New Mexico Cow Elk hunt

[New Fowler]

Me and my father are being offered a two man cow elk hunt with an outfitter who is a friend down in New Mexico. I am looking for any advice you guys may have when it comes to practicing for the hunt, load suggestions, and equipment you guys like to use. I will be likely shooting my Lyman great plains rifle with my hunting load of 100 grains of Goex FFF, a .018 pillow ticking patch and a .535 ball. Dad has a .62 rifle we are currently working up a load for. I also have a 12 gauge fowler I will likely bring as a backup gun incase something happens to the cap lock. Shots will likely be close, less than 100 yards in pinion and juniper. Any advice is appreciated.

[Kurt]

Practice your shooting when holding the rifle against the side of a tree, and keep your shots within the range you can accurately hit a 10-inch bullseye, doing so. Or get a monopod, bipod, or tripod. Monopods leaning against the side of a tree work well.

[AZshot]

You're not going to use a Pinion or Juniper for a handhold in NM.  They are too short and brushy, you can't get near their trunk. 


I've done a lot of Elk hunting out west, and in that kind of lifezone it's usually pretty easy to sneak up on some cows, close enough to get a shot.  The guide will help.  Make sure you know your maximum range so the bullet drop won't miss the animal, distances are deceiving out here. Also be ready to shoot fast, sometimes you'll spring some when you least expect it.  They're more curious than a deer, and you'll often have a few seconds for an offhand shot. Be a good offhand shot....

[madmtmike]

You could always carry two wooden dowels, about 46" long tied together loosely at one end. Shooting sticks.

[Daniel Coats]

I've done some expensive hunts as well as do it yourself. Leave your backup gun at home and pack light you need to be able to move and cover ground. Practice is obvious what isn't is getting in shape physically. Get out with your dad and walk every day I can't overemphasize the importance of that. Don't show up with brand new equipment either boots in particular. Get them now and log 100 miles or more in them. Socks are different wear new socks every day and buy a blister repair kit for the field. Find the best binoculars you can afford and then buy the next level up. Buy a spotting scope too for glassing canyons.

That's a start did I mention get in shape!

[New Fowler]

I will not bring the backup gun with me hiking, it will be in the truck should something go afoul with my primary gun. Should have been more specific about that, sorry.

[alacran]

I've done some expensive hunts as well as do it yourself. Leave your backup gun at home and pack light you need to be able to move and cover ground. Practice is obvious what isn't is getting in shape physically. Get out with your dad and walk every day I can't overemphasize the importance of that. Don't show up with brand new equipment either boots in particular. Get them now and log 100 miles or more in them. Socks are different wear new socks every day and buy a blister repair kit for the field. Find the best binoculars you can afford and then buy the next level up. Buy a spotting scope too for glassing canyons.

That's a start did I mention get in shape!

Daniels best advice is right on, Get in Shape! Don't know where you live but if you are from the flatlands, I guarantee that you need to spend more time hiking and less time shooting. I hunt elk in that type of country in AZ, elevation from 6000 to 8000 feet. I train year-round to keep in shape. On average your shots are going to be about 45 yards in the Junipers.

[AZshot]

The nice thing about a Cow tag, and having a guide, is a herd will be easy to find.  Depending on the time of the season you hunt in, Bulls can be hard to find, but not cows.  Many times me and my hunting friend would drive around scouting for 4-5 days before the opening of the hunt, to find a herd.  Once we did, you can keep track of them discretely.  Then we'd camp nearby the night before... no fires or loud truck doors slamming or anything. Quite often, before sunrise as we still-walked into the forest beside the field where they were the night before, they'd still be there. 

Your guide will do all the scouting for you.  That's the hardest part, finding the elk.  And "only hunt were the elk are"....don't walk around hoping to find a herd, cows are pretty obvious and don't hide as much.  But when they're wandering among thick junipers, you do have to be cautious you don't startle and outter perimeter elk.  My friend was bow hunting for them once, and a bull smelled him or heard him.  He was all in cammy.  Suddenly right beside him the juniper parted and a big elk stuck it's head through, looking at him from 3 feet away!  It startled him so much he didn't take a shot, and it pulled back and disappeared out the back way.

[Kurt]

Looks like a good point about the type of trees. Go with at least a bipod.

[smylee grouch]

IMHO prepare your body as much as your rifles. Your guns and loads sound up to the job. Good luck. Oh BTW, don't eat those purple berry,s. 😝

[longcruise]

Your GPR load is what I have used successfully on elk.  In our loose group of hunting companions it has become clear that even 80 gr of goex 2f is plenty for elk but go with the 100 if it shoots accurately.

