New To Forum and Going On 1st Archery Elk Hunt

[JJhunts]

Greetings to all of you here at BackTrak,

I have been stalking here for a couple of weeks and am truly impressed with the great atmosphere here and all the folks willing to help. I have been on other forums in the past and this is just a much better place. The advice and friendship here is what hunting is suppose to be all about!

As mentioned in the title I am preparing to go on my first archery elk hunt. I will be hunting on a private ranch in unit 46 in NM. The ranch supposedly has a great population and a couple of large irrigated fields. I would welcome and certainly appreciate any and all advice that you guys will give a newby. I am an experienced archer that lives in TX. I have taken some 150 plus whitetail with stick and string, pigs, and even a nice pronghorn. I am just a little nervous on what skills are transferable to help me be successful in a couple of weeks. My only elk experience has been rifle hunting second season in CO on a couple of occasions. We where successful but there was a lot of snow and I expect this to be a lot different this time.


Thanks for having me here.

My Best,

JJ

 

[elky McElkerson]

sweet!!

googling unit 46 now..................

 

[cnelk]

Hello and welcome JJ!
Thanks for the compliments too.

What specific question(s) do you have that we can help with?

 

[Swede]

Welcome to BTO.
Apparently you have the right to hunt the ranch, but no guide. It sounds like you have no experience calling elk. I would think the property owner could help you with a lot of information on the critters and their habits. The owner can detail the ranch layout too. Look the ranch over on Google Earth and a good map source, to familiarize yourself as much as possible with the ranch before you go.
If you can determine where they will be coming on a frequent basis, I would prefer to tree stand hunt them, or you can ground blind hunt them if there are no good tree to wait in. Weather, what part of the season, and what you will accept for an elk could weigh in on some of your decision.

 

[iccyman001]

Welcome to the site, Justin.

You\'ve definitely come to the right place.
We habe a lot of experience here on the site and a lot of guys who have been bow hunting elk longer than I\'ve been alive.

So feel free to pick their brain as much as you can.

In regards to the ranch hunt. I\'m sure you\'ve received all the ranchers information? Have you contacted him yet? He may be a plethora of knowledge. They generally know what water holes are bot, what are they eating this time or more.

The area you are hunting is south of where I have a mule deer hunt this year. Beautiful areas and good elk population.

Do you know how many other people will be hunting when you are hunting? We have a lot of good early season tactics threads to brush up on, but one thing I will say is the bulls will definitely be calling during first season archery. I hunt first season NM archery too and they were all fired up last year. Reports are already in that they are all fired up this year.

One thing I would recommend to you is watch some elk bow videos. One thing that I have seen a difference in from whitetail hunting to elk is drawing times.

Having the correct draw time is crucial. When you get to a spot you need to really assess your blind spots and draw points.

Do you plan on calling at all? If the ranch isn\'t hunted often, calling can be very helpful. The bulls are less pressured and don\'t deal with the masses out there calling/educating them.

Don\'t let the lack of experience scare you. Use it as motivation.
Last year was my first year ever and the only way I could build my confidence was to educate myself as much as I could on elk. What they eat, where they drink, their seasonal patterns, etc etc.

So feel free to ask anything you could possibly think of.

Another thing that I would say is different from whitetail is your level of aggression. More often than not, we are not aggressive with whitetail. Elk is a whole different story.

We have a thread on page 1-3 regarding aggression. It\'s a good read.
Ever hunter will find their own niche for their level of aggression, but it\'s good to be aware of all forms.

What part of Texas are you from?
I live on the border of NM and TX.

I think you will have a great time. I love whitetail and it will always be my passion, but after going on my first elk hunt, the addiction began....

Again, please pick all of these guys brains. They are extremely helpful and full of experience.
Anyway that we can instill more confidence in you, the better your hunt will be.

