Hunting & Fishing Skunked Again

[ZiaHunter]

Well draw results were posted for NM and didn't draw a single tag. Haven't drawn an elk tag in 4 years and its really starting to suck. Due to to all those f**king TV shows telling how great hunting in NM is, it has been more difficult to draw a tag every year. 50% of allocated tags are ranch tags and 80% of those go to non-residents. Great for the ranchers and outfitters but a total suck for residents of the State. The two friends I have been hunting with for years got skunked as well and neither one of them has drawn a tag in 6+ years. Up to about eight years ago all three of us would draw tags every year.

 

[WeiserBucks]

That's why I apply in several states every year and and always have a backup plan for an OTC hunt. If you're willing to travel you can hunt mulies and elk every year on OTC tags . I swing for the fences in the drawings and then just buy OTC tags when I strike out .

 

[davsco]

yep was hoping for my first elk hunt to be in NM but i didn't draw. applied for the draw also in CO so hopefully that one will be successful. if not i will do OTC there.

 

[Maxduty]

Are there OTC tags in NM?

 

[ZiaHunter]

NM does not have OTC tags.

 

[Gunfighter14e2]

If a none resident is allowed to kill the game in my state an I can't, the game laws of that state are out the window for me.

 

[kswaterfowl]

Outfitters can ruin a lot of hunting opportunities for residents. It seems like it gets worse every year. In my opinion it takes the sport out of it, when you have someone doing the scouting, setting stands, etc for you. It seems like so many people just care about the trophy and bragging rights, and don't want to put any leg work into it.

 

[TimeWillTell]

My limited view opinion as someone from OK hoping to do some Wyoming/CO/NM etc hunt in the future, is that it's now a rich man's game. I am fortunate enough to have the money to pay $5k for an outfitter IF I wanted, but I don't want. And many people can't afford that and it used to be that some hard work would pay off, now you wait 6-8 years and pay thousands IF you can even get tags. And I really feel for the residents of those states as their state has traded them in for the money of the non-residents.

 

[ZiaHunter]

We used to be able to buy unit wide tags in an excellent unit in the Gila from a rancher friend or ours. The outfitters offered him nearly twice as much as we used to buy them for so we no longer get them. Don't blame the rancher since it is a significant amount of income. Many of the outfitters especially the out of state ones are real assholes. Locking gates to public access and harassing other hunters on public lands. There is talk at the state level to redo the way ranch tags are allocated since 80% go to non-residents through outfitters. Ranchers aren't happy about it but something needs to be done. As mentioned above most of the tags outfitters are buying from the ranchers go to high roller trophy hunters who just want to say they shot an elk.

 

[LunaCustomGuns]

THAT sucks about NM. UT is on its way there as it seems like every year less of my friends draw out. I get the money issue but c’mon man, the state needs to save some tags for the common folk

 

[davsco]

from my understanding, new mex landowners got or bought a bunch of tags. maybe towards elk season if they remain unsold to hunters, the prices drop to something reasonable/affordable?