For antelope hunting I made a bipod from some light 6.5' furring strips.  Made so that they easily slide together into a walking stick.   It allows easily and quickly bringing your rifle to bear in a standing position.  Can also be used as a single moses stick even more quickly.

[Bill in Md]

using 3f, a charge of 80 grains will do just fine....I had an older  GPR in .54 for years....excellent off hand rifle....b

[New Fowler]

using 3f, a charge of 80 grains will do just fine....I had an older  GPR in .54 for years....excellent off hand rifle....b

Its shooting under an inch for 3 shots at 50 yards at 100 grains. It gets into 3/4 inch territory with the 90 grain load which is the most accurate, but as good as the 100 grain load shoots, the extra punch makes me feel good. Something about big animals and relatively low power loads makes me spooky. Its all in my head though. I doubt 30 grains more powder makes a great deal more difference in terms of penetration.

[Daniel Coats]

Don't worry about the extra power elk are killed every year with a sharp stick.

[whetrock]

Don't worry about the extra power elk are killed every year with a sharp stick.

 

[smylee grouch]

SOMETIMES using more powder getting more bullet speed will cause LESS penetration because the ball will upset faster creating more drag as it goes through tissue.

[New Fowler]

SOMETIMES using more powder getting more bullet speed will cause LESS penetration because the ball will upset faster creating more drag as it goes through tissue.

Entirely possible, though my experience with Hornady round balls has been a distinct lack of expansion, with excellent penetration on whitetail sized game, always through and through, even when encountering shoulders.

[New Fowler]

Have been out hiking and testing gear I plan on carrying with me, binoculars, shot pouch, horn, backpack, etc etc. How do you guys carry your bag and horn while hunting. Currently the bag is cinched up where my bag opening is level with the top of my hipbone, and the horn just above that. Do you guys carry bags and tools, or are you guys just keeping stuff in pockets?

[alacran]

I never carry a bag and horn when hunting elk. I hunt in the type of country your photos show. Good binoculars and day pack are a must. The pack should have a hydration bladder. At least 48 oz. A handheld GPS and a compass, a way to start fires. Even though it is a guided hunt don't depend on someone else for your safety.
This is what I carry.

I self-guide so I carry four knives. A large one on my belt, a pocketknife, and two Russel skinners in my pack.

[AZshot]

Good advice.  Don't forget a small sharpening stone.  When skinning your elk, your knife will get dull in 10 minutes.  Just do a quick sharpen and back to easy work.

[HighUintas]

I highly recommend looking up the various threads here on making some papers cartridges for reloading quickly. I was going to for my hunt but didn't and wish I would have. I missed my first shot at the big big bull and by the time I got reloaded they had moved out into an open field where I couldn't get close enough for another shot. Had I had some paper cartridges made up, I probably could have got another shot on him.

[Daryl]

Member Bruce S. here tested paper ctgs. and found them to work down to .54 cal. Smaller than that, the breech pressure, I assume, is too high, which ruins accuracy.
In my 14 bore & Dphar's 16bore rifles, the paper ctgs. gave identical accuracy to a tight ball and patch combination. I tested mine to 100 meters - identical for 10 shots.
I practiced (a lot) and could load and accurately shoot a second shot 8 seconds after the first. My late hunting buddy Brad timed me. This was back in the late 80's, seems
to me. I only packed 4 in each side parka pocket and a round 'capper' full of caps in my top breast pocket. No starter. The small end ripped off with my teeth, shoved into the
muzzle, then the rod removed, choked up rod to start the paper patched ball, then rammed home in one push, drop the rod, cap, aim and shoot.
These are some I made up for the Indian Bess I had for a short period of time. Similar to the ones for my .69 cal.(14bore), except those were longer as they held 165gr. GOEX 2F.

[New Fowler]

I've been doing research on the 1841 Mississippi rifle cartridge series that cap and ball on YouTube put out, very interested in trying the combos he used. Daryl I have seen your cartridges before, do you lubricate the ball portion for easier loading, or are you just using dry paper? Same question for all involved. Alacran are your paper cartridges just powder and a bullet board or are they entirely sealed cartridges with ball and powder?

[Austin]

What part of the state are you in? Some areas have nothing to lean against that won’t hurt you! Shooting sticks and good binoculars are a great suggestion. Practice 100 yards and you should be fine. You should be able to ride a atv or horse so don’t stress about being super fit. Have fun!

[Daryl]

All I have used is dry paper. Never a fire or smoldering, just confetti. I suspect the 165gr., powder charge's muzzle-blast has something to do with that.