NEW MEXICO OPPORTUNITY HUNTS OREGON

July 2014
Volume 19 • Issue 7
N ew M exico O pportunity H unts
O regon O pportunity H unts
PROCEED WITH CAUTION - THESE HUNTS ARE NOT TROPHY HUNTS
Deer
New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish
PO Box 25112 • Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-476-8000 • www.wildlife.state.nm.us
OPPORTUNITY HUNTS
2014 New Mexico
Non-Resident Fees
Deer S License...................................... $290
Hunting License .................................... $65
Habitat Management & Access Validation
(required)..............................................$4
Habitat Stamp (required by all who hunt BLM or
USFS land)..............................................$5
T
he 2014 big game applications for all species in New
Mexico was covered in the February issue of the
Huntin’ Fool® magazine. This write-up will cover leftover
Mule deer and Coues deer tags available after the big
game drawing. For further information on New Mexico’s
rules and regulations, refer back to the February issue of
the Huntin' Fool® magazine and the 2014 New Mexico Big
Game Regulations.
New Mexico has an online process for leftover tags. Hunters
may go online to https://onlinesales.wildlife.state.nm.us/
to purchase leftover tags. Leftover licenses are available
for purchase on the Department’s website on June 25th at
10 am. The Department allows residents first shot at the
licenses for 24 hours during the first-come, first-served
period. The sale will be opened to non-residents on June
26th at 10 am.
will typically be rutting. When the deer are on their
winter range they will most likely be chasing does. This
will be an archery hunter’s best opportunity to glass up
bucks and then put on a stalk. Muzzleloader dates will
be October 25-29, 2014. October dates will be after the
monsoon season, and temperatures, on average, will
be cooler.
Coues deer hunting in New Mexico can be good. The
best Coues deer hunting can be found in units 21, 22,
23, 24, 26, and 27. These hunts often have leftover
archery or muzzleloader tags. Typically the January
rut dates are better hunt dates with cooler weather
and good rutting activity. Hunting Coues deer in
the rut can provide a fun and challenging hunt with
good opportunity.
Study the deer tables and look for a hunt that interests
you. There are good hunts that will provide non-residents
with quality hunting opportunities. Getting off the road
systems and hiking to vantage points will help with hunter
success. The deer units in the southwestern part of the
state can be remote and off the beaten path. Be prepared
and have a great hunt!
At the time of purchasing a leftover license you will be
required to purchase an annual Game-Hunting license.
This Game-Hunting license allows you to hunt big game
and small game.
The units we have chosen present a good opportunity to
hunt Mule deer and Coues deer on public land with leftover
tags. The majority of these units contain large amounts of
public land and good opportunities for harvesting a mature
buck. There are a few units with leftover tags that are
primarily private land. These units will still have enough
public land to do well, but the majority of the good bucks
will come off the private ranches.
New Mexico has a good population of Mule deer with many
of the units providing a non-resident the opportunity
to harvest an average buck. In past years there have
typically been very few leftover rifle tags. The ability
to archery or muzzleloader hunt will be key for a nonresident who purchases a leftover tag. In January the
deer will have migrated to their winter range and bucks
J ohn B usic , C oues D eer
N ew M exico
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PROCEED WITH CAUTION - THESE HUNTS ARE NOT TROPHY HUNTS
New Mexico Game Unit Reference Map
Note: This map is for general reference only. Refer to the
state proclamation for exact boundaries.
New Mexico Landowner Tags
If you are unable to purchase a leftover license in New Mexico, we have some great landowner tags available. To request a
voucher, fill out the Landowner Tag Registration form on the Huntin’ Fool® website. As vouchers become available you will
be contacted via phone or email. For more information on our Landowner Tag program, check the Huntin’ Fool® website,
log in to the Huntin’ Fool® Forum, or call Drummond Lindsey at 970-222-2776. Landowner tags provide hunters with another
great opportunity and the possibility to harvest a mature animal. Good luck!
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PROCEED WITH CAUTION - THESE HUNTS ARE NOT TROPHY HUNTS
New Mexico Opportunity Mule Deer & Coues Deer Hunts
Unit Hunt Code
for 2014
Total Number 2014
2014 Season
of Tags
Leftover Dates
2014
Tags
Species
21
DER-2-204
500
257
Harvest
Success
2011
2012
Sept 1-24, 2014 15%
and
18%
Jan 1-15, 2015
Comments
Any
Archery: Good Mule deer and Coues deer hunt. September hunt dates
antlered can be tough with monsoon rainstorms and very hot weather. Hunters
deer
can hunt all of units 21A and 21B. Mule deer hunting can be good around
Winston, and good Coues deer hunting can be found around Hillsboro.
Country varies from pine to pinyon/juniper to desert in the south. The
key to this unit is to glass up does and look for rutting bucks.
