New Mexico outfitter offers guided elk hunts on 20,000 private acres

Northeastern New Mexico is a productive area for elk hunting on private land, especially on ranches that border Vermejo Park. This outfitter has 12,000 acres bordering Vermejo and also gets a few tags to hunt 8,000 on Vermejo. Bulls typically score 250 to 320 B&C, and occasionally a bull scores 320 to 350 B&C. Five-day guided hunts start on Saturdays and include ranch house accommodations and one guide per pair of hunters. Hunts generally start in early October and run into January. You'll fly into Amarillo, Albuquerque or Colorado Springs, where can rent a car for the drive to the ranch. We've had several customers on this hunt, and they're generally happy because most see a good number of bulls. In 2003 we had eight hunters on the first rifle season, and they got six bulls, including five six-points and a five-by-five. One of the hunters had only a cow tag, and he scored. Later hunts are usually a little more difficult because the rut has ended, but late hunts can be productive if weather is right.