New Mexico Hunt Prep 2015-2016

I am trying to convince some of my hunting buddies to get on board with a DIY mule deer hunt in New Mexico unit 30. Any previous hunting experience from this unit will help me get them on board, or persuade me it is a futile adventure.
That is assuming we can draw some of the tags as a group.

Any experience with draw results in this unit would be appreciated. I hunted NM once, but was a private land tag just out of Hondo.

Is there any restrictions on hunting in the Carlsbad national forest. It is colored different on the nmfg unit maps?

All national forests are colored different

Just FYI don't get your heart set on just one unit... Only 5% of NM tags go to NR.

You will have three draw options. Choose wisely. Eastmans magazine is good about put out different unit success and draw odds.

I am applying for unit 31 and unit 37 also. Unit 30 has the most NY tags so that will be my better odds.

Buy under armor and Sitka

Go hunt.

Unit 30 gives out a ton of tags, I've hunted it a bunch and it sees a lot of pressure. Lots of deer, but lots of people.

NMDGF website has a wealth of information on harvest rates....here's a PDF file showing all units. Scroll down to GMU30 to see how hunters did. Success rates were pretty low it appears....

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/download/hunting/harvest/2013-Deer-Harvest-Report.pdf

I want to go!!!!!!!

and im leaving ALL my buddies at home tired of the "hey lets do this" and nothing happening.

NMDGF website has a wealth of information on harvest rates....here's a PDF file showing all units. Scroll down to GMU30 to see how hunters did. Success rates were pretty low it appears....

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/download/hunting/harvest/2013-Deer-Harvest-Report.pdf [/quote]

Th@nks for the info. For what I have gathered so far there are a lot of road hunting. Planning on backpacking and getting far enough away from the 2 wheel paths that I might can snipe a deer being chased out of there area by said road hunters.

KS I feel your pain on hunting buddies wanting to do this kind of hunt but bailing when it gets time to pony up. If I can't get any commitment soon let's get together. I'm a 54 year old and my knees are not going to allow me to do this kind of hunt for very much longer.

Never hunted unit 30. But I can attest to road hunters in 37. Hunting way off the beaten path is the way to go in NM. When you get away from the crowds you can find some decent deer. Good luck.

http://www.cabelas.com/product...views%3Bcat105543180

Just bought a pair of Cabela's Instinct™ Prairie Runner Boa® Upland Hunting Boots. Been wearing them the last several days and have not had any problems so far. No hot spots or pressure points. The lace up system is simple and allows for easy removal. The boots allow for quick adjustment of tightening or loosening the laces based on what you need for the moment. So far I have no complaints at all.
I had planned on buying some Danner boots but the Cabelas in Ft. Worth did not have my size so I settled on these.

After some more break-in I will let you know if there are any longer term issues or not.

Put in for everything possible! If you don't get drawn u actually get your money back! It's changed a lot.
Being from northern New Mexico now living in texas, if you put in with a New Mexican they and you have a better chance of being drawn.they like that out of state license purchase ! Last year we picked up Mule deer, Oryx, audad, then bought a cow tag off craigslist for 500 bucks in Las Vegas NM! And yes where they boot prints stop is where you start!!!!!