Buying New Mexico Elk Land

[Bulldawg87]

Things have changed, $40,000/acre, so best if everyone stays away, really bad investment.

Sounds like you may be involved in some NM land?

[Bulldawg87]

I was able to close both properties in December, went out right after Christmas and stayed in the camper that came with one, walked both. Loved it.

Got home and completed both my landowner packages, which had a Jan 5th deadline. I think I will probably end up with 3 tags...hope for 4.

[mikeyb_23]

If you need help filling a few tags next year I might be interested, bull or cow.

[Bulldawg87]

If you need help filling a few tags next year I might be interested, bull or cow.

Not sure what the tags for cows go for yet, but the bulls, at the bottom of the market, would be $6500. I've heard closer to $8 to $10k for these tags. Which is a big part of why I purchased the land.

If you are in around that range, I'd definitely be interested for selling them to TB members

[Bulldawg87]

Couple of additonal pieces of info:

The NMDGF really seems to be doing a good job making sure the land it owned by the person registering it (or their authorized contact). I figured with all the stuff I turned in at the start, there wasn't much more they could ask for....but I recently got ask to provide more records of each county I bought in.

Another cool thing they have is a portion of EPLUS tags are set aside for adding additional wildlife habitat improvements.

These improvement are things like adding extra water, feed, removing or lowering fences, clearing areas for grazing, among other designated improvements.

So say a property is determined to qualify with a minimum score, you can still increase your score on a qualified property by further improving habitat. Which is good for you and the herd in that area in general benefits.

I've got good ground, but the habitat incentive program will certainly keep me looking for ways to make properties better.

I'm now looking at properties that aren't going to qualify, as projects I can put habitat improvements on and bring up to a qualified property. Which is a big goal of the program...having land owners creating more habitat, then reward them with tags. Water wells are expensive out there...like $35k to $50k to drill, setup tanks, solar power etc.

I haven't mention that up to this point, but the habitat improvement and creation if a obvious huge goal of EPLUS in New Mexico....and seems to be working. It's well crafted to encourage it for sure.

[kingranch]

I have some good connections in new mex. What units are we talking.

[kingranch]

Ive done the math and unless you are planning on devoting alot of your time there to really make any money is tough... and the local guides/ranchhands are quick to take advantage esp during season.

Then top it off with the state income tax that is usually based off your federal return even nonres..bc texas doesnt have income tax.. It gets tricky make sure you find a good tax guy.

https://www.tax.newmexico.gov/individuals/personal-income-tax-information-overview/

I do know that adding improvements for wildlife can possibly increase your chances of getting more tags but you really need to get in good with the local warden. Lmk if I can help, most of my connections are east and central NM

[Bulldawg87]

Ive done the math and unless you are planning on devoting alot of your time there to really make any money is tough... and the local guides/ranchhands are quick to take advantage esp during season.

Then top it off with the state income tax that is usually based off your federal return even nonres..bc texas doesnt have income tax.. It gets tricky make sure you find a good tax guy.

https://www.tax.newmexico.gov/individuals/personal-income-tax-information-overview/

I do know that adding improvements for wildlife can possibly increase your chances of getting more tags but you really need to get in good with the local warden. Lmk if I can help, most of my connections are east and central NM

The tags will likely just help with improvements and the land value will hopefully increase like anywhere (thinking of it as an investment too)...while also giving me chances to elk hunt in 1% draw odds units.

On the tax thing, I could be wrong and I'll certainly double check but I believe if you file a federal return and have NM income, you have to files state taxes.

That said, I believe I would only be paying income taxes on portion of income generated in NM.

[James]

Very interesting. I applaud you for going for it, hope you kill a monster bull on your own land all while making money doing it .

[Bulldawg87]

Very interesting. I applaud you for going for it, hope you kill a monster bull on your own land all while making money doing it .

Man, that's the goal! I think it's very doable.

I have one place that all my neighbors are unit wide, so I can hunt their property as well as mine, and then I'm bordered on two sides by NM State land...but there would be something really special about getting it done on my own ground before venturing into the unit wide aspect.

[Texans42]

suxs there is a large fraction pushing for the end if the eplus system. Unfortunately I think the program will eventually get killed. program does LO voucher way they should be done in regards to habitat and access

[Bulldawg87]

suxs there is a large fraction pushing for the end if the eplus system. Unfortunately I think the program will eventually get killed. program does LO voucher way they should be done in regards to habitat and access

I think it's going to be hard to kill EPLUS. It's been around 40 years. There are a lot of jobs in the state tied to it, there are a lot of very influential people involved politically.

It brings in a large amount of tax revenue and out of state license sales, plus local economic boosts in some of the poorest parts of the state.

It also opens up almost 600,000 acres of private land to public land hunters with Unit Wide Properties.

Unit wide properties also create access to a significant amounts of hard to access or otherwise land locked public lands.

And like you said, creates even more elk habitat. It's a win, win, win.

Most people don't realize the tags from EPLUS are not pulled out of the Public pool but an independent assessment based on habitat and estimated use of private lands by elk.

BHA and NMWF are just loud voices that rile up the uninformed resident hunters.

The best group I've found that is fighting BHA and NMWF on this issue is New Mexico Coucil of Outfitters and Guides.

NMCOG is also the only organization pro non-resident that I know of too. They understand the positive economic benefits we bring to NM.

They are doing good work educating the benefits of EPLUS.

I'd recommend checking them out and listening to this ElkShape podcast by the director, Kerrie Cox Romero

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5IInzGeHxxJYWtDvyRxIoe

Nmoutfitters.com

[asu-indian]

Those pics are postcard worthy. If postcards were a thing. Congrats! Wish I could do the same.

[Texans42]

I think it's going to be hard to kill EPLUS. It's been around 40 years. There are a lot of jobs in the state tied to it, there are a lot of very influential people involved politically.

It brings in a large amount of tax revenue and out of state license sales, plus local economic boosts in some of the poorest parts of the state.

It also opens up almost 600,000 acres of private land to public land hunters with Unit Wide Properties.

Unit wide properties also create access to a significant amounts of hard to access or otherwise land locked public lands.

And like you said, creates even more elk habitat. It's a win, win, win.

Most people don't realize the tags from EPLUS are not pulled out of the Public pool but an independent assessment based on habitat and estimated use of private lands by elk.

BHA and NMWF are just loud voices that rile up the uninformed resident hunters.

The best group I've found that is fighting BHA and NMWF on this issue is New Mexico Coucil of Outfitters and Guides.

NMCOG is also the only organization pro non-resident that I know of too. They understand the positive economic benefits we bring to NM.

They are doing good work educating the benefits of EPLUS.

I'd recommend checking them out and listening to this ElkShape podcast by the director, Kerrie Cox Romero

https://open.spotify.com/episode/5IInzGeHxxJYWtDvyRxIoe

Nmoutfitters.com

Oh, I love the Eplus system(bought many of tags, and cut through many a ranch enrolled). I also donate to NMCOG . I hate BHA, crap BHA pulled in Montana on the Crazy’s is crap, as is their push here.

I hope you are right

[Bulldawg87]

Oh, I love the Eplus system(bought many of tags, and cut through many a ranch enrolled). I also donate to NMCOG . I hate BHA, crap BHA pulled in Montana on the Crazy’s is crap, as is their push here.

I hope you are right

I just joined NMCOG also! They are very logical with their approach and information.

BHA and NMWF are so anti landowner, they don't see that they would do one of two things....eliminate opportunies, or overcrowd public lands with hunters and push elk into private that would now only care to destroy them.

NM's system for elk is the best in the West, IMO.