Got drawn for my first New Mexico deer hunt.. Any advice?

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Found out this week I will be hunting Muzzleloader in late september over in Unit 45 in New Mexico out of Santa Fe.. My question is, does anyone have any experience in this unit? Not looking for any honey holes by any means, just some general intel on good access points and if its feasible to camp out there or if I should stay in Santa Fe..

Thanks

Athlonopticsguy

 

[SheepDog]

The only advice I can offer is to remember your ammo and bolt. Two of my friends did out of state hunts and one forgot his carefully crafted ammo and the other one left his bolt on the night stand. They had to rent rifles and buy ammo from the outfitters.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Wont have that problem, it's a muzzleloader hunt!

 

[North Fork]

All i can say is have fun and good luck

 

[SealT5]

I have a buddy with 30k acres just east of there and guides hunts. Maybe I could get you in touch with him or ask some questions for you? PM me if you'd like

 

[Ringostar]

I don't know any hot spots up there, but you can camp almost anywhere on national forest land. I don't know how much the elevation will change your sighting with the muzzleloader, but it still wouldn't hurt to check it before hitting the woods. There's a good access road in from the south. You might even be able to find a room right there in Pecos.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Great advice gentlemen, thank you! Westex91 I will PM you this weekend.

Thanks

AOG

 

[L.Sherm]

I don't know what elevation your used to but i hunted the Valle Vidal about 10 years ago just outside of Raton and the elevation was 7,000 feet and higher, the air starts getting thin even for me coming from 3500 ft. I don't know what the elevation is around the area your gonna hunt but if its up there and your used to sea level type elevation you may want to go a couple days early and get yourself acclimated and in cardio shape before you go. Have fun on your hunt.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

I don't know what elevation your used to but i hunted the Valle Vidal about 10 years ago just outside of Raton and the elevation was 7,000 feet and higher, the air starts getting thin even for me coming from 3500 ft. I don't know what the elevation is around the area your gonna hunt but if its up there and your used to sea level type elevation you may want to go a couple days early and get yourself acclimated and in cardio shape before you go. Have fun on your hunt.

Good call.. Yes the elevation in unit 45 is mostly 7500-10000 ft plus.. Some of the area has lower elevations around 5k, but its a high altitude hunt for sure. Good call on getting out there early, I spend a lot of time in ABQ and Santa Fe during the year, so hoping it won't affect me too bad. Been training for the hunt as of Monday with some light hiking to start.. Gonna pick up the pace here soon!

 

[CharlieNC]

Get in better shape than I have been the last couple of hunts.

 

[muleystalker]

I don't know what type of muzzle loader you have or if the regs have changed, but when i hunted it about 20 years ago it was side lock, percussion cap, black powder, and open sites only. No inline, sabots, scopes, or modern powder. Just a heads up.Good luck its a beautiful state.

 

[Fast14riot]

Can't help you on any local info, but if you're not used to hiking or walking at elevation, start doing interval training now. High intensity intervals, even if you use a bandana or dust mask to up your oxygen transfer efficiency by restriction will make the work at altitude much easier. Often it isn't the pursuit of game that gets you at altitude, it's getting the taken game out. I had to drag out a 220lb mule deer for my severely overweight uncle (5'8" 275lbs) this last year because he was ready to pass out after only 100 yards as he's a truck driver and doesn't get much cardio. I don't believe he could have done it at all on his own. If you're unfamiliar with interval training, YouTube it. Use an elliptical, or bicycle, or pool, or whatever, but I'm a firm believer in its benefits, especially since I used it to prep for many 100+ mile bike rides and hills, along with stamina training.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

I don't know what type of muzzle loader you have or if the regs have changed, but when i hunted it about 20 years ago it was side lock, percussion cap, black powder, and open sites only. No inline, sabots, scopes, or modern powder. Just a heads up.Good luck its a beautiful state.

Good call, I looked into this and there are no restrictions I can find.. Modern day muzzleloaders like the one I own should be fine.

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Can't help you on any local info, but if you're not used to hiking or walking at elevation, start doing interval training now. High intensity intervals, even if you use a bandana or dust mask to up your oxygen transfer efficiency by restriction will make the work at altitude much easier. Often it isn't the pursuit of game that gets you at altitude, it's getting the taken game out. I had to drag out a 220lb mule deer for my severely overweight uncle (5'8" 275lbs) this last year because he was ready to pass out after only 100 yards as he's a truck driver and doesn't get much cardio. I don't believe he could have done it at all on his own. If you're unfamiliar with interval training, YouTube it. Use an elliptical, or bicycle, or pool, or whatever, but I'm a firm believer in its benefits, especially since I used it to prep for many 100+ mile bike rides and hills, along with stamina training.

Great advice thank you!

 

[Brians356]

I'm 62 years old. My doctor has me on a lipid control regimen, diet and exercise, which has really improved my cardio stamina. The exercise part is very simple: Get your heart rate up to 140 bpm sustained for 40 minutes, every day. It's that simple. If I walk briskly on flat terrain, heart rate settles at 120 breathing normally. I either have to alternate walking with jogging, or walk uphill to get to 140. You know it, as you start you get a bit out of breath, but I also spot check my pulse to confirm. Find a hill if possible and walk up it every day. This is not training for mountain climbing, it's just base cardio conditioning, and if you don't go too fast and start gasping for air, shouldn't be dangerous unless you have known health issues. And it does wonders to lower your "bad" lipid numbers.
-

 

[B Nettesheim]

Good luck on your hunt!!

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Good luck on your hunt!!

Thank you very much! Did a quick two mile run/hike this morning.. baby steps!

 

[kapac]

Here is a tid bit of info for ya. Huge Muleys in that unit!

My two cents:

• Be able to have drop camp
• Hike in away from roads at least 2 miles away the farther the better!
• Museum Hill has some of the largest bucks, however it is also mostly private land. You can hunt the boarders of private land but you had better know exactly where you are at all times!
• If you would rather not deal with boarding private land then I would spend my hunt in an area closer to the city limits towards a place called Hyde Park.
• Be sure to spend several days before hand scouting as to not waste your trip!
• You had better be in shape!
• Last but not least have fun, be safe and good luck!

I hope this info finds you well!

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

This is great advice, thank you very much. I'm staying in Santa Fe Wednesday and plan to check out the areas you mentioned at dusk and dawn, do a little glassing before and after work!

 

[AthlonOpticsGuy]

Good evening gents,

I am in NM this week for work and plan to do some scouting based on the advice above given. I will report back anything interesting I find. Lets hope the weather cooperates!

Thanks

AOG