New Mexico 16a
Contributors to this thread:Elk
From: derbyhunter5
25-Apr-20
I was lucky enough to draw 16a
From: MichaelArnette
26-Apr-20
No way!! Awesome!
From: greg simon
26-Apr-20
You will enjoy elk hunting there!!! Congratulations and good luck. Which season?
From: midwest
26-Apr-20
Sure seems like a lot of guys drew that tag this year! Congrats
From: Junior
26-Apr-20
Hard to top that unit imo.
From: Shuteye
26-Apr-20
The company I worked for had a rail siding in New Mexico. I used to visit the siding from time to time and loved the country. They told me the state record bow kill for elk was about 20 miles from the rail siding.
From: Norseman
26-Apr-20
The Gila is paradise Enjoy!
From: derbyhunter5
26-Apr-20
Early season tag. Hopefully there is plenty of tanks getting hit by elk.
From: BowFly
27-Apr-20
Does seem to be a lot here on the site who drew it. I did as well. I'll spend two there but now starts the strategies.
From: Royboy
28-Apr-20
Good luck and be sure to arrive a few days early to learn the area and get acclimated
From: derbyhunter5
28-Apr-20
Plan on making a scouting trip in july.
From: 76aggie
29-Apr-20
Congratulations on your successful draw Cody. I got a landowner tag in Unit 36. Terrain and animal density looks great to a 66 yoa old fart. I drew Unit 53 four years ago and it was not quite as hospitable.
From: Bill in MI
29-Apr-20
36...one of my favorite hunts every...circa 2000
From: elkster
29-Apr-20
Yes, you were lucky. Enjoy the hunt. Congrats.
From: midwest
29-Apr-20
Ahh...Cody, didn't realize this was you! Aaron told me you drew. Congrats again! Is dad going with?
….lucky bastard. ;-)
From: bowonly
29-Apr-20
Don't take your mid-day naps in the pine duff. They got chiggers down there! If I ever draw again, I am looking into a light weight hammock.
From: DuckhunterBrad
29-Apr-20
Make sure to take a UTV or 4 wheeler to get around. Some of the back roads are rough!
From: derbyhunter5
29-Apr-20
Nick, We didn't draw Arizona and I knew we wasn't going to draw Wyoming. I put in for new Mexico by myself for a long shot. And I must of had some luck, drew in regular nonresident pool.
From: mrelite
29-Apr-20
True that on the chiggers, take a benadryl pen because one way or another you will have some bites. Last year I covered up pretty good but they made their way in through the neck area, boy oh boy did I have a bunch of bites along the strap of my binos and the back of the armpit area, for what it is worth the bino straps kept them from getting to my waistband. They do like pine needles and they love the base of big alligator juniper trees and grassy spots too.
I just noticed your from OK so I am sure you are well versed on chiggers
From: NoWiser
30-Apr-20
Interesting. I spent nearly 4 weeks all over 16A over the course of 2 elk seasons and didn't get bit by a single bug. The chiggers must not like me. I got stung by a wasp and nearly stepped on 2 rattlers, but not a single bug bite. If you have any heart conditions, the quail will probably be the most dangerous thing you encounter.
From: splitlimb13
30-Apr-20
No wiser, same here . I've never been in chiggers in 16a. I have been in them in 16c , bit the hell out of me during my mid day ciesta! Good on all of that drew it! Was wet in that country last month, no rain for weeks now , hoping the rain comes soon and hard to open up the intermittent springs.
From: EmbryOklahoma
30-Apr-20
Damn you Cody!! :)
From: derbyhunter5
04-May-20
Does anyone have any recommendations for maps for 16a?
From: midwest
05-May-20
Seems like the only things I need anymore are OnX and GE. I still always carry a paper map and I get those from Mytopo.com.
From: Junior
05-May-20
Tommy Maldonado has awesome maps. Also use to offer scouting packages, and I highly recommend!
From: Ptron
06-May-20
Single from this year. was a 6 now a 7. could not find the other side.
Single from this year. was a 6 now a 7. could not find the other side.
Another set found 20 yds from the Deadhead.
Another set found 20 yds from the Deadhead.
Eye Candy. Set two years old, same bull as the brown. Found about 3/4 of a mile a part.
From: derbyhunter5
06-May-20
That's a nice find.
From: priley
07-May-20
Chiggers ? Really? I've been living and hunting in NM for the last 60 years and have never even heard of such.
From: mrelite
07-May-20
Chiggers? Yep in the Gila! I know that they aren't everywhere but if you are backpacked in and happen to get into them you best have something with you to stop the itch, 50 to a hundred bites ain't no joke. After the first time of getting attacked and no way to stop the itch I started carrying a Benadryl pen, my buddy didn't use it and he scratched his bites so much that he had open sores, it looked horrible.
From: pirogue
08-May-20
Some of y’all talk Iike some Yankee city lady who goes in the woods for the first time and freaks out because she gets a chigger. Don’t apply in NM; it’s not downtown Manhattan.
From: mrelite
09-May-20
pirogue, I guess since I posted that I've gotten eaten by chiggers you might be talking to me. You think that being packed in and having 20 or 30 chigger bites a day for 10 days without any way to stop the itch is no big deal, really! I was just telling the guy he should have something on hand just incase and that made you feel the need to type an insulting post.
From: midwest
09-May-20
Permethrin is amazing if you're worried about ticks and chiggers. Treat your clothes before you go and you're good for the whole trip.
From: mrelite
09-May-20
Midwest, last year I did do Permethrin on the bottom of my pants but chose not to do my shirts, unfortunately they still came in through the neck area but at least it was somewhat manageable.
From: ki-ke
09-May-20
I had em eat me a few years ago in 16C. I've hunted a bunch in other areas in the Gila and never had a problem. Not like south Texas, but it sure does suck to have even 10 bites....careful where you take your mid day naps.....keep a tarp of some type in your pack and sleep on that.
From: midwest
09-May-20
Ticks are bad here this Spring. A couple days ago, I hiked 11 miles off trail hunting mushrooms through some of the most tick infested areas....tall grass fields, pine trees, thick woods....never pulled one tick off me or my clothing. I treated my pants, socks, base layer shirt, and gaiters. I've had chiggers a couple times....misery!