Antelope questions

[bullwidgeon]

While deer hunting over the years over in NM I have seen a bunch of antelope on BLM and Forest service land. From reading the regs it looks like you are assigned a ranch if you draw a general rifle tag over there and have to hunt there and don't really get to hunt any public land. Do these ranches allow you to hunt without a fee or is there guide/outfitter/landowner access fees? Also, the hunt unit/units I would put in for goes from like the Arizona border all the way over to North of Hatch it looks like. What if they send me to a ranch over by Hatch 472,000 miles from my house? Do you get any say as to what ranch they stick you on? Compared to the deer and regular elk hunts over there it all seems very confusing. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

Bret M.

[DesertBull]

The ranches cannot make you pay an access fee if you draw a tag, but you can only hunt on the ranch. Archery and ML'er hunters can hunt public land though.

 

You have no say on which ranch you will be assigned. They used to let you pick a unit within the region, but they don't do that anymore.

 

You can be assigned to a different ranch after the opening day, but you have to find a warden and have him sign you on to another ranch of his choosing.

[bullwidgeon]

Thanks, that could be an ugly deal.

 

Bret M.

[5yearcoueshunter]

Bret, between my Dad, my Uncle and myself we have drawn 5 Antelope tags for the SW area and have never had any problems. In our experience, most ranchers welcome you and have always let us do pre-season scouting and we've always taken nice Antelope. Of course I'm sure theres always expections to that, but I wouldn't hesitate in applying for a tag. If you draw, you might get lucky and get assigned to an awesome ranch with some really good quality bucks. So far, all of our tags have been for the San Augustine Plains between Magdelena and Datil which is probably the biggest concentration of Antelope in the SW area.

 

Travis

[crazyaboutcoues]

Desert Bull is correct. I've guided on a private ranch for two years now. We usually have a "public Hunter" in the ranch. The rancher has to allow access to his entire ranch.

 

Don't hesitate to put in for antelope, the chances of taking a Booner is very good.

[Kilimanjaro]

Or just do like we do every year.. put in for the ML hunt in unit 29. If you ever pull this tag, you'll kill a booner no problem.

 

Put pulling the tag has proven to be somewhat of an issue!!

[bullwidgeon]

Thanks guys,

 

I talked to the guys I am putting in with and apparently one of them is friends with a game warden out of the Lordsburg area. I think we will assign him to keep track of the game warden while we hunt if we are lucky enough to draw and do not like what we see on the initial ranch . I never have procured a goat yet so I imagine I won't be too picky either way. And Crazy, I would love to be the "public hunting goon" on one of your ranches .

 

Bret M.

[TLH]

Thanks guys,

 

I talked to the guys I am putting in with and apparently one of them is friends with a game warden out of the Lordsburg area.  I think we will assign him to keep track of the game warden while we hunt if we are lucky enough to draw and do not like what we see on the initial ranch .  I never have procured a goat yet so I imagine I won't be too picky either way. And Crazy, I would love to be the "public hunting goon" on one of your ranches .

 

Bret M.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Bret,

 

One thing that wasn't mentioned is that if there is a legal antelope on the ranch you are assigned then you will have a hard time getting the warden to sign you onto another ranch. We had three hunters last year on our ranches that wanted to shoot a nice 85" or bigger buck--the three ranches we had but didn't retain this year only had 80" to 82" bucks and the game warden said you need to shoot one of these bucks. They decided not to shoot one of those and went home disgruntled.

 

If you get on a ranch and there are no bucks then the warden will assign you to another ranch without any issues but they can be a tough bunch--just be cool with them and they are usually really good guys--give them a hard time and you might get to spend the weekend in the hoosegow--over there, if you are a non-resident they will lock you up for any violations until the JP comes in on Monday--make sure you read all of the rules before you go hunting.

[DesertBull]

Anyone that passes an 80" inch goat has no room for complaint.

[TLH]

Anyone that passes an 80" inch goat has no room for complaint.

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True, but then there are those who think there are B&C animals running out of every bush!

 

Funny thing is they don't even know the difference between an 80" and a 85" buck but when they hit the ground and they aren't what they thought they paid for the fun begins!

[azcouesandelk]

Thats obvious TLH the difference between a 85 inch buck and an 80 inch buck is 5

[TLH]

Thats obvious TLH the difference between a 85 inch buck and an 80 inch buck is 5 

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Christian,

 

I see you have been doing your math homework!! How are ya buddy?

[azcouesandelk]

I am great man I am playing baseball going shooting and having a ball. I am surprised I was able to figure that out since I am no longer in any math classes only 8 more weeks and I am done with high school

[DesertBull]

I am great man I am playing baseball going shooting and having a ball.  I am surprised I was able to figure that out since I am no longer in any math classes only 8 more weeks and I am done with high school 

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What team do you play for? My son plays varisty baseball for Higley High.

[azcouesandelk]

I play varsity at Saguaro High School.