How do you find Elk in a drought? (New Mexico Unit 34 specific)

[aggiecadet03]

With the Lincoln National forest soon to be closed for fire danger does anyone know of a good spot to hunt in unit 34 that might still have some water.  I spent a few days scouting and managed to find a few small springs but not much water coming from them and all the water holes near Benson Ridge were dry.  I even hiked up next to some privet that looked to have  a deeper water hole and it was dry as well.  This will be my first time hunting Unit 34.  Will the water holes fill back up if we have an sort of Monson Season. 

 

[DTP]

The monsoon season should be rolling in soon and it should replenish a good bit.
It?s one of the driest years NM has had in a LONG time....
My unit is bone dry and I keep watching for fires. 


Cloudcroft is showing a couple thunder and lightning storms coming up... hopefully those bring some rain. 


You?ll still be able to find elk.  You?re in a dream unit!

 

[aggiecadet03]

Should I e-scout water holes in the hopes they fill up.  I live in Alamogordo so I should have plenty of time to scout on foot once monson season actually hits.

 

[trmin8r]

I hunted that unit last year in the first archery season. You shouldn?t have to find water to find the elk. I saw em everyday off almost every ridge I was on. Dream unit for sure.


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[DTP]

Should I e-scout water holes in the hopes they fill up.  I live in Alamogordo so I should have plenty of time to scout on foot once monson season actually hits.

If you are that close I'd be out there walking all the time. Like trmin8r said, you will find them everywhere.

Go explore those cliffs on the western side of 34, plenty of other neat animals that you can chase OTC

 

[DTP]

I hunted that unit last year in the first archery season. You shouldn?t have to find water to find the elk. I saw em everyday off almost every ridge I was on. Dream unit for sure.


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Welcome to the site, trmin8r!  :upthumb:

 

[trmin8r]

I hunted that unit last year in the first archery season. You shouldn?t have to find water to find the elk. I saw em everyday off almost every ridge I was on. Dream unit for sure.


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Welcome to the site, trmin8r!  :upthumb:

Thanks!

Also, I hunted just about at every elevation in that unit. Down around 6k and up high around cloudcroft. I was in awe of all the elk there. Can?t wait to go back. Just about every time I got out of the truck and hiked about 300 yards I was in good elk sign.


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[DTP]

I hunted that unit last year in the first archery season. You shouldn?t have to find water to find the elk. I saw em everyday off almost every ridge I was on. Dream unit for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome to the site, trmin8r!  :upthumb:

Thanks!

Also, I hunted just about at every elevation in that unit. Down around 6k and up high around cloudcroft. I was in awe of all the elk there. Can?t wait to go back. Just about every time I got out of the truck and hiked about 300 yards I was in good elk sign.


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Did you get a chance to eat at Big Daddy's diner or the BBQ place in Cloudcroft? YUM!

 

[trmin8r]

I hunted that unit last year in the first archery season. You shouldn?t have to find water to find the elk. I saw em everyday off almost every ridge I was on. Dream unit for sure.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Welcome to the site, trmin8r!  :upthumb:

Thanks!

Also, I hunted just about at every elevation in that unit. Down around 6k and up high around cloudcroft. I was in awe of all the elk there. Can?t wait to go back. Just about every time I got out of the truck and hiked about 300 yards I was in good elk sign.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Did you get a chance to eat at Big Daddy's diner or the BBQ place in Cloudcroft? YUM!

Haha as a matter of fact I did. There was a long wait for that place lol. It was pretty good though


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