New Mexico Hunts offer some of the best elk, mule deer, aoudad, and turkey hunts in the states! Let Bust’n Tails book your next hunt with one of the most highly recommended outfitters in New Mexico!
In addition to having over 15 years of combined professional guiding experience in New Mexico, we understand how important your hunt is and that is why we are committed to ensuring all of our clients the best New Mexico hunting experience of a lifetime! We specialize in free range trophy big game hunts that occur on some of the best public and private lands within the state of New Mexico!
There’s no better time to apply for your NM big game hunting tags! The outfitter offers a free application service to assist with your application for the NM Big Game drawing. We can also assist clients wishing to purchase landowner tags if they are unsuccessful in the draw or missed the application deadline. So call now to book your next New Mexico hunting adventure!
New Mexico Hunts- Elk
Fully Outfitted Elk 1×1 Hunts($7,000/hunter) 2×1 Hunts($6,000/hunter, requires 2 hunters to book)
Includes 5 full days of expert guide service, 6 nights lodging, meals, and beverages. Your guide service also includes field transportation, game retrieval, skinning, quartering, rough caping, and packing out your trophy.
Guided Only 1×1($5,500/hunter)- This is a popular package with hunters who want a guide the entire hunt but prefer to handle their own lodging and cooking. This package includes 5 full days of expert guide service. When your trophy is down, your guide will handle skinning, quartering, rough caping, and packing out your trophy.
Not Included: Pricing does not include 7% NM sales tax, state license cost, meat processing/butchering, taxidermy, or customary guide gratuity. Transportation to hunting camp is the client’s responsibility.
Archery Elk Hunts Units & Dates-
Expect to hear elk bugling and to see big bulls up close and personal on these trophy archery elk hunts. We are often able to call bulls in under 40 yds. Shooting opportunity has been 75% over the last 5 seasons. Hunters should arrive in good shape and ready to walk up to several miles each day.
- NM Unit 6B – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 6B – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 55A – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 55A – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 30 – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 30 – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 34 – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 34 – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 36 – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 36 – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 37 – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 37 – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 13 – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 13 – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 15 – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 15 – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 16A – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 16A – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
- NM Unit 16D – – September 1 – 14th Early Season Archery
- NM Unit 16D – – September 15 – 24th Late Season Archery
Muzzleloader Elk Hunt Units & Dates-
Bulls are often vocal as the rut winds down during the month of October. We typically spend the morning stalking bugling bulls and the afternoon and evenings glassing. It is not unusual for us to have success calling in big bulls during the muzzleloader hunts. If the elk are not bugling, this becomes a typical spot and stalk elk hunt. Expect to cover a lot of country on this hunt. Hunters should arrive in good shape and ready to walk up to several miles each day. Average shots are 150yds, but hunters should be prepared to shoot out to 200yds. Shooting opportunity has been 85% over the last 5 seasons. (2023) Scopes are no longer allowed on muzzle loaders in New Mexico.
- NM Unit 6B – October 5-9, 2024
- NM Unit 34 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 36 – October 5-9, 2024
- NM Unit 55A – October 5-9, 2024
- NM Unit 13 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 13 – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 13 – November 16-20, 2024
- NM Unit 15 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 15 – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 15 – November 16-20, 2024
- NM Unit 17 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 17 – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 17 – November 16-20, 2024
Rifle Elk Hunt Units & Dates-
Average shots are 300yds, but hunters should be prepared to shoot out to 500yds. Shooting opportunity has been 90% over the last 5 seasons.
- NM Unit 6B – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 6B – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 18 – October 1-5, 2024
- NM Unit 30 – October 1-5, 2024
- NM Unit 30 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 34 – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 36 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 36 – October 26-30, 2024
- NM Unit 37 – October 1-5, 2024
- NM Unit 37 – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 55A – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 55A – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 42/47/59 – October 1-5, 2024
- NM Unit 38 – October 1-5, 2024
- NM Unit 14 – October 1-5, 2024
- NM Unit 16A – October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 16A – October 19-23, 2024
- NM Unit 16D -October 12-16, 2024
- NM Unit 16D – October 19-23, 2024
Guarantee your Tag!
***Call to ask about a guaranteed Elk Tag! Another option for those that are unsuccessful in the draw, or who have missed the draw deadline, is to purchase a landowner elk tag. Unit wide landowner tags are limited and the demand for them is at an all-time high. In our trophy quality units, landowner tags range from $10k to $12k (price may vary). Purchasing a landowner tag significantly increases the cost of your hunt, as you will still be required to purchase the Non-Resident Elk license from the state. The upside to purchasing a landowner tag is you can still hunt our trophy units without going through the NM Big Game draw. For those clients interested in purchasing landowner elk tags, we can locate and purchase tags on your behalf.
New Mexico Hunts- Mule Deer
New Mexico hunting offers some of the biggest mule deer around! Most of our deer hunts take place in units 2B, 2C, 5B,7,17, and 30-33 of northwest New Mexico. Excellent habitat and superior mule deer genetics combine to produce truly trophy class bucks. As a result, this area of New Mexico has consistently produced monster mule deer, as evidenced by the fact that there are over 150 B&C mule deer entries from the state. These units offer various hunting opportunities ranging from October rifle hunts to January archery hunts. Over the last 5 years, we have averaged 85% shot opportunity on public land deer hunts!
Fully Outfitted Public Land 1×1 Hunts($5,000/hunter) 2×1 Hunts($4,000/hunter, requires 2 hunters to book)
This premium hunt package includes 5 full days of expert guide service, field transportation, 6 nights lodging, meals, and beverages for the duration of your hunt. When your trophy is down, your guide will handle skinning, quartering, rough caping, and packing out your trophy. All 5-day deer hunts will be based out of wall tents, cabin lodging, or modern camping trailers.
