Just came into a piece of property located inside the Lincoln National Forest.

I've always hunted Colorado and Wyoming but never New mexico….I know its not a very non-resident friendly state.


Anyone every hunt this unit for elk or deer?

Very good hunting for elk, good deer, turkey, and bear hunting also. CWD was found in the unit 2 years ago, so they put out a lot of tags last year and likely to again this fall to thin the heard, so overall population might be down.

I went ahead and put in.....I literally walk out of this property and am surrounded by Nat. Forest on all sides....so its worth a shot.


Looking online, they say its a excellent unit for Elk and so-so for deer. But if I get drawn, its worth a try.


Since its a CWD unit....what do I have to do in the event I get drawn and make a kill?

Is this in the Timberon area south of Cloudcroft?

About 6,m miles south east of town off 130

It is not in the Timberon area, Timberon is more to the west and farther south. Not sure what is in this area.

It’s a stellar elk unit, I called in 6 bulls last year in a neighboring unit.

34 is a hard draw. If you are looking for better draw odds. Pm I know a really good outfitter in that unit.

Landowner archery tags go for 6-8k

I’ve heard conflicting reports on how hard it is to draw. But again I chose archery during prime time so it’s prolly gonna be a harder draw

There is No conflicting, it’s pretty clear cut. NM publishes the previous years draw odds every year for ever unit and gives you the Res, Outfitter and Non res Draw %

There are two main trophy bundle areas for for NM. Gila(16’s) and north and south side of the mescalero Indian res, 34/36. You have a few other trophy areas but they tend to have lessor densities

34 had 12 NR archery 1st season and 12 NR second season

Wow...those are pretty slim odds

I tried for almost 20 years to draw a NR rifle tag with no luck. You'll have a better chance pole vaulting 19' in the next Olympic games than drawing a tag in those units. I'd gather up some $$$$ and buy a LO tag and enjoy some of the best elk hunting in North America.

Bobo is spot on. 34 is a great unit. Draw odds are small, however my friend has drawn a “NR unguided archery tag” there two of the past three attempts. Lots of good bulls in that unit. Wise to be selective unless your first opportunity is a bruiser. IMO 34 is a better unit than 36. If you have LO tags to sell you can make a good margin off of them. List price for Archery is around $6-8k, and rifle is $8-10k last i checked.

I expected as much with a rifle tag, that’s why I put in for archery. Should have a slightly better chance.

Once I get thru my scheduled hunts here in the next few years if I don’t draw I may consider the landowner tag option

First season archery has the best odds out side the really late dec archery season

Spot on, 34 also has more public ground.

36 isn’t a slouch. I screwed up on my Mulie deer app Last year and end up having to hunt sept in 36, instead of Jan. Was a tough hunt but calling in elk while messing around made it worth while.

Brandon- Tye w/k9 outfitters is who I would put in with if you wanted in the guide pool for 34.

Was reading around on the Internet about unit 34 and found this old thread. My son drew a youth hunt elk tag in unit 34 for early October (7-11), using a rifle. Had it submitted through an outfitter, so we will be hunting with him. I’m kind of jealous of the kid, but very excited to go with him.

Stud of a unit for elk. I have also seen some decent mulie deer there. Hard NR draw for sure.

34 is a slammer elk unit. Friend has a house in 36 and he has seen more big bull elk this year than any other year past.

I drew a deer tag in 34 in 2020 but also drew a Colorado deer tag the same dates, so I went to Colorado the same year.

Ended up eating the 34 tag and went to Colorado instead.


Hopefully your son has a great hunt!

which outfitter?

I moved to Texas from Alamogordo last summer. Unit 34 started at the upper end of my street. It's been above elk management objectives for years. The elk do respond to hunting pressure but there are so many in that unit that odds of harvest are high especially if you hunt hard. Local ranchers also advised me not to ignore the more open juniper scrub toward the south end of the unit. The relatively snowy winter may change things around some; a guide would know how to figure out the conditions.

You should head over to the big city of Weed....and check out all the excitement. They used to hold a Blue Grass Festival in August!

That festival will be held July 15-16 this summer in Weed. There were a lot of fiddlers and banjo players among the old mountain families in the Sacramentos -- that's where the tradition comes from.