22
DER-2-209
100
81
Sept 1-24, 2014 29%
and
15%
Jan 1-15, 2015
Any
Archery: Mule deer and Coues deer hunt. Good option for leftover tags.
antlered Horses or backpacking into Gila Wilderness in the northern end of the unit
deer
is good. Physical hunt with a lot of glassable country. Road access is good
in the southern portion of the unit. September dates can have monsoon
weather and be very hot. January hunt dates are the peak of the rut.
23
DER-2-221
400
213
Sept 1-24, 2014 18%
and
20%
Jan 1-15, 2015
Mule
deer
Archery: Very good public access. Some very steep, rugged, desolate
country. Unit has a lot of road hunters. Good deer numbers with
decent harvest success. Monsoon rains can make road access tough and
impassable in parts. Great January rut dates. Unit consists of National
Forest, BLM, and state lands. Look north of the San Francisco River for
good hunting opportunity. Brushy Mountain by Glenwood can also be a
good starting point.
23
DER-2-222
200
178
Sept 1-24, 2014 25%
and
11%
Jan 1-15, 2015
Coues
deer
Archery: Good Coues deer hunt with a lot of good habitat. Good rut
archery hunt. Very good public access. Some very steep, rugged, desolate
country. Good deer numbers. Cooler weather will help and make for a
more enjoyable hunt. Good chance to harvest a mature Coues if a hunter
works hard. Look to Chocolate Peak in the Gila National Forest west of
White Signal. This is near the Burro Mountains.
24
DER-2-236
100
41
Sept 1-24, 2014 19%
and
27%
Jan 1-15, 2015
Coues
deer
Archery: Coues deer populations are doing very well, and herd numbers
are expanding. North of Silver City there are large amounts of public
land with great access. Recent fires will help to increase deer habitat
and make for better hunting. Fun hunt for an above average Coues deer.
26
DER-2-245
50
19
Sept 1-24, 2014 24%
and
8%
Jan 1-15, 2015
Any
Archery: Decent Mule deer and Coues deer hunt. Large unit with plenty
antlered of public land. Hunters will have to work hard for their opportunities.
deer
Private land can be a good hunt for Mule deer. Plenty of Coues deer
hunting on public land. Large unit with a lot of country. Predation is
being controlled by the government, and deer numbers should continue
to get better.
27
DER-2-253
50
32
Jan 1-15
12%
0%
Coues
deer
22
DER-3-210
100
74
Oct 25-29
20%
17%
Any
Muzzleloader: Good leftover unit with good public access and decent
antlered harvest success. Tough season dates to harvest a good buck. Deer will
deer
have been pressured from the previous hunt. It will be key to get off
roads. Gila Wilderness Area will hold the best bucks.
23
DER-3-225
500
341
Oct 25-29
25%
17%
Mule
deer
Muzzleloader: Can be a good hunt for an average Mule deer buck. Unit
has very desolate country, and deer can be spread out. Backpacking or
taking horses to the Brushy Mountain area west of Glenwood can be good.
Also look north of the San Francisco River. Very good public access. Good
deer numbers. Monsoon rains can make road access tough and impassable
in parts.
24
DER-3-237
400
229
Oct 25-29
29%
27%
Mule
deer
Muzzleloader: Mule deer populations are struggling in unit 24. Drought
conditions and the loss of habitat is having a negative effect on herd
densities. Hunt is still a good opportunity for those who want to hunt Mule
deer on leftover tags. Have realistic expectations of harvesting a 3x3 or
small 4x4. A lot of public land with great access.
24
DER-3-238
100
88
Oct 25-29
22%
29%
Coues
deer
Muzzleloader: Coues deer populations are doing very well. Hunters should
focus on areas that are north of Silver City. There are large amounts of
public land with great access. Recent fires will help to increase deer
habitat and make for better hunting. Fun opportunity hunt for an above
average Coues deer.
25
DER-3-242
50
30
Oct 25-29
31%
23%
Any
Muzzleloader: Hunt is south of I-10. Huge, vast desert country with small
antlered mountain ranges and very low densities of Mule deer. Not a good Coues
deer
deer hunt. Opportunity exists to harvest an average Mule deer, but
expect a very tough hunt. Large amounts of public land with good access
throughout. Very remote and desolate country. Can be a tough hunt.
26
DER-3-246
100
80
Oct 25-29
32%
53%
Any
Muzzleloader: Dates can make for a tough hunt. Large unit with plenty
antlered of public land. Hunters will have to work hard for their opportunities.
deer
Private land can be a good hunt for Mule deer. Animas Peak can provide
good hunting. Plenty of Coues deer hunting on public land. Predation is
being controlled by the government, and deer numbers should continue
to get better.