Guided Only- $4,000/hunter (1×1 Guide Service) This is a popular package with hunters who want a guide the entire hunt but prefer to handle their own lodging and cooking. This package includes 5 full days of expert guide service. When your trophy is down, your guide will handle skinning, quartering, rough caping, and packing out your trophy.
Not Included: Pricing does not include 7% NM sales tax, state license cost, meat processing/butchering, taxidermy, or customary guide gratuity. Transportation to hunting camp is the client’s responsibility.
Mule Deer Hunt Dates
October -November – Muzzleloader and Rifle Hunts
January 1-15th – Late Season Archery
New Mexico Hunts- Aoudad (Barbary Sheep)
New Mexico hunting offers the finest free range Barbary sheep! Public land hunts units 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36 and 37. We usually see and kill our biggest rams each year on vast stretches of road-less public land. Shot opportunity on 28″+ rams has been 85% over the last 10 years on public land hunts. All sheep hunts are extremely challenging, and hunters should arrive in great shape to maximize their chance of success. We often leave the truck at daybreak and do not return until well after dark. It is not uncommon for to walk 8-14 miles/day on sheep hunts.
Things to Know
- Guide services offered for Aoudad in October, December, January, and February .
- Hunters wishing to hunt sheep on public land must apply for a tag. Application must be made by March 20th. Outfitter will assist you in all aspects of applying for this hunt.
- Bag limit is any one Barbary sheep.
- You may legally use any center fire rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun larger than 28 gauge or bow/arrow.
- The ratio of hunters/guide shall be 2/1, unless specific arrangements have been made for 1/1 guide service.
Pricing
- Fully Outfitted Public Land Hunt – $4,000/hunter (2×1 Guide Service) This is our premium hunt package that includes 5 full days of expert guide service, field transportation, 6 nights lodging, meals, and beverages for the duration of your hunt. When your trophy is down, your guide will handle skinning, quartering, rough caping, and packing out your trophy. Requires 2 hunters to book. 1×1 Guide service available for an additional $1,000/hunter.
- Guided Only Public Land Sheep Hunts – $3,000/hunter (2×1 Guide Service) This is a popular package with hunters who want a guide the entire 5 day hunt but prefer to handle their own lodging and cooking. This package includes free application service, 5 full days of expert 2×1 guide service. When your trophy is down, your guide will handle skinning, quartering, rough caping, and helping pack out your trophy. Requires 2 hunters to book.
- Guided Only Public Land Hunt – ($4,000/hunter) This is a popular package with hunters who want a guide the entire hunt but prefer to handle their own lodging and cooking. This package includes 5 full days of expert guide service. When your trophy is down, your guide will handle skinning, quartering, rough caping, and packing out your trophy.
- Not Included: Pricing does not include 7% NM sales tax, state license cost, meat processing/butchering, taxidermy, or customary guide gratuity. Transportation to hunting camp is the client’s responsibility.
New Mexico Hunts- Merriam Turkey
Come to New Mexico for some exciting turkey hunting! New Mexico has two species of turkey in the Lincoln National Forest, Merriam and Rio Grande. Merriams spend their summers in the higher elevations, breeding, and move down in elevation for the winter months, where as the Rio Grande turkey is found in lower elevations throughout the state, but is rarer in our hunting units. This hunt is an excellent opportunity to harvest two species of wild turkey in one trip! Furthermore, putting you two turkeys closer to accomplishing the “Turkey Grand Slam”! All 3 day/4 night turkey hunts will be conducted out of wall tent or cabin accommodations, meals, beverages, and professional guide service.
Typical Day
First of all, after a light continental breakfast at camp, guests will depart for the field with their guides. Typically, it is about a 20 minute drive to reach our pre-scouted hunting grounds in the neighboring national forest. Your guide will have all the necessary calls, decoys, and blinds to successfully hunt these high country gobblers. Usually around noon, we will break for a delicious field lunch. After lunch and a short midday rest, we are back at it chasing gobblers until the last rays of sunlight disappear. Shortly after arriving back at the lodge, guests will be served a fantastic home cooked dinner. After dinner, you are on your own to enjoy all the outdoor atmosphere our camp has to offer.
Things to Know
- The spring turkey season in NM is April/May. Turkey tags are available over the counter.
- You are required to purchase a game hunting license plus the habitat stamp and HMAV stamp for all turkey hunts.
- Bag limit for the NM spring season is 2 bearded turkeys.
- The ratio of hunters/guide shall be 2/1, unless 1/1 guide service arranged for an additional $750 per hunter.
Pricing
- Fully Outfitted 3 day/ 4-night spring turkey- $2,750/hunter (April 15- May 10)
- 2 Day Youth Only Hunt- $1,750/hunter (April 10-12)
- Minimum of 2 hunters per 3-day hunt period.
- Non-hunting guest rate is $100/day.
New Mexico Pronghorn and Oryx Hunts also available!
For all New Mexico Hunts:
Not Included: Pricing does not include 7% NM sales tax, state tags and license cost, meat processing/butchering, taxidermy, or customary guide gratuity. Transportation to hunting camp is the client’s responsibility. Airport pickup and drop-off service can be arranged, please call for rates.
Booking Terms: No deposit is required until you draw your tag. If you are successful in drawing a tag, a 50% deposit is required to secure your spot. The remaining 50% balance is due two weeks prior to your scheduled hunt date.
