Buying New Mexico Elk Land

[RMW]

What were yall hunting in those days?

Mule deer and elk, I was pretty young last time I was on the ranch probably 11-12 years old so I didn’t kill anything but my dad and grandpa did I was just along for the ride, great memories! Place was west of corona, decent size mountains in the distance, absolutely beautiful country.

[Bulldawg87]

Added a big upgrade to one of my properties yesterday!

After my elk hunt in Oct, I decided I needed some better living arrangements out there. Every time I would show up, the camper that came with the land was covered in mice and rat turds, which is to be expected...but also, you can tell it has a limited life left in the roof, walls, etc.

I wanted something that would seal up to keep the mice out, and also last long term, so I decided a container that is lightly finished out would be the way to go.

deep n the heat was about to build one out and he reached out to me and talked about what I wanted.

For this place, I really just needed a minimal buildout. I wanted a good bathroom, a bedroom and sink for a kitchen. Hot water of course! Covers for the windows and security bar was also needed, since we won't be there for months at a time. The inside was spray foamed 2" thick, and I didn't feel anything else was necessary on the walls for a camphouse.

Over the winter, he got it built out and yesterday I had it delivered to Western NM.

It was just a quick trip to mostly accept the delivery and generally place it. This summer, I will need to go back and get beds setup, hook up water, etc.

This should make for a great camp for years to come. From this location, I can easily hunt two units...and a 3rd is doable if I had to, all Primo elk country.

[Yak blue]

love the idea, want to do the same.

Curious, what was the shipping/delivery charge for a 40’ unit?

[Bulldawg87]

love the idea, want to do the same.

Curious, what was the shipping/delivery charge for a 40’ unit?

I got about 5 quotes. Best rate I found for the tilt trailer I needed as no equipment was onsite at the delivery location was $4/mile....$3800 on this particular move.

[hooligan]

I need you to stop posting, I'm buggin the heck out of my wife that we need NM land more than we need a lake house in TX

[Bulldawg87]

I need you to stop posting, I'm buggin the heck out of my wife that we need NM land more than we need a lake house in TX

Lol, I would say...I probably bought this instead of a lake house, and more fun than putting money in a retirement accounts for years that I can't use. My wife may not know a lake house was an option however. The taxes are way way less than a lake house but I bet this doesn't appreciate as much either.

[Bulldawg87]

Last week, the NMDGF had a commission meeting that overviewed all kinds of important things. Eplus, Wolves, etc.

I think they did a pretty good job of explaining how the EPLUS system is structured in the presentation. If you wanted to learn more about what I am involved in with my elk program in New Mexico, you can watch only about 30 minutes of the 11 hours. EPLUS (Elk Private Land Use System) starts at the 5 hour 35ish minute mark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NysTaYOneMA&t=27388s

[Bulldawg87]

Last night, I was able to finally see my property scores have increase from adding the year round water that I did last year! That work is looking like it will pay off. This should greatly increase my odds of drawing bull or archery tags, as I did the work the NMDGF is encouraging in their land scoring formula to help create more and better elk habitat.

They still have not added new properties for 2024 however, and that has to happen before landowner draw can be completed.

But...the updated scores should mean that Landowner tags are getting close! So shouldn't be long and I will know which hunt and unit I will be going to in Sept or Oct! Last year, I think the landowner authorization were released in late June.

Whatever I do not use, I will have for sale

In a couple more weeks and I will be taking my boys out to the land to scout, camp and just have a good time in some cooler air. Can't wait to make the trip again!

[Bulldawg87]

Landowner tags were release on Wed, Jun 26th....and unlike last year, I am very happy about the results!

I was certainly rewarded for the work I put into the land and EPLUS draw system worked as intended. For the 2024 season, I have essentially the option to hunt any tag for both units I wanted.

I'll hunt an archery tag this year. Sold a couple other bull tags immediately.

Currently have one cow tag for a Dec 7-11 or Dec 14-18 hunt available, if anyone is looking for an affordable elk hunt.


Here in a couple weeks, headed back out. I build a spool to allow me to more easily spin off and lay around 5000ft of water line for further water improvments.

Additionally, on one location, I need to push water up hill a ways to get it where it needs to go. Do to that, I built this solar pump unit.

My well will fill into this tote, then a float will activate once full enough and the solar pump will turn on and send water about 1000ft from this tote to my goal location.


*I do also know of two properties that were entered into the program this year and did not qualify. One was marginal and I felt as it currently sits, they needed some improvements to get into the program. It did not make it.

The other is over 300 acres of prime habitat. There was no way this property should not have been qualified. The landowner will now have to protest the score for this year, but they will not be able to get tags even if the land score protest is accepted in 2024.

A significant water improvement is planned for this property, between now and then end of the year. So next year, worst case, it should qualify for 2025.

[Bulldawg87]

My boys and I just returned from our 2nd annual summer work / fun trip on our land. This is turning into a great boys trip each year where we go and mom gets a few days with no kids. After the 12 hour drive, the first thing we had to do was setup the container cabin by building beds, shelves, installed the AC window units, unloading a bunch of stuff that hopefully never goes home again. This should make these trips much easier in the future. My goal is to one day get to a point where I can easily drive out and have almost everything I need there already, minus food. On this trip, we needed to add some more water on two different properties, and mix in a little fishing for fun, in the Gila.

