The New Mexico elk hunting season is on the horizon. It’s time to get ready for a guided New Mexico hunt of a lifetime. Our hunts boast a 90+% shot opportunity and the trophy quality is exceptional. Hunters should arrive ready to hike hard, glass hard, and hunt hard. After all the anticipation, you want to be ready when the opportunity presents itself.
Here are four quick tips to prepare for a guided New Mexico hunt
1. Know the Terrain
Our guided New Mexico hunts take place on a wide variety of different terrain. There’s some flat ground but plan on hiking over loose rocks and up some relatively steep slopes to access remote water sources and the rugged canyons that hold big bulls. Spend your off season training to hike vertical slopes. Get your legs in shape by hiking regularly or doing stadium stairs. If you don’t have access to outdoor training, then hit the stair stepper and treadmill to keep up your cardio and leg strength.
2. Get Your Gear in Order
Your clothing and boots are especially important in New Mexico. The weather can change in an instant. Hunters might experience everything from full sun and heat to random blizzards and cold. The high desert weather is fickle and arriving with your gear in order is important. If you’ve booked a hunt with us this year, we have a special KUIU discount code just for you! Also, keep in mind that we are an authorized dealer for Kenetrek Boots, Best of the West Rifles and Zeiss optics. If you need to place an order, please text us at 315-374-8209.
On your New Mexico hunt, consider a light base layer that offers sun protection and breathability while hunting through warm weather conditions but also keep a quality mid layer along and a heavy layer in the vehicle just in case things take a turn. The mornings and evenings are often chilly and the days warm. Watching the weather report will help determine if you might need those extra layers in the field. For more clothing recommendations, check out our videos that cover early season clothing and cold weather clothing.
Boots are absolutely critical when hiking through the rough terrain but you don’t want anything too insulated or heavy. We highly recommend Kenetrek Mountain Extreme boots and we are a Kenetrek dealer. If you need boots for this season, please text us at 315-374-8209 and we will help you with an order. Look for a boot that offers stability, breathable construction, and outstanding durability for the rugged terrain here in New Mexico. In our opinion, you can’t beat Kenetrek for meeting all of these needs.
For more gear recommendations, take a look at our videos about our weapon recommendations and hunting accessories.
3. Shoot all Year
Speaking of your weapon…shoot, shoot and shoot some more. Whether it’s a bow hunt or a rifle hunt, make range days a regular habit as you prepare for your guided New Mexico hunt. Confidence comes through practice and experience. While we will always do our best to close the gap, having the ability to shoot out farther never hurts. Hunters making the effort to travel to specific destinations are invested in the process and shooting skills will only stand to increase harvest rates on current and future hunts. Consider taking our long-range shooting course to improve your skills.
Also, please keep in mind that LOH is a dealer for Best of the West Rifles. If you’re looking to upgrade your rifle or muzzleloader this year, let us know and we can help recommend a gun that fits your needs. Simply text us at 315-374-8209 and we will help you with an order.
4. Know What You Want
What are your goals and what are you hoping to harvest? In the moment, expectations can change but it helps to set your goals before entering any hunt. Be realistic. If this is your first elk, a bull over 300” might be a great goal to shoot for. If you’ve already killed a 320” bull, you might have a higher bar in mind. Know what you’re after and express that to your guides in advance. This makes it easier to quickly make shoot/pass decisions while glassing. Our hunts have exceptional success rates and big bulls are common. Know what you want and be prepared to make the shot count.
Contact Us with Questions
Want to learn more about guided hunts in New Mexico with LOH Outfitters? Please take a few minutes to explore the rest of our website. For more information on elk hunts, see our elk hunting page.
If you’d like details or specific availability, please send us a message or text your name and questions to 512-865-8990. We’d love to help you plan a memorable New Mexico hunt!
