New Mexico Antelope Assignment

[Hunterdan]

Stonebridge Ranch was my assigned Ranch for Antelope. This Ranch is about 15 miles from Roswell. Has anyone hunted this or heard of this Ranch?

[Arizona Griz]

I don't know any ranch names but I have made 2 trips thru Roswell this year. I saw lots of antelope along the highway north of Roswell on the way to Vaughn.

[hunter4life]

I grew up in Roswell, but have not heard of that ranch. Which direction is it from town and how many sections is the ranch? The ranches around Roswell can be hit or miss in regards to quality of antelope, but most of them have high numbers of speed goats on them. Depending on what size you are looking for you might have to look over a lot of bucks before finding what you want, and sometimes the best you can find is a low to mid 70's buck. However there are some ranches where an 80" net buck is quite attainable.

[Hunterdan]

Thanks AZ Griz and hunter4life for the response. According to the Map the Ranch is located Southeast of Roswell by the Bottomless lakes park and wetlands wildlife refuge. MapQuest shows the Ranch being about 15 miles from town. I have tryed to call the Rancher several times since I got the assignment but he has not been in. He might be out of town right now. Also hunter4life, the ranch has a total of 9,499 Acres. Thanks!

[Outdoor Writer]

Not sure if Stonebridge Ranch was involved, but here's a snippet I wrote for the NSSF's http://www.huntandshoot.org/Index.cfm web site. I do these every two weeks for ten western states, including AZ & NM. -TONY

 

Pronghorn Transplant Provides Promise of Future Hunting Opportunities

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) will trap pronghorn antelope in the Roswell area and move them to several locations in the southeastern part of the state.

 

Pronghorn antelope numbers near Roswell have increased, resulting in growing depredation and nuisance complaints. To address the problem, the NMDGF will use drop-nets to capture antelope on private property and then release them on specific ranches that have public land within their boundaries in southeast New Mexico. The selected ranches contain excellent antelope habitat and should provide additional hunter opportunity in the future. The releases of antelope on the ranches also could result in new herds being established.

 

The NMDGF had successfully conducted similar operations near Roswell to lessen crop damage and to address concerns in and around subdivisions. Those antelope were relocated to Bureau of Land Management lands on Fort Stanton near Capitan to supplement an existing herd.

 

Submitted January 25, 2007, by Tony Mandile

[Arizona Griz]

According to the G&F website you are not supposed to scout the ranch until 2 days before the hunt. Sure doesn't give you much time. I would try to continue contacting the rancher and see if he will allow you to come a little earlier to check it out (I don't know if this is a violation or not). Also ask him if he has any landowner tags. This will give you an idea of what your competition is.

 

I was also east of Roswell heading to Lovington this year and didn't see very many from the highway.

[Arizona Griz]

I looked it up on the website. It is in Unit 33. There are also two Ranch Only landowner tags. I don't think there is a way of know how many public hunters are assigned to it. If it is a 1:1 ratio then there could be 4 hunters hunting the ranch.

[Hunterdan]

Thanks Chris for the help, I appreciate it.

[hunter4life]

I believe the 2 day thing is just when the landowner is required to let you scout according to his agreement. Most landowners I have dealt with have no problem with you coming out a week or two before the hunt and taking a look around.