30
DER-3-267
500
212
Oct 18-22
16%
18%
Any
Muzzleloader: Huge unit with great public land access. This hunt is a
antlered good Mule deer hunt when you combine public access with public land.
deer
Average bucks. Monsoon rainfall can spread deer out. Cattle roundup
can affect hunting as well. Would be helpful to arrive early and scout
unit prior to opening day. Terrain ranges from easy walking to steep and
rugged canyons.
40
DER-3-311
25
23
Oct 18-22
26%
31%
Any
Muzzleloader: Huge unit that is largely private land. Public land is
antlered available, but access can be an issue. Private land will hold the best
deer
bucks. Drought conditions and loss of good habitat make for tough hunting
conditions. Low tag numbers with decent harvest success. Hunters can
look for public land opportunity around Fort Sumner or in the northern
part of the unit around Tucumcari.
Archery: Peloncillo Mountains. Great Coues deer hunt. Hunt has low
success, but there are plenty of bucks to hunt. Good rut dates if the
weather is cool. A lot of glassable country. This unit is way off the beaten
bath. Hunters who are willing to travel and hunt remote and desolate
country will have a good hunt. Expect border patrol activity.
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Deer & Elk
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE • Salem, OR 97302
503-947-6000 • www.dfw.state.or.us
OPPORTUNITY HUNTS
2014 Oregon Non-Resident Fees
Hunting License ................................$148.50
Juvenile Hunting License (ages 9-17)......... $27.50
Deer Tag..........................................$383.50
Elk Tag............................................$508.50
I
n the February issue of the Huntin’ Fool® magazine we
covered Oregon’s deer and elk hunts that are available
through the draw. This write-up will cover over-thecounter tags that are available for Blacktail deer, Mule
deer, Roosevelt elk, and Rocky Mountain elk. For further
information on Oregon’s rules and regulations, refer back
to the February issue of the Huntin’ Fool® magazine and
Oregon’s 2014 Big Game Regulations.
Leftover controlled licenses for hunts with fewer applicants
than there are tags will be sold on a first-come, first-served
basis beginning at 10 am on July 1st. Tags awarded through
the controlled hunt drawing but not claimed or purchased
will not be available for sale.
To purchase an over-the-counter tag, stop by any Oregon
Department of Fish and Game office or any of the hundreds
of ODFW license vendors located throughout the state.
For Mule deer, the best opportunities are the over-thecounter archery tags from August 30-September 28 in the
southeast part of the state. The deer densities are low,
but there are always a few really big bucks killed in that
desert country every year. For the most part, the western
2/3 of the state is over-the-counter archery tags with a
few limited units.
on the coast have two seasons. The first season is November
15-18, and the second season is November 22-28. Listed here
are the better rifle hunts for Roosevelt elk along with their
2012 rifle success rates on the first rifle season: Trask 15%,
Stott Mountain 12%, and Wilson 14%. These units all have
timber company land available to non-motorized access, for
the most part. Remember that Roosevelt elk live in thick,
nasty country, so be prepared for a tough hunt. All of the
archery and rifle Roosevelt hunts listed here have enough
public land for you to have a good hunt.
For Rocky Mountain elk, rifle hunters should look toward
the Hood and White River units. These areas have over-thecounter rifle elk tags with two rifle hunts available. The
first hunt is October 29-November 2, and the second hunt is
November 8-16. Both hunts have public land but lower elk
densities. All four hunts had hunter success of 8% or less.
Here are the better archery Rocky Mountain elk hunts along
with their 2012 archery success rates: Heppner 16%, Silvies
11%, Fossil 20%, Murderers Creek 10%, and Malheur River
12%. All of these units are over-the-counter for the archery
season with the dates running from August 30-September
28. For a physical challenge, look toward the Snake River
unit with 19% success or the Minam unit with 22% success.
If you are looking to hunt the western side of the state, be
prepared for thick, steep country that is tough to hunt. If
you are in need of a Roosevelt elk or a Blacktail deer and
you are looking for a challenge, then pack your rain gear
and head into the jungle of western Oregon.
Almost all of the Blacktail archery and rifle tags are overthe-counter. These units in general can be hunted selfguided due to the timber company properties in most of
the units allowing non-motorized access, for the most part.
To hunt general areas for Blacktail deer, remember to put
some distance between you and the road for best success.
If you are wanting to archery hunt Roosevelt elk, these tags
may be your best opportunity as the season goes through
September 28th. That gives you 6 more days to hunt the rut
compared to the 2013 archery season. Listed here are the
better archery hunts along with their 2012 archery success
rates: Wilson 13%, Trask 16%, Stott Mountain 11%, Tioga 12%,
Sixes 20%, and Chetco 16%. Most of the rifle Roosevelt units
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S awyer W eybright , E lk
O regon
Note: This map is for general reference only. Refer to the state proclamation for exact boundaries.
