Sad...because it is a rifle tag this year and not a bow tag. I appreciate the chance to hunt elk again in the great state of NM but I just can't get too excited about hunting with a rifle. I bought it and I'm going and when we are riding up a mountain trail on horseback as the sun is coming up in October I bet I wont feel so bad.
There is just something about hunting elk with a bow in September.
Take it all in and have a great hunt!
Ole Thumper
If you pick one off at longer than that don't say your're sad.........just say you chose to do what would make you happy.
I am thankful for the tag though !! I know there are worse things a man could be doing in mid Oct. other than trying to kill a big bull with a rifle in NM with some friends and their horses, but when you have that September bow tag in hand........
So during Muzz season you can use a bow.
During Rifle season you can use a Muzz or bow.
Clearly stated in the rules booklet for each season.
I seem to remember that CA and NV at least, exclude use of archery tackle during ML season.
smarba, that's news to me that you can use archery tackle during the NM ML season. If I were a hardcore ML hunter, I'd be pissed if archery folks were applying for "my tag."
In fact, if you could hunt NV's ML season with archery tackle, I'd consider applying for a ML tag over the archery tag.
Good news is you are fine taking your bow if you wish. Another great rifle season option is an open-sighted big bore handgun. With a little practice they are capable and effective at a little longer range than most guys bowhunt but still challenging. Its also great hunting hands-free all day. I have a 5.5" Ruger Bisely .45 LC loaded like a Casull that does the trick.
Or maybe build a Lyman Great Plains .54 cal kit. Darn fun and satisfying to take game with something you had a hand in crafting.
Have a great hunt! In your situation I would likely take my evil 7 mag thats set-up to hit at ranges with 4 digits... or maybe my homemade longbow...hmmm. Have a great hunt whichever way you choose!
if you can use a bow.................will you?
Idly- "If I were a hardcore ML hunter, I'd be pissed if archery folks were applying for "my tag."" If you are literate and check draw odds you would be an idiot to give up applying for archery for muzzle in NM.
Jdee, Good reason to get a T/C pistol?
I've never bow hunted elk in mid Oct. probably be all spot and stalk. They will be off by themselves and the rut and bugling should be over by then.
In 2012 I wanted a bow tag but drew a ML tag for elk in NM. It was probably my 3rd choice.
I hunted with a bow because that's what I do. Didn't score. The biggest disappointment was the 5 day season. The other guys in my group were glad to draw ML but they didn't score either.
Only heard one or two bugles the whole time. The bulls were very quiet and the season was too short for my liking. Won't do that again.
So jdee you can take your bow and take your rifle too. It's up to you.
Enjoy!
RE" If I were a hardcore ML hunter, I'd be pissed if archery folks were applying for "my tag." Are you serous? First of all very few bowhunters will apply for ML season and use a bow, but ML hunters should be happy for those who draw and use a bow? Why? Lower chance of success = more bulls for the MLers. Ditto for the general season.
Thanks for clearing up the confusion, we were all anxiously awaiting your judgement.
of course he is a serious bowhunter........he established that in the initial post.........he is just using the gun as his friend is going along.
get real man
I've never hunted elk in NM. I've never hunted elk anywhere but otc bow units. I've hunted with that bow in overlapping firearms season in those units that required tags for the gun hunters. I imagine you'll have a once in a lifetime hunt with that rifle. It is still hunting and it will make you no less of a hunter to hunt with a gun. The weapon doesn't define you as a hunter like some guys suggest here or need the recognition for deciding that about themselves. Go have fun bud. Enjoy it for what it is. It sure beats being in the hospital or on your death bed. Enjoy the blessings you've been given and disregard dumb notions and people who are simply ignorant to reality.
This is life and life is what you make of it. Enjoy. Good luck and God Bless
No, I didn't draw any elk tags this year and was waiting for NM to issue the landowner tags because like I've said I have been buying this tag for a while from an old NM cowboy that has become a FRIEND. He called me and said ....get your rifle sighted in, we're going elk hunting with a rifle this year. He was all excited because I have killed some bulls using his LO tag and his horses but he is 68 years old and he ain't getting far from his horses rains so he stays home when his LO tag is for archery ( plus he always says, why would anyone want to use a stick when you could use a rifle). So even though I would rather have a September archery tag and am not as jacked up about it as if I did I am very grateful for the tag and such a good friend.......
PS....I talked to him today and he told me the tags are Muzz or rifle. I said hey, lets go during Muzz season but this old timer is old school and he didn't want anything to do with a muzzleloader...lol old school a cowboy as there is. Should be a good hunt if I can keep up with him, he's been riding horses in those mountains all his life. 68 years old but he is impressive on a horse !!!
First, in NM and most other states, you CAN hunt with a bow during ML or the general season. I have done so in NM.
I never thought, hey I could hunt with a rifle...guess it makes sense to forgot about the bow and go with the rifle. I have confidence in my bowhunting...I did kill a bull...with a longbow, too.
I'm not in the league of the better known bowhunters such as Paul Schafer, Chuck Adams, Howard Hill, Bob Lee, Ben Pearson,etc..but do my critics above think for even one second these guys would not be using their bows?
Now if my buddy had the same tag I'd still hunt with a bow...if he said, hey let's both hunt with rifles and seemed disappointed I wanted to use a bow, yes in that case I might go along with his wish, but frankly I would be surprised...