I know it's a long shot, but I'd like to hear about hunting bighorns in NM. I'm thinking about tossing my hat in the ring this year, but don't know a thing about them or hunting them in this state. Anybody care to enlighten me? Anybody care to call me a fool?

Thanks

This gentleman drew a desert sheep tag and i was able to see this sheep in his home. This is a NM sheep.


http://s252.photobucket.com/albums/hh13/partridgecartridge/th_P1120017.jpg

quote:

Originally posted by DesertRam:
I know it's a long shot, but I'd like to hear about hunting bighorns in NM. I'm thinking about tossing my hat in the ring this year, but don't know a thing about them or hunting them in this state. Anybody care to enlighten me? Anybody care to call me a fool?

Thanks

By all meansTHROW YOUR HAT IN THE RING!
Getting the tag is the hardest part, but you have to be in it to win it.

I drew a bighorn tag in 2003 in Oregon, and it was an awesome experience.

If you draw a tag I think you will find most Wildlife Biologists, game wardens and fellow hunters more than willing to share info.
Unlike deer and elk hotspots that guys will keep to themselves, most guys will readily tell you about the rams they have seen.

As for hunting them, its pretty much the same as spot and stalk hunting for mulies or elk, just higher!

Good Luck!

Kroil, that's a great sheep, though I was leaning more towards the Rocky Mountain variety at this point. I hunt the Desert BH range quite a bit for other species and would like to try something different. Besides, with only one desert BH tag in the state, my chances are pretty darn slim!

KC, your thoughts mirror mine. I think I'll go ahead and try. With my luck I'll actually draw the tag! Then my niece will be POd - I'm hoping to take her antelope hunting at the same time the sheep hunts are scheduled.

You are a resident and havn't been applying? Go for it. It is a long shot, but who cares, someone must draw. I have a New Mexico bighorn sheep in my shop which was shot by an 11 year old girl. Great looking ram. PUT IN!!!

MC,
Is it from a girl in TorC?

Desert ram,
Good luck, we have the worst odds in the country for drawing a sheep tag. Three things contribute to the demise of us drawing. No longevity, loalty or preference point system. (I've been putting in for 15 yrs)
No quota for non-res and 15 tags for 8 million applicants. You have a way better chance in montana or wyoming.

Elk in NM is no better...I have put in for the last 6 years and nothing...no points, no preferences, nada zip zilch...Sheep well might as well forget it...I am 61 and likely never will draw a tag...best bet for me is Colorado I guess...Elk is a priority for me...Mule Deer in NM are now subject to draws
..whats next.. Most of where I hunt is Federal Land...not NM state lands...yet they think they can control the issuance of licenses although Federal Courts have ruled otherwise...go figure...

The worst thing for me is that the kids don't have a chance. We should give guaranteed tags to kids every year. Otherwise, they could waste their whole childhood waiting on a tag. What a waste. We are working on doing something about that on a small scale....wapiti7

Can't draw a tag if you don't put in and NM has 3 types of sheep you can apply for. Rocky Mountain, CA Bighorn and Desert Sheep. You can apply for all 3.

We only have desert and rocky mtn..........