Bowsite.com

My friend and I were on the first elk hunt on this property this fall. We arrived on time, but our cabin was not ready, so we were put upon a nice hotel. Not a big deal, but maybe indicative of the preparation for this hunt. The hunt was on a 12,000 acre private ranch, touted as some of the finest elk hunting available in New Mexico, with elk densities that are astounding and the quality of bulls exceptional , with mature 6X6s being the norm. During this six day hunt, I saw elk most but not all days. My friend had similar elk sightings. We primarily chased elk with our guides cow calling and bugling. But both of us sat by waterholes two evenings and I sat by a waterhole one day from 1pm till dark. We saw zero elk in these waterhole sits. It appeared that the summer was wetter than normal and there was more than normal watering options for elk. I was surprised and disappointed that as far as I could determine there was one game camera watching a waterhole and it was not checked till the fifth morning of our six day hunt. I would think that more game cameras at more waterhole, patterning elk, might have improved our chances at getting a shot. In the six days of hunting I never came close to getting a shot my friend had an encounter with a small 4x4 but nothing close to a shot at a shooter bull. My guide and I hiked in to a waterhole to build a blind for an evening sit. The waterhole was dry and appeared to have been dry for some time. It appeared that guide preparation and scouting (game cameras) were lacking. The minimal elk encounters and zero shot opportunities sure did not match up with what this hunt was said to be. I’ve been on more than a dozen guided elk hunts, and my friend has been on more than I have. This hunt would rank at the very bottom of our elk hunts.

Was the outfitter notified of problems? - YES