Greetings. We were fortunate enough to pull Unit 16B (9/11-18). First time NM elk hunters. Would appreciate any help folks knowledgable of the area may be able to provide. Specifically:
1) terrain/altitude
2) atv usage
3) trailheads or areas to focus on, etc.

Thank you.

First off, congratulations, I'm sure many hunters here will be able to help you.

Congrats on the tag. I think you are hunting in the Gila. It's been 8 years since I did it but the unit sounds right. It's not that high you will be hunting from about 7000 to 9000 feet. We hired a guy to drop us back in. He had camp set up and took us in on horse back.Here is a link to his websitehttp://utrail.com/There is some good bulls up there just have to find them. Good luck

You mean, the Gila Indian Reservation?

Doesn't that require a special tag or permit that the Pima Indian Government charges?

Gila wildderness area is Public land and the goverment does not sell tags for Indian reservations.You have to buy the tags from the reservation. At least that was the way it use to be.

16b is in the Gila Nat. Forrest,I've been trying since 2002 for that unit,there are some dandy bulls in there according to my outfitter,good luck...

Good luck on a great tag.


My son drew a Unit 17 Youth Muzzleloader (either sex) for Oct 6th to the 10th. ( only a few NR tags given out)

At 13 he doesnt realize this will be a hunt of a lifetime for him.


Don

Don K - Thanks, I appeciate the congrats. Awesome tag your boy drew. Best wishes for a successful hunt.

PaJack - Any chance you could shoot mea PM with your outfitter info. All my research has literally been for a SW CO hunt (which is certainly on hold now - who would have thought?!) Thinking hard about a drop camp, but make opt fora fully guided trip as well. Thanks.

Congrats on the tag it is one of the most sought after in the Gila i hunted it about 94-95 and really enjoyed it the problem is it is 98% wilderness which means packing in or backpacking we went in at Willow Springs,you can leave your vehicle there at a nice campground and go in try hunting iron creek and iron creek mesa,this realtively low altitude but still up around 7000 ft iron creek is extremely rough, but holds a good number of bulls we opted to stay on the mesa and hunt big rollin hills with lots of cover they come up out of the creek in the day as the thermals come up, you can also access Turkey feather pass and Turkey feather Mtn. these are some really good areas the sky is the limit you already accomplished the hard part,and that was getting the tag to begin with hope this helps.