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

[jackmaster]

I don't think I would care for the hunt dates, it seems it would still be awful hot down there during that time, I bet you could do better in Wyoming or another mid North state that is alot cooler at that time, hopefully you could get a hunt in October or November, atleast you wouldn't have to hunt in shorts and a tshirt and take a good chance of losing the meat

[RadSav]

If the Outfitter is well established with a good record of success and service I think $3,000 is a good deal.  Not going to find many WY outfitters that will routinely get you on 75+ bucks.  And WY hunts have gone up dramatically, as have all guided hunts, since hunting became a business for wannabe movie stars.  If I had a choice of equal quality of outfitter - One for $3000 in New Mexico and one for $2500 in Wyoming I would take the $3,000 hunt every single time!  Even if the WY hunt was $2,000 I'd likely choose the New Mexico hunt.

The problem with New Mexico is that I have found few outfitters there with the success rates and level of service you find in Wyoming.  Also, New Mexico hunts usually have hidden fees like - landowner tags, additional travel (airfare is often included in WY), game care, lodging, etc, etc.  $3,000 can turn into $6K in a hurry if you don't research and ask all the right questions.

My concern with the hunt posted would be the 2 on 1.  If you are not stand hunting I don't know why you would have two hunters per guide.  Sounds a little odd.  Stand hunt...no problem.  But spot and stalk with two hunters is a red flag for me.  Call all of the references, call the outfitter, ask every single question you can think to ask.  It's their business to answer questions.  If they can't answer them easily and absolute continue looking for something else.  Most antelope guides/outfitters I know are rough around the edges.  So don't expect to be calling some customer service expert for a fortune 500 company.  But, you can still gain a lot of insight into their professionalism with a few phone calls.   

Everyone should do an antelope hunt at least once.  Some of my most enjoyed hunts have been in Wyoming.  In perspective $3,000 for a quality animal and guided hunt is nothing!  I can't think of any other North American big game animal of that quality you can hunt for $3K.  If I liked what I saw/heard from my research I'd be sending my deposit check with zero regret!

[tbotts]

Radsav;
 what questions should be asked and what answers would make you send a check with no regrets?

[RadSav]

Each persons questions will be different.  If you prefer a certain type of hunting and don't like others you certainly want to ask about how they hunt and whether they accommodate your preferences.  If 2 on 1 I would definitely ask how that works when spot and stalk is the method.  How much are licenses, if flying whether shuttling is included, game preparation, lodge conditions, food prep, wounded animal rules, refridgeration, hide/cape care, age of guides, experience of guides, worst case scenario, additional fees...pretty much any information you can think of to avoid a bad experience and surprises.

A lot of times the way questions are answered means more to me than what the answer is.  If an outfit is impatient and abrasive when trying to sell a service you can expect them to be ten times worse once they have your money.  Nothing worse than spending money with the expectation of an enjoyable once in a lifetime experience just to find out your guide is an A #1 Jack Wipe.  I like to hunt on my own.  So it doesn't take too much assery to ruin my day. 

I have walked out on hunts a number of times because the guide was either drunk, verbally abusive, or completely clueless.  Most on free hunts or ones that were such a good deal I figured it was worth rolling the dice.  Sometimes you just take a chance and hope for the best.  I've had some fun hunts when I didn't expect much.  But when laying down serious change I'll do extreme diligence in my research.  Sometimes taking years to make a decision.  All in what I consider acceptable risk to reward on a particular animal or place.

[Bill W]

you can find good antelope (at times) in the 700 area of Montana.  The last one I shot was during a period we saw a number of big antelope on the hunt.  I saw two I eyeballed at around 16.  (groundshrink does take one to reality though).  I had a couple I tried to sneak on but it never worked out.  Later in the hunt I spotted two real nice ones but they didn't line up right for me.  I ended up shooting one smaller than those two and it's the first time an antelope didn't shrink on me as I walked up to it.  It was 79 7/8's and if you ever wondered what it's like to kiss your sister, that buck was it.  1/8 of an inch short of the minimum for the records.  It had mass but was only 14 1/8 inches long and uniform.

I always wondered what those other two bucks running with the one that I shot would have scored.   Blue tongue went thru the area that next year and antelope were scarce, almost non-existent. 

