New Mexico Antelope Fully Guided @ $3000, would you do it?

[cowboycraig]

OK, my "Dream Hunt" is Antelope in wide open spaces. This is $3000, and wondering "Am I crazy" for wanting it? For me life is long hours at the office and I just don't get much scouting time. I get enough to hunt here in WA, but traveling for scouting just isn't going to happen in the next couple of years. Thinking "only live once" and my dream is a funky looking speed goat Antelope head on the wall and meat in the freezer. 

NM UNIT 59 PRIVATE LAND ONLY ANTELOPE HUNT (FULLY GUIDED)
Last updated: 12/15/2015
State: New Mexico
Unit: New Mexico Unit 59
Species: Antelope
Weapon: Archery, Muzzleloader, Rifle
Season(s): Any Legal Weapon
SEASON DATES:
Aug 17th - Sep 11th 2016

This is a fully-guided antelope hunt on 4,000 acres of private land. Wasa Outfitters will provide lodging, food, and transportation. Hunters will stay at the WASA lodge for the duration of their hunt. Typically hunts are carried out with 1 guide for 2 hunters. Hunts are conducted with UTV's and spot-and-stalk methods. The antelope on this ranch have great mass with horn length that reaches 15 inches. Hunters can anticipate seeing numerous antelope every day, and have an opportunity to harvest a buck scoring 75-80 inches B&C.

[Bill W]

It may be that I've hunted antelope for 20-30 years but if it was me and I paid $3K for a hunt I'd want one 80+.  It could just sneak into the book but I would want one of that quality for $3k.  Only exception would be if Bobby Flay was doing the camp cooking.

[cowboycraig]

It may be that I've hunted antelope for 20-30 years but if it was me and I paid $3K for a hunt I'd want one 80+.  It could just sneak into the book but I would want one of that quality for $3k.  Only exception would be if Bobby Flay was doing the camp cooking.

Bobby Clay would be pretty cool.

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[wapiti hunter2]

 

I would want some guarantee that you could get 15" or larger.

[NWWA Hunter]

If you have any interest in antelope guides feel free to message me. I have gone on a few hunts. New mexico is a lot of fun.  You have to remember that most landowner tags cost the outfitters $1500+ and even way more on the top ranches.  Anywhere in New Mexico can put out a book buck but certain areas are significantly better.  Most outfitters down there probably average 74-82" gross on almost all of their trophies.

[bobcat]

Look into outfitters in Wyoming. You can get a good antelope hunt for about $2,000. It's also a much shorter drive.

[Boss .300 winmag]

What's the old saying " If it sounds to good to be true"

[Stein]

Look into outfitters in Wyoming. You can get a good antelope hunt for about $2,000. It's also a much shorter drive.

 

I would DIY a draw tag, it may take you a few years, but you could put in for multiple states with $3k to spend.  Scouting antelope is way different that scouting elk.  Most units are relatively small and open and you just drive around and glass the animals.

[Bob33]

For $3K you should be able to do better than the upper 70s.

[2labs]

Look into outfitters in Wyoming. You can get a good antelope hunt for about $2,000. It's also a much shorter drive.

 

I would DIY a draw tag, it may take you a few years, but you could put in for multiple states with $3k to spend.  Scouting antelope is way different that scouting elk.  Most units are relatively small and open and you just drive around and glass the animals.

Spend your savings on some really nice glass.

[Bigshooter]

I could never imagine spending $3k for an antelope hunt.  If antelope is a dream hunt start building pts in WY.  WY has a lot on units with a ton of public land.  And you don't need to scout to kill an antelope in a good unit in WY.

[CAMPMEAT]

I know a guy that goes to WY on DIY hunts and kills some very nice antelope every year.

[92xj]

Save and spend your money however you'd like. If that means spend it on a fully guided hunt of your choice and don't have to wait years on building points and your dream hunt, write the check! Heck we all have our things we spend money on that others can't believe, me its decoys, women, it's every useless thing every man knows of. Your money, your dream hunt, book it and enjoy!

[Bob33]

To be fair, an antelope in the upper 70s is a nice animal. Many outfitters that sell "trophy" antelope hunts are having their clients shoot antelope in the mid 70s. Don't get caught up in the "inches" game. There are 90"+ antelope with horn length in the 14s. Mass, not length, is the most important attribute to high scores.

If that's your thing, New Mexico could be a wonderful opportunity. Paying $3000 for an antelope in the 75-80 range could be reasonable, depending on what it includes. How many days? One on one? Food and lodging? Any additional tag or license fees?

I think you could get a hunt in Wyoming for the low $2Ks, but you wouldn't necessary be seeing any 80" bucks and you'd probably have to pay another $300 for a license.

If you want world class antelope, New Mexico is one of the best spots right now but then you're probably looking at $8K to $10K.

[Brushbuster]

I'd go DIY. You can get a landowner tag yourself. If it is unit wide you can hunt the public & the ranch that sells it.

If you want to go to WY in eastern WY where is more private land you could draw this year. You could locate a rancher & pay a trespass fee but there may be some public land also.

Western WY usually takes a few years of building points to draw a better unit. This year we drew our 2nd choice in WY & didn't lose our points.

You may also want to apply for a couple doe tags. 3 years ago we hunted WY & brought back 6 goats for the two of us & had a blast.