Welcome again,

Daniel

 

[JJhunts]

Thank you all for the warm replies!! I have spoken to the ranch foreman on numerous occasions. Funny thing is I met the ranch owner on an airplane out of Albuquerque in Jan. He was telling me the story of the ranch and how many elk where there. I had two questions for him. A: do you hunt? He said no. B: do you have anything against it? He said no, we do a few hunts every year to control the population. He gave me his foreman number and I called to set it up. The foreman gave me a price for the hunt and landowner permit. The ranch is around 10K acres surrounded by other private ranches. The foreman told me there where 60 head of elk in the large hay field last week. They only do 8 hunts per year, four archery, four bow. Last years bow hunters went 3/4 the fourth missed on numerous occasions. My step dad and I will be the only 2 on the ranch and we will be there from the second until the 10th. The closest town is Buena Vista, NM...

From my understanding the ranch has some nice bulls. last years bow guys took two over 330. My standards are not super high. I killed a decent 5x5 with a gun but I am not looking to be too picky! I would like to do my best to take respectable mature bull to help with the conservation. Am I wrong for looking at it that way?

Doing research it how I found this site. I have been reading everything I can and practicing shooting and calling. I have guided several turkey hunts since my teens and think I am getting the basics of elk calling down. I could be way wrong!

Iccyman, I live in the Wichita Falls area.


Sorry for the vomit of info! Just thought that would help some of you understand what I am facing.


Thanks again, guys!

The ranch has a ton of water! I expect they do not get called much on this property. I can\'t find many big trees on google earth but do have several Double Bulls.

 

[david.denham.39]

Welcome to a great site Justin! I can\'t help much as I am new to elk hunting. The people on BTO are a great help! Ask any questions you want and you will get answers! Like Dan asked what part of Texas are you from.


Must\'ve type around the same time! Lol

Looks like we live in the same town!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[elky McElkerson]

and that there is the exact reason i talk to complete strangers on airplanes!!

well done!!

good luck. anyway you could mail the foreman a bunch of trail cams? and apple pie? if not, i would budget a few extra days to set up my own cameras.

man, this sounds like a fun hunt. i met a landowner in unit 36..but i still couldnt afford it.

 

[iccyman001]

Justin,


It sounds like you found a gold mine and I would do anything and everything you can to secure that spot for future hunts.


They say money talks, but in my experience with ranchers and proper NM locals, lasting relationships and gentlemen agreements can go along way. If you end up liking it, I throw this out as something to think about.

Offer him your services in the off season. Even if you go up for a weekend or two, offer to help around the ranch. This helps build that relationship and you get to scout

You mentioned wanting to take the mature elk. I would first ask the rancher what he would prefer. Again this goes to your credibility and helps create a lasting relationship. He will respect you for asking and will most likely just tell you to shoot what you want.
With that being said, you are not wrong for wanting a mature elk to help, but in the last few days don\'t sell yourself short.

Elk meat is fantastic and I\'d love to hear you went home with a full freezer.

I\'ve been to witchita falls many of times for work.
We also have another member from out there.

It\'s always nice to have more whitetail hunters too. Feel free to share your experiences with all of your whitetail and turkey hunts.

If you are really feeling up to it, sign up for our small, but fun deer contest.


I hope we can help you in anyway you need.

 

[iccyman001]

Welcome to a great site Justin! I can\'t help much as I am new to elk hunting. The people on BTO are a great help! Ask any questions you want and you will get answers! Like Dan asked what part of Texas are you from.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

He lives near you!

 

[iccyman001]

good luck. anyway you could mail the foreman a bunch of trail cams? and apple pie? if not, i would budget a few extra days to set up my own cameras.

man, this sounds like a fun hunt. i met a landowner in unit 36..but i still couldnt afford it.

This is a fantastic idea, Cliff.
The trail cameras could definitely assist some.


I have a spare one that I could mail up if need be, just mail it back when you\'re done.

 

[JJhunts]

Welcome to a great site Justin! I can\'t help much as I am new to elk hunting. The people on BTO are a great help! Ask any questions you want and you will get answers! Like Dan asked what part of Texas are you from.


Must\'ve type around the same time! Lol

Looks like we live in the same town!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thats great David. I actually live in Burk, many folks outside of here know where thats at.

