Valle Vidal--Guide or DIY?
New Mexico
Contributors to this thread:
So my 14yo son drew Valle Vidal as a NR, first try. Pretty lucky and definitely a surprise. My question for you New Mexico guys is do we need a guide or is it really as easy as everyone says it is? And in saying that, I realize that no elk hunt is easy and you have to work for every one, but from what I've read, the VV has a ton of elk with pretty easy access. I grew up in Arizona, so I've hunted ans killed elk on my own and feel pretty comfortable in the elk woods. I guess my main concern is that with work and other responsibilities, I know I'm not going to be able to give this tag the justice it deserves on my own. We're coming 19 hours drive from Wisconsin and will only have 4 days to hunt (we'll take Sunday off) so it's going to be a short window to get it done. That's the only reason I'm thinking about a guide. What do you guys think? Also, since this is his first elk, we're not holding out for a 350--we won't pass one up, but size of the rack is not going to define success. Thanks.
A 320 is very doable, but a 280 - 290 is more realistic and in 4 days without him having as much expereince, a 240 or so large 5x or small 6x is the likely outcome.
That being said, it depends on which hunt. I drew the second hunt in 2017 and was done at 10 a.m. opening day. There is really no need to hike in super duper far, 1/2 mile in for the most part is plenty.
I hunted the higher elevations and camped at Cimarron CC. The monsoon season this year is supposed to be fairly wet and we received decent snow this past winter.
Best thing to do is locate a bull and go after him, don't get sidetracked by one you suddenly think sounds bigger.
This discussion will continue on as you ask more questions...
Well, I was afraid to say this out loud on the Bowsite for fear of shutting down the discussion entirely, but in full disclosure he drew the first rifle hunt. I'm the bowhunter, he's not, but still glad that he's interested in going and lets me put him in for crazy tags. One more name in the hat. And on the same lines, I'm the backpacker, he's not (yet), so if we DIY we are probably going to set up a base camp and day hike or mountain bike into the hunting areas. There's a small chance I might even be able to talk my wife into coming with our 9 and 11yo if we haul a camp trailer out and make it a family camp.
HDE is on the money. There are a couple of 350 types wondering around no doubt, but most encounters will be as he said.
With a rifle and four days it's just going to depend on you, what type of experience you have chasing bulls , there's no shortage of them that is no secret. If you are not extremely confident in your elk slaying skills , hire one. If you are confident go get it done.
I'm not sure what physical shape your boy's in, I know mine has been doing some hard hunting since he was little so by the time he hit 14 he was a great hand in the field. He might surprise you!
Good luck!
Never be afraid to mention a rifle tag on Bowsite. That changes things a little, but he will still have plenty of opportunity.
You might want to go read the Forest Service regulations about camping in the VV before you get a game plan in your head! I also advise TWO standard size spare tires. Congrats to your son on the tag, it has the potential for a lifetime memory.
Thanks for the input. My son was super excited when I got home and told him last night. It made me start to get really pumped for the adventure we are going to have. Hearing opinions from other guys who have been there, it sounds like it is definitely do-able on our own. I’m still a little nervous about the short timeframe that we have to hunt with no time to scout, but either way it is going to be an awesome adventure!
2 spare tires? I've seen sedans in the VV. Camping is straight forward, either you camp in the designated camp grounds, spike camp, or both... or have I simplified this too much?
I would at least talk to a local outfitter, you have 4 days and a OIL tag. I live in a NM unit that has a lot of nice elk and every year I hear guys say if they could only get a tag in that unit it would be so easy to kill a bull. Well it might be if they had a tag for June or July when you can see elk feeding in big meadows almost every day but come September, October and November it’s a whole different deal and I see plenty of hunters going home with a tag still in their pocket. I saw 2 guys come here from Arkansas last year with cow landowner tags and none of them killed. Just something to think about.....Best of luck to you and your son, hope he is successful.
VV is not one of those units...
The biggest problem in the v v is which bull to go after
I go t VV every year after second archery and in bwtn muzzy season to stay out of hunters ways . Go camp fish and call elk the whole week. Last year i called in 2 bulls over 350 . and seen several others . They are in there and not as far and few as people may think. The area is managed really well and probably the most beautiful area in our state . My advise is get your ass in shape and you will find a bull worthy of squezzing
You do realize you're educating those elk...
Call me. 575-770-2441. Robert Ortega. I live in Questa. Guided almost every hunt in Valle Vidal in the last 19 years.
