9 days......

[ABQ_Chica]

It\'s my understanding that any weapon means just that, and I\'ve heard of people carrying both bow and rifle during any-weapon seasons. I\'m just not sure whether that\'s technically legal. On Monday I\'ll be at a meeting where there\'s usually a seasoned Game and Fish person, so I\'ll ask him. If he doesn\'t know, he\'ll know someone who does. I\'ll report back.

I\'ve driven through Eagle\'s Nest, but haven\'t hunted up there before. It does seem like rough country, but very beautiful. Should be a great hunt!

 

[cohunter14]

Sounds like there are going to be some fun hunt reports to read about this fall!

There are only 20 of us who drew that hunt, and they usually assign each hunter their own subunit, so it\'s not like typical public land hunting in that respect. We can only scout it the day before the hunt, but they do give some tips and try put everyone in elky spots. So using a bow might not be such a disadvantage.

That is strange...will you have an idea on what sub-unit you will have? How early do they give you tips on locations? It would be nice if you could get some of that info ahead of time to do some research. There are plenty of people on here who I\'m sure could give you some good input as well!

As far as weapons go, I have to agree with what you both are thinking and try to carry both weapons, or at least bring both to camp. Maybe give the bow a few days and see how it goes before switching over to the rifle?

 

[ABQ_Chica]

It is strange the way the Valles Caldera hunts work, but they\'re still very worth it. Although it\'s public land, it\'s managed more like a trust/preserve, so public access is limited and we can\'t scout in advance. But the wildlife and land remain relatively undisturbed, which is why it\'s such an amazing place to hunt. They offer limited hikes and bike tours in the summer that venture into some of the less public portions, so I might check into those.

Hunt access is only 4 days, and hunters draw for subunits on opening day. The staff monitor elk (and other wildlife) year-round, so they kind of do a lot of scouting for us. I\'ve drawn turkey hunts there, and they gave most of us fairly detailed info about where they\'d recently seen turkey in various subunits, their travel routes, roosting spots, etc. So that gives me a head start on the few subunits I\'ve already been in. Meanwhile, I\'ll scout the rest of them through Google Earth. They do provide a general map of the subunits (attached), but it still includes several subunits that burned in a wildfire a few years ago. Not sure if they\'re allowing hunting in them again yet.

 

[Jaquomo]

ABQ, congrats on what looks like a great season coming up. When I used to guide rifle hunters, I had good luck calling elk in to close range during the rifle seasons. Cows and bulls. I believe yours is a cow tag? I called cows in all the time with a diaphragm. A sporadic/frantic lost calf call works very well. Once I called a herd of about 20 cows and calves in. After my hunter shot a cow, he said, \"It sounded like you and that lead cow were having a conversation!\" Which we were.

Good luck and enjoy the experience!

 

[iccyman001]

It is strange the way the Valles Caldera hunts work, but they\'re still very worth it. Although it\'s public land, it\'s managed more like a trust/preserve, so public access is limited and we can\'t scout in advance. But the wildlife and land remain relatively undisturbed, which is why it\'s such an amazing place to hunt. They offer limited hikes and bike tours in the summer that venture into some of the less public portions, so I might check into those.

Hunt access is only 4 days, and hunters draw for subunits on opening day. The staff monitor elk (and other wildlife) year-round, so they kind of do a lot of scouting for us. I\'ve drawn turkey hunts there, and they gave most of us fairly detailed info about where they\'d recently seen turkey in various subunits, their travel routes, roosting spots, etc. So that gives me a head start on the few subunits I\'ve already been in. Meanwhile, I\'ll scout the rest of them through Google Earth. They do provide a general map of the subunits (attached), but it still includes several subunits that burned in a wildfire a few years ago. Not sure if they\'re allowing hunting in them again yet.

It is an absolute fantastic hunt to draw and HIGHLY sought after.
I thought I was lucky because my draw percents for my picks were 27%, 9%, and 6%, but I bet yours was even lower than that...

 

[Bob Frapples]

It ain\'t Less Miles is it?????????? :mrgreen: :mrgreen:[/quote]

Definitely not miles, one look at my boat and everyone will know that.

Elky, I\'ve prolly got more places to go than time, did an absolute ton of pre scouting last time, never a bad thing to compare/exchange info.
I\'ll pm

 

[Baby Huey]

Congrats to everyone that drew! I\'m also looking forward to the hunt recap reports this fall!

 

[elky McElkerson]

Contemplating changing my user name to \"Deery McDeererson\"
Hahaha

 

[ABQ_Chica]

It\'s funny you ask this.
I am no lying researching right now if someone hunting in an any legal weapon hunt, can carry both a bow and a gun.
The mule deer hunt I drew in an any legal weapon hunt in Colin Neblett.

Dan, I got the answer from Game & Fish. During any-weapon season, you can have bows, rifles, and muzzleloaders in camp or in your vehicle, but legally you can only carry one of them while you\'re actually hunting. (I\'m assuming this doesn\'t include sidearms/handguns taken for personal safety.) How long is your hunt? Perhaps you can try with bow for a few days, then rifle? I only have 4 days, so I\'m leaning toward rifle...

 

[iccyman001]

It\'s funny you ask this.
I am no lying researching right now if someone hunting in an any legal weapon hunt, can carry both a bow and a gun.
The mule deer hunt I drew in an any legal weapon hunt in Colin Neblett.

Dan, I got the answer from Game & Fish. During any-weapon season, you can have bows, rifles, and muzzleloaders in camp or in your vehicle, but legally you can only carry one of them while you\'re actually hunting. (I\'m assuming this doesn\'t include sidearms/handguns taken for personal safety.) How long is your hunt? Perhaps you can try with bow for a few days, then rifle? I only have 4 days, so I\'m leaning toward rifle...

Well darn!
I have a 4 day hunt too and even though it\'s beautiful, I am told the country is extremely rough and that I won\'t get a deer unless I have a horse (challenge accepted)
So I am leaning towards rifle too..... if it would have been just a few days more, I would have been all over the bow.

Thanks again for finding out.
:upthumb:

 

[Zpd307]

if it would have been just a few days more, I would have been all over the bow.
:upthumb:

say it aint so.......