How many folks out there hunt the Arizona, New Mexico and West Texas region regularly? I hunt just about anything that walks, crawls or flies. Right now we're fixin' to go chase Barbary Sheep in Southern New Mexico. What are you going to be doing sometime soon?
Living in Arizona, I tend to hunt whatever I can get drawn for during the seasons. Don't get drawn for much more than deer, here lately - too many applying and not enough tags.
Have hunted New Mex fairly often for deer in the western part of the state, in the Gila Nat'l Forest and Gila Wilderness.
We hunt the Gila too when we can draw. We have the same problem here in New Mexico that you do in Arizona, residents don't get preference for tags, most go to out-of-staters. I do more hunting any more in Texas for deer than I do in New Mexico where I live. We do hunt squirrels in the Gila every year just to get together and enjoy the country. Usually 4 to 8 of us spend about a week chasing squirrels, band-tails and grouse. I keep trying for deer and elk, but we do get to chase Barbary sheep without having to draw and we can still hunt birds which I spend a lot of time doing. Good luck on your drawing, try applying in New Mexico, you probably will have better luck.
The over-the-counter deer tags in New Mex are what appeal to me. Nonres tags aren't that far out of line and it's fairly easy to slip over there. We hunted SW of Reserve last Nov. and I managed a fair 4x4 on the second day.
The 200l season, hunted for deer in the Black Range NE of Silver City. No luck - saw scads of elk, tho!
Hunted deer several times out of Gila Hot Springs in the late 90's.
I'm a native New Mex, being born over in Hobbs back when you could spit clear across town! Lived in the Sacramento Mtns. near Weed & Sacramento right after WWII and loved it as a kid.
Thinking about antelope next Fall over around Raton.
If you are looking for some really good antelope hunting and you're into muzzleloading, try the Unit 29 hunt just East of McGregor Range/Ft.Bliss. Probably the most antelope I've seen in years and very little hunting pressure. Good luck.
J.P.
kdub and others - My wife and kids are going to be in Arizona in April for 10 days. Now I'm relatively sure that Desert Bighorns are always going to be safe from me in a hunting scenario, however we would really enjoy just seeing a few. I intend to bring binoculars and a spotting scope, do you recommend any area for this, or am I being overly hopeful? Thank you.
Mainer:
I can only speak for southern/southwest New Mexico, or at least a portion of it. The last few years our mountain lion population has exploded and the deer and sheep populations dropped. I monitored a small herd of sheep prior to the decline and there are still a few around, but you are going to have to do some serious 4-wheeling and hiking just to get to where you can spot any sheep in my neck of the desert.
If you look at a map of New Mexico, in the very bottom southwest corner is the "bootheel". In the eastern portion are the Big Hatchet Mountains. There is a small herd of Desert Bighorns in the northern portion of those mountains. Those are the only ones I have seen in the last year (November 2002) although some friends told me of some they had seen in both the Animas and Peloncillo Mountains to the West of the Hatchets, I have not seen any there recently.
J.P. - I've heard the same with regard to mountain lions and declining sheep populations from other states as well. It's too darned bad, and your response comes as no surprise. Thanks for the information, I appreciate it.
The lion population is thicker'n fleas on a dog around here also, but there may be a few bighorns left around the lakes area NE of Mesa. People boating see them from time to time in the hills bordering Apache and Canyon Lakes, downstream of the Rooseveldt Dam on Rooseveldt Lake. Might give it at try.
Hey guys, I am in Alaska now, but I am headed for Egypt without the family for a year courtesy of the U.S. Air Force. When I return, I will be moving to Alamogordo, stationed at Holloman. I am happy about this as it means I can move back into the house I still own there. I only got to spend 15 months there the first time, but I really enjoyed it. I plan on using my traditional bow for deer, but I have a different rifle for everything else. I have heard that one can even find feral hogs in the state, would like to use a couple of my handguns on some of them. I really want to hunt an oryx, and of course I will be throwing my name in the hat for sheep. I have always wanted to see the southwestern part of the state, maybe this time I will get the chance. I am indeed happy about my return to the Land of Enchantment. I know I will be buying a cougar tag every year as well, going totry and thin the coyotes a bit too, as I have recently gotten into the varmint thing. Anyway, sorry to be so long winded.
Dave;
I'm only 45 minutes from Alamogordo, when you get back contact me (hopefully I'll still be here) and I'll put you on some coyotes. One of my good friends has dogs and has been hunting cougars real regularly. If he hasn't shot them all we'll see if we can't fix it so you can bag one.
The best of luck to you in Egypt, and God bless you and be with you in your service to our country.
kdub and others - My wife and kids are going to be in Arizona in April for 10 days. Now I'm relatively sure that Desert Bighorns are always going to be safe from me in a hunting scenario, however we would really enjoy just seeing a few. I intend to bring binoculars and a spotting scope, do you recommend any area for this, or am I being overly hopeful? Thank you.
sorry to run on to this so late. You can easily see desert sheep in the area of Boulder dam. On the az side especially in the area from the new bridge construction south for a mile or so. easy to park and walk a little if they are not visible from your car. good habitat extends on the west side of highway for several miles if you are at all experienced glassing sheep you can see them readily all along there.
sorry to run on to this so late. You can easily see desert sheep in the area of Boulder dam. On the az side especially in the area from the new bridge construction south for a mile or so. easy to park and walk a little if they are not visible from your car. good habitat extends on the west side of highway for several miles if you are at all experienced glassing sheep you can see them readily all along there.
The only hunting I did was for doves when I was in AZ, on public land. What a nightmare! I got three doves and birdshot up my nose and in my ears. Back in South Texas now where I belong. I am putting together a hog hunt for November as well as "Hogfest III in the spring, in case anyone is interested.
The only hunting I did was for doves when I was in AZ, on public land. What a nightmare! I got three doves and birdshot up my nose and in my ears. Back in South Texas now where I belong. I am putting together a hog hunt for November as well as "Hogfest III in the spring, in case anyone is interested.
I hear you, so much hunting pressure from so many people. that has led me to hunt predators, stick to sheep guiding etc. do things others are not doing so much. someday I will want to hunt texas. I see some great video from that world.
I hear you, so much hunting pressure from so many people. that has led me to hunt predators, stick to sheep guiding etc. do things others are not doing so much. someday I will want to hunt texas. I see some great video from that world.
I will be happy to get you set up when you make it here to the Lone Star State. We are over run in hogs, coyotes and have more deer harvested every year than most states have in their total population.
I never hunted Az. or NM but did live in Colorado for 20 years and what I miss about the west is all that wide open space. I've been stuck between Houston and Galveston for the past 6 years and have nothing to hunt and no place to hunt it. Out west there is bookoo public land and always an opportuity to shoot. The time I lived there I was always planning the next hunt: bow season for deer or elk, then rifle season for the other, then lion season. And when I couldn't get to the mountains there were those short jaunts for doves or pheasant or rabbits. On scouting trips for big game, pot shooting squirils and grouse was always a plus, and don't forget turkey in the spring. O.K. that does it; I'm gettin' out of this privately owned state and going back to Grand Junctoin where I belong. Life's to short to die in this metroplex! Thank you all for setting me straight.
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