Oregon Big Game Unit Reference Map
PROCEED WITH CAUTION - THESE HUNTS ARE NOT TROPHY HUNTS
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PROCEED WITH CAUTION - THESE HUNTS ARE NOT TROPHY HUNTS
Oregon’s Over-The-Counter Archery Mule Deer Tags
Unit
2014 Season
Dates
Harvest
Success
2012
% of 4-Point
or Better
Harvest
Comments:
Most of the archery Mule deer hunts in southeast Oregon consist of low densities of deer in
big desert country with not much water. Hunters need to be prepared for everything when
traveling to remote units.
This unit borders Nevada. Big desert country with a lot of public land and low deer densities.
Good access throughout the unit. Only 45 hunters hunted this unit in 2012, so there is not
much hunting pressure.
Beatys Butte
Aug 30-Sept 28
30%
46%
Whitehorse
Aug 30-Sept 28
25%
83%
This unit can be a difficult unit to hunt due to low deer numbers and they can be widely
scattered in the unit. Big desert country with a lot of public land. Only 25 hunters hunted this
unit in 2012, so there is not much hunting pressure.
Beulah
Aug 30-Sept 28
24%
23%
This unit has a lot higher deer densities than the other units in this table. If you need to see
a lot of deer, this may be a good choice. 586 hunters hunted this unit in 2012, so expect some
hunting pressure. The northeastern portion of the unit is the Malheur National Forest. The
southern portion of the unit is more BLM desert type country.
Juniper
Aug 30-Sept 28
24%
20%
Big desert unit with very low deer densities. Deer are spread out throughout the unit. Expect
many days afield to find a nice buck. Tons of public land with good access. Only 21 hunters
hunted this unit in 2012.
Owyhee
Aug 30-Sept 28
23%
52%
A huge desert unit with some wilderness restrictions. 107 hunters hunted in 2012. Most deer
are found along the Owyhee River. Do not expect to see many deer. A lot of public land with
good access except for the wilderness area.
Malheur River
Aug 30-Sept 28
21%
25%
Huge unit with a better deer population than the southeastern units. 516 hunters hunted this
unit in 2012. Some deer can be found near the alfalfa fields. The northeastern portion of the
unit is the Malheur National Forest. The rest of the unit is more BLM desert type country.
Oregon’s Over-The-Counter Blacktail Deer Tags
Unit
2014 Archery
Season Dates
2014
Rifle Season Dates
Archery
Harvest
Success
2012
22%
Rifle
Harvest
Success
2012
30%
% of 4-Point Comments:
or Better
At any time the private timber companies can shut down their
lands. This sometimes happens during the early season when fire
danger is high.
25%
Best unit in the state, but the general seasons are not the best
seasons. A lot of deer. Private land is the best. Hunt the fringe
areas off the private land. 58% of the unit is public land.
Applegate
Aug 30-Sept 28
Oct 4-Nov 7
North Indigo
Aug 30-Sept 28 & Oct 4-17 &
Nov 22-Dec 14
Oct 25-Nov 7
6%
18%
25%
A lot of timber company land that allows access. 79% of the
Indigo unit is public land. Most of the public land is on the
eastern side of the unit. The late archery hunt is the best general
hunt on the unit.
South Indigo
Aug 30-Sept 28
Oct 4-17 &
Oct 25-Nov 7
6%
18%
25%
A lot of timber company land that allows access. 79% of the
Indigo unit is public land. Most of the public land is on the
eastern side of the unit.
Trask
Aug 30-Sept 28
Oct 4-Nov 7
4%
17%
24%
46% of the unit is public land. The Siuslaw National Forest is a
good place to start. This unit is on the coast, so expect poor
weather and steep, thick country.
Chetco
Aug 30-Sept 28
Oct 4-Nov 7
14%
34%
23%
This unit is on the coast, so expect poor weather. Steep, thick
country with lower deer densities. Both timber company and
public land available.
Dixon
Aug 30-Sept 28
Oct 4-17 &
Oct 25-Nov 7
3%
28%
25%
68% of this unit is public land. The majority of the public land
is the Umpqua National Forest and timber company lands that
allow access. Hunters can do well hunting the clear-cuts and
brushy areas of this unit.
McKenzie
Aug 30-Sept 28 & Oct 4-17 &
Nov 22-Dec 14
Oct 25-Nov 7
8%
14%
22%
59% of the unit is public land. Most of the public land is on the
eastern side of the unit in the Willamette National Forest. There
is a lot of private timber company land on the western side that
does allow access.
Evans Creek
Aug 30-Sept 28 & Oct 4-17 &
Nov 15-Dec 7
Oct 25-Nov 7
9%
29%
23%
48% of the unit is public land. Some timber company lands that
allow access. The late archery hunt is the best general hunt on
the unit.
J ohn H alme , B lacktail D eer
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B lacktail D eer
P hoto C ourtesy of J ake A dams