HDE-
Educating the elk? You mean like every other yahoo who throws a bugle from his truck with it still running or slams the car door and hits the hoochie mama cow call? That is educationg the elk .
Me backpacking 3 miles with my camera and calls in hand not nearly as much , and if it matters im the 2 NM state RMEF Calling champion so if hearing a realistic elk in the woods is education then every real elk call out there is education as well ..
Increased pressure, Bobby, is increased pressure regardless if you sound real to the human ear and judges or not...
Valle Vidal
Valle Vidal
Because the VV hunt is OIL and we had little elk hunting experience, we hired a guide. He hunted the VV differently than I would have, the horses were very useful, he helped my buddy make two 350-yard shots on a 295" bull after practicing no further than 250 yards all summer, he was priceless for carving the face off the skull ("trophy care"). Thus the guide was very useful. But it's not the same feeling you get when doing it yourself.
VV is a long way from anywhere, so some self sufficiency is kinda useful, but that main road through the middle is pretty good, just unpaved "the whole way."
HDE, respectively I fail to see your point on educating elk, doesn't anyone have the right to enjoy calling elk? I could see your point if it was during the season but hunters have 3 or 4 solid weeks of opportunity to get out in the elk woods and enjoy calling in elk, can't we give the general public one weekend to have some elk fun without being vilified? As my girls were growing up I use to take them to the VV the same time as Bobby mentioned, we hiked, fished, called in elk and had a hell of a time, I did this with both of my kids and I have stressed the same process to others with young kids. It's absolutely no different than the hordes of hunters calling their fool heads off for weeks on end and busting elk trying to get a shot.
Just this week I went turkey hunting with one of my daughters and she mentioned that those VV trips had a major impact on her when it comes to hunting, fishing and enjoying wildlife. It was good times educating those elk and we had the same rights as hunters to do so, look at it this way, if there was any education going on there will be a few bigger elk for the experienced hunters to kill.
Yup Ohio, two spares, I sure wouldn't take a day to drive to Cimmaron (if day flat) or worse Raton to get a repair when it's only a five day hunt. (for the record I have four spares in the shed, I have been known to be a long way from nowhere and slit a 5in hole in a side wall, no big deal --hunt on!) Prepare for the worst and it won't happen...
mrelite - never said anyone doesn't have the "right" to enjoy calling in elk. Just bear in mind, anytime you are pretending to be elk in the woods instead of humans and the elk figures out you are a human, trust me, the sounds and vocalizations you make will be remembered and may cause them, over time, to become a little call shy especially when out in the woods hunting and trying to call in elk when conditions aren't necessarily right.
Of course, some may now counter-post after reading this post (including you) that maybe people should just learn to call elk in better. Well, the better you get and the more elk learn that your "super-duper" calls are associated with a human, the tougher it will get eventually. So, to take your example further, 4 weeks of hunters, 1 to 2 weeks of slack time in between an archery and a muzzy hunt. In that 1 to 2 weeks of slack time people are out calling in elk when they are at a vulnerable time, you are now putting an extra 1 to 2 weeks of pressure on them. Maybe not as much as when there were 50 or 350 tag holders, but pressure never the less.
That's all I'm saying.
Thanks to everyone who helped with info. As I suspected from some responses and PM, it is a great unit, but by no means a guarantee. Weather will certainly be a factor, but that's hunting, right? We're probably NOT going to use a guide, but I still plan on talking to a few to make sure that's the right choice. Most of all just looking forward to an awesome experience with the family in a beautiful place. A big bull in the back of the truck heading back to WI will just be icing on the cake. Thanks again for all the help. I'll try to post back after the hunt (hopefully with some antlers!)
Sean
HDE, I see your point! Sooner or later, everyone will be so good calling elk and sounding like the elk, that elk will stop responding to elk because even they won't be able to tell the difference. ;)
Don’t forget your fishing poles. Shuree ponds will be open, just make sure you read the regs... barbless, artificial bait, size limit etc.
I agree, definitely take your fishing pole and heed the regulations. The G&F might be undercover fishing working their way around the lake, they get right next you and watch before they check you, I watched them bust a couple of teenagers using barbed lures, it was fun to watch.
Unfortunately you probably won't catch any big fish, they have all been educated.........LOL
If at all possible, I highly suggest making a trip to VV before your hunt. Just get a little familiar w/ the lay out and establish somewhat of a game plan, this is a premier hunt and it is highly unlikely you will ever be in this unit chasing elk again.