I am headed up to 2b for the November 3-7 rifle hunt. I enjoy this reading this forum and everyone that I have ever encountered here has been super friendly....so I thought I would post this just in case someone might be willing to share some intel.

Any free advice? I will be glad to share my experience and opinions when I get back from my trip.

Thanks,

Clayton

Unit 2c is considered by many trophy mule deer hunters to be the top choice for NM deer. 2b is not too shabby. I've only been on an elk hunt in 2b because the mule deer draws are tough to get selected for. I saw more mule deer than elk in that unit. The problem your going to have is where to go. I used a guide who was a local gas company employee and he knew all the back roads. I strongly suggest hiring a local guide or you'll get lost driving around. The terrain was high desert benches to piney wood/low hills near the reservation. Checkout www.monstermuleys.com for good intel on 2b and also ask around for a local guide. Hope this helps. PS...I saw a total of 4 elk in that unit during my elk.

Thanks for the quick response. What I would love to hear from someone is: "Stay away from X, bc that is where everyone hunts" or "XYZ Canyon and ABC Canyon are very hard to get to"

I have talked to some locals and former locals. It seems like everyone up there road hunts. I have hunted Unit 34 with 100% success in the past. I am planning on backpacking in. No road hunting for me if at all possible.

The deer in my Sig came from 2c, really hard draw now. Good deer in 2b but not the resident herd so it depends on weather in colorado as to how many deer are in the area. My brother lives in Farmington and his wife drew for 2b. As well.. next time I talk to him I will see how its looking.

I hunted the early 2C MD hunt last year. Watched a great 6X7 bull for about 30 minutes the first morning and could have had killed him easily if I had an elk tag. Fishhuntgolfgeek is right about the roads and insight from the Oil field hands. Tons of them and few are marked on maps. From what I have seen 2B is a migratory unit and if the snows hit early then a lot of the High country deer in CO migrate through that area. W/O any migration you have to find resident deer. They are there in better numbers than 2C in my opinion but be ready to spend days behind your glass. Take the best spotting scope/bino's you can get and use them. Monstermulies is a good resource. Look under the New Mexico deer section. There is a ton of info on 2B. The roads are fine if dry. If it rains much or snows you need 4X4 or at least chains and extra gas. I love hunting that country. Wish I were drawn this year.

I was drawn to hunt second rifle there last year, but ended up having to cancel at the last minute due to the birth of my son. I did do some scouting out there while I was on the way to Utah for an elk hunt. Make sure you have a winch to pull your truck out at some point. I explored a lot of the piney area on the east side, until I got to locked gates from the oilfield. From the research I have done, the snows in Colorado push the deer out of the high country and down into this unit. So bigger snows early are good for your hunt. If the snows aren't there I was told to go to Gas Buggy and hunt from there, just stay away from the Reservation. I saw a monster muley the night before on the way to Farmington. It was walking on the highway right on the border of 2c and 2b, it was in 2c though.

338ultra, thanks for the info. I have 4x4, a winch, and chains. I might just night hunt on that highway. :~)

Thanks for all of the information so far via posting and pm. I don't feel overwhelmed with information at this point, and any last minute advice will still be appreciated.

I have been studying my maps/google earth/etc, and talking to people for months...My hunting partner made a trip through there to study the area...but we are still just needing a little guidance in the form of "There will 100 tents and trailers along road X" or "if you go to Y place, you aren't likely to see a lot of other hunters"

Thanks again to everyone that has taken the time to chime in. I really do appreciate it.

After my brother gets thru with his wife's hunt I should have a lot more of that kind of info..