbers in these areas year after year, but for the life of me I can not figure out what makes that spot hot.

I am heading to unit 28 this weekend. I've found the first winter storm in the middle to end of December usually kicks them into high gear. I'll post what I see. First test for my new bow.

I have tried this a few times when I have spotted big deer in the flats from a higher glassing point. Even with a guide and radio it is tough. I more often then not get in on the deer before I realize it. Classic case of moving too fast. I try to creep about 20 yards at a time, stop and glass through the limbs looking for leg movement for 10 minutes and repeat. In the brushy flats they can walk by you at 100 yards and you wont even see them. I have learned to use a orange hat when I do have someone guiding me in. You are being so sneaky and the guide often looses your position. I do believe that is where the big ones live though. Little hunting pressure and they can run there a$$ off when spooked. At the end of the day sitting at trails into water is the best bet if you have the patience.

We hunted this unit for WT this year and seen a few mule deer down low. Down in the flats below Portal. I have never seen mule deer up in the higher elevations here. I dont think this unit holds a whole heck of a lot of mule deer. Used to be a lot of mule deer off of Tex Canyon road at the southern end of the unit just north of the ranch. They like that big giant hill with the bowl on top. It seemed when ever I drew this unit for mule deer I would see them in 30A and then the following year they would be in 29....which ever tag I did not have.