On property #1, we started by running 3000 ft of 3/4 water line from my well to a small lined pond I already had there. Last year, it was bone dry during elk season, and NMDGF correctly gave me no water credit for this...as when I purchased the land it was full,. I was shocked it went dry so fast, even with a liner. Now, it gets constant water supply! I built a hitch spools to help us lay out the tubing and my oldest son drove for me while I walked along as we laid out the tubing. Having the right tools made this so fast and easy, compared to how I had to lay out 2500 ft last year.


On day two, we started the day driving to the nearest Walmart / Tractor Supply, almost an hour away, and picked up some more things we needed. TV for watching Football mid day between elk hunts, extra pillows, some extra groceries and house supplies that can stay out there. I also got a Starlink, and did the Roam plan so I can pause service except when I am there. When we got back we setup the TV and Starlink, continued to build more bunk beds. I had no phone service but once Starlink was running, I now have faster internet than my fiber at home in Texas. As much as I like being disconnected, when you work for yourself, I unfortunately do still need some connection at this point in my business to be gone for a few days. Starlink should give me the ability to stay for longer time periods or go out there more often, as I can work from the land.

New Mexico has had a great spring and early summer with rainfall and everything is very green, by NM standards! All the guys I know out there, guides and locals are expecting to have very big bulls this year due to all the water and feed. My trail cams where dead, so I also added solar to these. Once we got the camera up and running and moved to the pond, the 1st night, while we were there, had a mountain lion come in to get a drink! We didn't see or hear it, it was just on camera 12 hours after I stood in the same spot!
It was either that 2nd night or third night, a storm came through, and being that I had internet now, I was able to see all the lightning was about 40 miles away. The boys wanted to climb up on top of the container cabin to get a better view. Just that 8-9 feet in elevation change really allows you to see more in that country. That was a cool way to watch a storm pass behind the mountains in the distance.
The first two days were all work and the boys were not having too much fun at that point in time so I told them on day three we would go fishing, as soon as we got up. Quemado Lake is about an hour a way and stocked with some fish they had never seen before...a couple trout species and tiger musky, among other fish. They were pumped about this part of the trip. A couple days before, we bought some bait and tackle at Walmart to leave for future trips too. I knew the tiger musky probably wouldn't happen but I was hopefully on the trout. We woke up to a crisp morning, air temp was about 55 degrees...I could see my breath even, it was so nice but really gets hot quick and the UV is so intense out there! We made the hour drive seeing our 1st couple elk just before we could see the lake, 3 calves. A miles or so later, we got the 1st glimpse of the lake. We found a place to park, hiked around the edge and threw out a couple line. My oldest son isn't a fan of waiting on a fish to bite a worm, so he casted a few different baits the entire time. Right away, we got a couple bites and lost a trout right at the bank. Ultimately we didn't pull any out this time, but a worthwhile trip and something I think we will try and do annually. Hopefully along the way, getting better at the fishing part, lol.On the last full day, we drove over the our original property. I may have mentioned this earlier in the thread but in Dec, I was able to buy the neighboring property to east. This property had no water at all. From my well next door, I was able to add about 1000 ft of water line and a drinker to get water to the new acreage. This was a big goal from me on this trip. This new acreage barely made the minimum score for the elk program this year, and it really needs a better score (with water) to get better tag opportunities in the future. I actually got really lucky and drew a bull elk tag this year on this property, even with a low score. We followed the same process as a few days before and quickly laid the tubing. Then we unloaded the solar tote and hooked it to the existing solar well. After that, we carried a 300 gallon water trough and a float and put on the new place. I was hoping the solar tote I built was going to work as this water had to go up hill about 7-10 ft over a 1000ft run. I was far from certain I had properly calculated everything and the tote would also function as I hoped. Within just a few minutes of starting it up, I had my answer and the trough was filling with water!
The property has so many signs of former Native American habitation too. Big rocks with holes, I assume for water collection and or cooking, busted Indian pottery all over the place. My youngest son said this was the most fun part of the trip this time, climbing the big rocks, finding pottery shards, etc.
That drive back to the cabin was really good that evening. Just before sunset, the elk were out and we saw a nice herd of bulls, just as we crossed back into the other unit in an area I want to scout and one day hunt. This is also the tag I kept for myself for this year.

It has been a good bit of work and almost two years since I started this process, but in less than two months I will be chasing bugling bulls in a primo unit with a tag I likely never would have drawn. Possibly, with the ability to do this year after year! All while supporting habitat development and putting money into something that should appreciate in value.

Even if it doesn't, at least I get to elk hunt and hopefully give my boys some experiences they otherwise wouldn't likely have in life.

[Yak blue]

Love this thread.

probably because I’m envious/jealous.

[camoclad]

Phenomenal!

[Bulldawg87]

Love this thread.

probably because I’m envious/jealous.

4 years ago, I never thought this would be possible....but it really isn't out of range, YET, in NM.

[Yak blue]

4 years ago, I never thought this would be possible....but it really isn't out of range, YET, in NM.

I know you mentioned it, but what GMU is your place in?

12 hours one way is a beating. You’re more of a man than I am in that regard. I put my limit at 4 hours from my front door when we bought our place in the panhandle. Even then that drive sucks after a long weekend.

I would love a high elevation place like this when I hang them up and retire. Can’t beat those brisk summer mornings.

[TeamAmerica]

Heck yeah. Great progress and family memories