New Mexico Unit 53
Mule Deer
Contributors to this thread:
I posted this on the NM board, but didn't get any answer, so I'm trying here :
I know it is a rough area, but it looks like an easy draw for non-resident archery deer. I'd like to know if the bucks are high are september, what average size, is Latir better than Wheeler Peak ? How about the elk ? I'd love to backpack somewhere for a high country archery hunt and I wonder if it is a decent option.
Thanks for anybody willing to share some info
Martin
I hunted it a couple of years ago for elk. I haven't had the desire to go back. I saw one group of 10 bucks up in a remote drainage of aspens- other wise I saw very few deer.
That unit was the first time in a long time it took us 4 days to hear a bugle and thats never happened to me in OTC Colo. Its in a econimically depressed area and a couple of NM guys we met said it gets hammered by locals poaching for food- and it shows.
^^^^^what Bruce said. however while working on a project at the Taos Ski Valley a few years ago I saw some giant mule deer up there daily along the side of the road leading up the mountain in the mornings and evenings. they disappear quickly into the timber though but a lot of that is public land.
^^^^^^^ what these guys said about tough country is a understatement. They both told me it was tough country in a thread I had on archerytalk and I listened but didn't realize how tough it was till I had all my gear on my back. Like trophyhill said there are some good bucks you will see on the sides of the roads but the timber is thick and nasty.
I hunted elk in this unit three or four times a few years ago. I saw very few deer but, did see a couple of good bucks. Unless it has gotten better in the last three or four years I would not look here for a deer hunt. Obviously I have not been in the whole unit, so there may be some good areas.
Hence the reason why you can draw it!
For whatever its worth, I would just avoid Northern NM all together. I live in NM and never go there anymore.
What sucks more than busting your butt for very little reward is coming back and finding your vehicle robbed and vandalized.