Guest Jason Report post Posted April 7, 2003 Looking for information on private vs. public accessability in unit 26. It looks like the BLM has some land on the east side of this unit. I am planning on applying unit 27, 23 then if not drawn buying an OTC tag for unit 26. I am a non-resident. Also are there any cougars or bear in any of these three units? Any info would be greatly appreciated! Jason Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAM Report post Posted April 8, 2003 I have never been to NM unit 26 but a few years ago when I decided that I wanted to find an OTC area to hunt coues in NM I called the Biologist for unit 26 to get some information. He told me the coues numbers in 26 were very very low on the east side of the unit. In fact he told me that he had recently flown the area to gather deer population information and in 7 hours of flying the unit they only saw 12 deer. He suggested some other OTC units with better coues populations which I have since been to and hunted with success. In one area he suggested I found a coues shed that scores 54 inches by itself with no spread or other side. It is a huge coues antler. As I mentioned before I have never been to unit 26 and based on what the biologist told me I am quite content to keep hunting the other areas he suggested. I will also say that hunting coues in NM is a challenge which can take a lot of time. The coues populations there are in pockets and can take a lot of work to discover. I live in Arizona and don't get to spend as much time scouting in NM as I do here in AZ so it has taken several years to hone in on on some decent coues areas in NM. The first year I hunted for coues in NM I only saw two coues, both were small bucks that I passed on and ended up shooting a 3 point mule deer in the last hour of the last day. Coues hunting in NM is great because of the OTC tags but finding them is a lot of work. Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jason Report post Posted April 8, 2003 Tam, Thanks for the info. I received today the area biologist's name(Pat Mathis) and number for the southwestern part of New Mexico. I hope to get a better idea from him. I have also considered the Gila Wilderness (Unit 16). I will post my findings after I speak to him. What areas did he suggest to you? Thanks, Jason Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted April 8, 2003 Jason, You might also talk to the guy who runs Gila Wilderness Hunting. He offers hunt consultations and scouting services for hunts in NM. He helps sponsor this web site and may have some good info for you. You can click on the link for Gila Wilderness Hunting on the left margin of each page of CouesWhitetail.com. Or click here : Gila Wilderness Hunting Another biologist in NM to contact is Barry Hale. His email is in the NM section of the "where to hunt" section of CouesWhitetail.com. Here is the link to that page: Where to hunt section Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jason Report post Posted April 9, 2003 Thanks for the help! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted April 9, 2003 Jason, If you want info on land ownership, you might want to pick up a copy of the NM Atlas and Gazetteer, which you can buy from my bookstore. It will list land ownership in terms of private, state, or federal. If you have the AZ atlas already, then you know what I am talking about. It is a great resource for planning a trip. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAM Report post Posted April 9, 2003 Jason, Can't remember the gentlemans name I spoke with, it was several years ago. He basicly told me that in his opinion with an OTC tag the Gila Wilderness, Unit 23, and the black range all held pockets of Coues worthy of my attention. He did get a little more specific but with all due respect, you'll just have to figure out the rest on your own. By the way, just so you don't set your expectations too high. From my experience in NM, even the best areas I have found do not even come close to southern Arizona in terms of the number of deer. However, NM does seem to have good genetics when you do find that coues buck. Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Jason Report post Posted April 9, 2003 I have not hunted AZ before. Is most of the deer hunting by draw or do they offer Over The Counter tags as well? Their regulations aren't mailed until May. I am assuming the southeast corner would be the area for coues? thanks, jason Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TAM Report post Posted April 9, 2003 The archery deer tags in AZ are all over the counter. The rifle & muzzleloader hunts are all by draw and usually there are a few left over tags that are sold on a first come first serve basis. The printed AZ regs are not usually out until May, but according to their website they should be online on April 18th. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
