Buying New Mexico Elk Land

[Bulldawg87]

When I say cheap land btw, each of these are basically equal to a truck payment. Not crazy expensive at all

[Bulldawg87]

I'm envious as all get out. I'm putting in for NM tags for the first time this year, and I know absolutely nothing about it. Way to go on living your dream and being able to aquire those properties! Neat thread, so thank you for the updates.

That is the next step for me, draw selection in a couple weeks.

A big part of why I did this, a couple years ago, I drew a Gila Elk tag my 1st time ever applying in New Mexico.

It was such an amazing experience, I told myself I had to find out how to beat the odds of 1% in the draw. This was my solution.

Good luck on the draw...still trying to decide on my choices for 2024.

[TWarren]

Whats a good county in NM that has cheap land with good elk habitat? Im interested in the mule deer and bird hunting just as much.

Looking at online sites its aggravating so many of the listings include blm, state, leased acreage in the total land being offered. I dont know how that works and really just interested in deeded acreage.

On blm, state, etc leases do you also get the hunting rights?

Absolutely not! Those lands are open to the public for hunting, fishing, recreation with differing regulations depending upon the managing agency, primarily state trust land vs. Federal. Also, those acres are not available to hunt on a landowner's "deeded land" tag.

[Bulldawg87]

Absolutely not! Those lands are open to the public for hunting, fishing, recreation with differing regulations depending upon the managing agency, primarily state trust land vs. Federal. Also, those acres are not available to hunt on a landowner's "deeded land" tag.

Correct...also one of the reasons I am a big proponent of Unit Wide properties. In many cases, if a ranch is unit wide, it can open up access to otherwise landlocked publics lands or hard to access public. Plus the private land being accessible to everyone with a legal tag in that unit, that isn't ranch only.

[stxhunter]

Correct...also one of the reasons I am a big proponent of Unit Wide properties. In many cases, if a ranch is unit wide, it can open up access to otherwise landlocked publics lands or hard to access public. Plus the private land being accessible to everyone with a legal tag in that unit, that isn't ranch only.

I’m really considering applying to NM this year for the first time. Could you explain how private land would be accessible to everyone with a legal unit wide tag?

[Bulldawg87]

I’m really considering applying to NM this year for the first time. Could you explain how private land would be accessible to everyone with a legal unit wide tag?

A landowner elects to be a unitwide ranch, meaning the landowner is given unitwide tags. For a landowner to get unitwide tags, they have to make their private land unit wide to the legal public tag holder.

If you draw a tag, Unit Wide ranches, which are private, are legally huntable by you as a unitwide tag holder. In some units, a lot of private land can be legally hunted with a draw tag. Most of these are overlooked by the public.

Not sure if that clarifies it or not.

Or a landowner chooses Ranch Only and their private land is closed to the public. Ranch only would generate ranch only tags which can only be hunted on the deeded acreage of that ranch. No legal public land options when you choose Ranch Only.

[stxhunter]

Thanks for that. Did some reading on the EPlus site and got the clarification. Interesting process for sure! I also went through the site looking at the list of properties with available tags, surprised to see so many small parcels of land getting tags.

[C.Read]

Just caught up on this thread. You are living the dream!

To add to stxhunter's question......if a landowner chooses to be unit wide does the public hunter still have to gain permission to be on the property or is it just like regular public lands where you pull up and have at it?

[Bulldawg87]

Just caught up on this thread. You are living the dream!

To add to stxhunter's question......if a landowner chooses to be unit wide does the public hunter still have to gain permission to be on the property or is it just like regular public lands where you pull up and have at it?

When a landowner chooses to go Unit Wide, and you have a legal tag for Elk in that unit, that tag allows you access to hunt public land, (A unitwide tag or draw tag) you need no other permission to hunt that property that is unit wide / private property. Think of it as public land for elk hunters at that point. Landowners have made the "lease" so to speak with the State of NM for all legal tags holders in advance.

You can look up the Unit wide Maps on OnX now or on the NMDGF website. Here it is from the state site. You can browse around and see what ranches for 2023 where unit wide, how much acerage, etc.

https://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/hunting/maps/eplus/#:~:text=A%20unit%2Dwide%20authorization%20allows, Game%20Management%20Unit%20(GMU).

[Bulldawg87]

Thanks for that. Did some reading on the EPlus site and got the clarification. Interesting process for sure! I also went through the site looking at the list of properties with available tags, surprised to see so many small parcels of land getting tags.

They have weeded out about 700 properties. You will not have much luck finding properties that qualify any more that are 40 acres or less. I struggled under 160 acres...but it can happen. Usually water is the key factor needed to get small properties in but they also give some extra credit and entry for agriculture, maybe the access they create is the only access into landlocked public lands. Some are the only water for miles around, so all the elk are going to eventually use that small property at some point.

But overall, very difficult to find a small property that will make it into the program.

[Bulldawg87]

The NM Draw opened today so I pulled down the Draw Report for the 2023 season directly from NMDGF. I don't use GoHunt of anything else...as they really are not as accurate. This is instead the real data of total applicants vs 6% of tags to non-residents. You compete again 2nd and 3rd choices in NM also, so they have to be considered in the pools of applicants again your 1st choice.

I would prefer to draw an archery tag in one of my units, which is what I plan on putting in for and here is how low those odds are of drawing.

Unit A: Non-Resident Odds
1st Archery: 2.13%
2nd Archery: 1.16%
1st Rifle: 0.76%

Unit B: Non-Resident Odds
1st Archery: 2.93%
2nd Archery: 1.89%
1st Muzzleloader 1.67%

I'd love to draw one of these, but as you can see, the odds are terrible to draw. This is why these tags bring the value they do, and also part of why I wanted to buy this land. My landowner draw odds are near 100% in comparison, but I don't necessarily know what I will get in the landowner draw nor do I get to request choices, which is why I wanted multiple opportunities to choose between in the landowner drawing.

[Bulldawg87]

Couple nice pictures to start of Feb

[Bulldawg87]

Just realized I didn't attach them on the previous post.

[RMW]

Beautiful place! Back in the mid 80s my great aunt had 6 tracts in Corona, New Mexico, absolutely loved going out there with my dad and grandpa hunting, place even had a old ghost town on it.

[Bulldawg87]

Beautiful place! Back in the mid 80s my great aunt had 6 tracts in Corona, New Mexico, absolutely loved going out there with my dad and grandpa hunting, place even had a old ghost town on it.

What were yall hunting in those days?