On an earlier trip I shot one that went 15 3/8" but scored less due to shorter diggers and less horn mass.

[tbotts]

thanks radsav!

[GBoyd]

I helped a guide out on antelope hunts in Unit 59, one summer a few years back.

What's the name of the outfitter? There's a chance that I know him.
I can say that the guy I worked for, I would never personally go on those hunts. We just drove the ranch roads. When they spotted a buck, they hit the gas and drove as fast as they could. When they got close to the running animals, they jumped out and took running shots. Everyone got their buck, but it's not the kind of hunting that I enjoy. If that's not your kind of hunt either, I would definitely call the references to see how they hunted.

Another thing I would consider before purchasing a guided hunt is that 4000 acres is not that much land out there. If you hunt for more than one day with a spotting scope, you should be able to go thoroughly over all that land. The only things I can think of that an outfitter would help with is judging bucks from a distance and helping to plan a stalk. Otherwise, you're just as well off to buy a landowner tag.

I would:
Buy a tag and go self-guided
Choose the largest ranch you can find
Choose a ranch with a good prairie dog town to play with when your hunt is over
Stop by the Eklund Hotel in Clayton for some dinner

[stew pidasso]

Go for it! Sounds like a great time.

[cowboycraig]

Thanks for all the feedback. After this thread Wyoming really sounds interesting. Going to maybe take that shorter drive and "Just go for it". Tags for out of state are not too pricey.

Craig

[Ridgerunner]

4K is not enough land IMO for that kind of price.  If you are not into DIY(wyoming is the choice if you are),  then pm me and I'll give you the name of another outfitter in NM that is really good.  Most seasons in NM are only 2-3 days long, hunts are high success, but if I was dropping 3K I'd want a realistic shot at an upper 70's lower 80's buck.  I agree with you though that an antelope mount is one of the most striking around.  From your post I'd probably pass on that particular outfitter though.

[RadSav]

For waterhole stand hunting 4,000 acres is plenty.  But for spot and stalk it's very limiting.  That's what - 2.5 x 2.5 miles?  If it's ag land with plenty of water that's likely enough.  But it won't take much gunfire to run them off that ranch.  Sounds like Ridgerunner has a good option for comparison.  Myself I like more than just two options...if the cost is upper tier.

I usually start with a half dozen outfitters of interest and then whittle down of the course of a few months or years. I also like talking with references that have traveled long distances to hunt a place.  People I know are not relatives, close friends and business partners.  I also try to talk with people who hunted with the outfitter this past season.  If all references are five to ten years old that is another red flag in my book.

You have to realize it is a low cost hunt.  I'll often take a risk on low cost hunts if I get a good vibe from references and speaking with the outfitter.  It's usually disappointing, but that one great hunt in half a dozen is usually enough for me to continue taking risks if the deals are right.  I've also made some really good friends on some rather lousy bargain hunts.  So you just never know.  Sometimes it's a trust your gut and accept the results kind of thing.

[Muleyslyr]

My suggestion would be, if this is your dream hunt, don't be too quick to jump on the first hunt that tempts you. With a little searching and digging around, I have no doubt you can find a more promising hunt for less the cost. Or better yet, apply for an Antelope tag around Gillette, or Casper WY or in the 700 units of eastern MT, draw odds are good for out of state, $200-300 tops for a tag. You would be amazed at how easy access is for Antelope on private lands in these areas. I can promise you it will be twice as satisfying and could almost promise a nice goat with just a little work and a few pleases and thank you's. Not too mention lots of public land, BLM, Block Mngmt, etc on to go with it. Good luck whatever you choose.

[nwwanderer]

NM can be tough and 4,000 is pretty limiting.  Probably an easy shoot but it is really big country, the state is twice as big as Washington.  DYI Wyoming between Buffalo and Kaycee or many other choices would save $ and you would see more country and many more pronghorns.  Besides the last of August in NM would melt most anything.  How many miles to the cooler and how fast can you drive?

[Labs07]

IMHO I would not pay to hunt Antelope.  I would apply in NM and WY and then go DIY.

[Hot Lunch]

Does Wyoming still have over the counter antelope tags? The biggest red flag I see is 4,000 acres, like said above unless it's a water hole or some magic highway that is a small area.