 

[JJhunts]

good luck. anyway you could mail the foreman a bunch of trail cams? and apple pie? if not, i would budget a few extra days to set up my own cameras.

man, this sounds like a fun hunt. i met a landowner in unit 36..but i still couldnt afford it.

This is a fantastic idea, Cliff.
The trail cameras could definitely assist some.


I have a spare one that I could mail up if need be, just mail it back when you\'re done.

Thanks Dan and Cliff! I have several to spare. I will call him this afternoon and try the pie, a bottle, or case of beer trick.

Where would you ask to put them? From my understanding the Foreman usually recommends ambushing as the elk are going to the irrigated fields. He told me they have had to place plastic tubing on the fence surrounding the fields in many places to stop the elk from damaging the fence. Would you try to put them on those crossings?


I asked him about hunting wallows but with the amount of water they have I am not sure if thats a good bet. They have an active creek and a large spring fed lake. It appears all the water is in the valley\'s from the satellite images I have reviewed.

 

[iccyman001]

Crossings aren\'t a bad idea. Could give you an idea on the diversity of the herd out there, plus you could find a spot where they are crossing all throughout the day or at least during shooting hours.


On of my hottest trail cameras is located on a fence crossing..... it definitely pays off with good information.

The foreman is going to know best though. Even if he\'s not a hunter, I bet he knows the property like the back of his hand.

 

[JJhunts]

Crossings aren\'t a bad idea. Could give you an idea on the diversity of the herd out there, plus you could find a spot where they are crossing all throughout the day or at least during shooting hours.


On of my hottest trail cameras is located on a fence crossing..... it definitely pays off with good information.

The foreman is going to know best though. Even if he\'s not a hunter, I bet he knows the property like the back of his hand.

He does take an elk per year for meat. I sure would too! He has been on the ranch for 7 years and the owners are absentee. I am probably over analyzing a lot, but I am super excited. I have been watching the season clocks here since I started stalking and it keeps dragging. Life seems to go by so fast, kids grow up, you get old, body hurts more, blah, blah.. Damn, it creeps when you want to quit working and go hunting.

 

[iccyman001]

Use this trip as a huge learning experience too.
I\'m sure you will, but you have a very unique opportunity on your hands.

Watch the elk, study their habits and have fun!
Even if you tag out early, it wouldn\'t hurt to stay another day or two and just get woods time with them.

The more experience this year will pay off dividends in the long run.




Now I want to hear more about these 150\" deer

 

[JJhunts]

Use this trip as a huge learning experience too.
I\'m sure you will, but you have a very unique opportunity on your hands.

Watch the elk, study their habits and have fun!
Even if you tag out early, it wouldn\'t hurt to stay another day or two and just get woods time with them.

The more experience this year will pay off dividends in the long run.




Now I want to hear more about these 150\" deer

I am blessed to have several great places to hunt. My bigger deer come from the red river bottom in this area. We let them grow old and have wonderful genetics, agriculture and a great group of guys. We started managing it in 2002 and since 05 there is at least one mid 150\'s animal harvested. We have had three killed in since 02 that grossed over 170, my biggest to date was a typical 7x7 that went 167. One of the 170\'s was a mid 150 in deer at 4.5 and we all let him go. That\'s hard on a free range place surrounded by other hunters. People think if I don\'t shoot it my neighbors will. That\'s not always the case! The 150 9pt I killed last year had been past since he was 3.5. The cool thing is out of 8 guys I am the only bow hunter.

I guided hunting trips and fished bass tournaments to pay my bills in college and was blessed to learn a lot about deer and their behavior. It makes a lot of since to me on your advice about the woods time.

 

[iccyman001]

Sounds like you have a great set up.
Not only do I look forward to your successes on your elk hunt, but definitely can\'t wait to see your whitetails that you get this year

 

[elkmtngear]

Welcome Justin...sounds like a sweet deal you stumbled into !

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures there. :upthumb:

 

[mainebrdr]

welcome Justin, Happy to have you here and contributing!