February 2025
New Mexico Elk Hunting: Nashville to New MexicoFebruary of 2022, my wife and I attended the SCI Show in Nashville. We visited with friends and several outfitters over the next three days while walking the packed convention center. I was interested in booking an elk hunt for 2024. I have been a
member of Huntin’ Fool since 2016 and have utilized them on draws and booking a couple hunts. The final day in Nashville, I walked into the Huntin’ Fool booth. I asked for a recommendation for an
elk hunt in New Mexico with an outfitter that would take me on a disability hunt. I am currently 59 years old with a left prosthetic leg from a birth defect. Huntin’ Fool recommended G3 Outfitters, and they were located two booths away. We walked into the G3 booth, and I spoke with Jay Platt. We agreed to an elk hunt for October of 2024.Finally, after two years, I arrived in
New Mexico and met up with Cody Weir, my hunting guide for the next five days. Cody and I hit it off and decided to go out that afternoon on a scouting trip. While scouting, we saw approximately 20 elk, including 5 bull elk. One was close to 300".The next morning, Cody asked if I could traverse a steep area to access a different location for the best wind. I have spent the better part of my life working out to keep in shape. I have been fortunate to have harvested six bull elk (four by bow), an
Alaska-Yukon moose, an
Alaskan grizzly, and an
Alaskan Dall sheep. Cody and I arrived at our hunting location, and we walked across a small field with hard frost as we began climbing a steep mountainside. After around 45 minutes, we arrived at the top and began hearing bull elk bugling in multiple locations. As the sun began to rise, Cody and I started looking over several bull elk within 500 to 800 yards. Luckily, I had Cody to evaluate the bulls because they all looked great.After two hours and looking over six bulls, we heard a bull with a raspy, guttural bugle that I thought had to be a giant. We closed the distance, and down in a deep gorge, we saw the bull pushing his cow elk parallel to our position within 500 yards. Cody used his spotting scope to evaluate the bull and decided we should hold out for a better one. At around 10 a.m., all the elk went silent and the sun started to warm things up. We decided to split up and glass from two separate locations to improve our odds. Shortly thereafter, Cody came and told me he had spotted a shooter bull elk. By the time we got close, the bull moved over the mountain and went silent.
That afternoon, we got under the shade of several small trees to get out of the heat of the sun. At around 4 p.m., we split up again and began glassing. The elk were totally silent until around 5 p.m. when a bull bugled several times approximately 800 yards back in the direction of the truck.At around 5:30 p.m., Cody arrived back at my location and we decided to hunt our way back to the truck’s location. Just as we started back, the bull bugled again around 600 yards in the direction we were headed. We worked our way in the elk’s direction, and as we came within 340 yards, Cody spotted the bull and quickly said he was a shooter and to get ready. I dropped to the ground and used my
Double Diamond walking sticks with a twist tie as a makeshift tripod. I quickly put a round in my 28 Nosler and settled the crosshairs on the bull’s shoulder. The sun was directly behind the bull, making it difficult to see through the sun’s glare. As the bull turned 180 degrees and was bugling, I put a round behind his shoulder. His entire body straightened, and he locked his legs. Cody said to shoot him again, and I put three more rounds behind the bull’s shoulder. I racked the final round, and as I squeezed the trigger, the bull pitched forward. My bullets went between the elk rack, striking the ground behind him into the hillside.
Ten minutes later, we were standing over the magnificent bull elk. My largest bull elk prior to this hunt was a 300" bull. This elk dwarfed all my previous bull elk. I asked Cody if he thought the bull would go over 330". Cody looked at me and said he didn’t want to guess the score, but it was greater than 330". As we began caping and quartering the bull, the sun was dropping fast and we finished bagging the quarters with our headlamps on. Cody texted another guide, and over one hour later, the other G3 guide arrived with his two antelope hunters to help pack the meat and horns off the mountain. Grateful for the help, I gave the antelope hunters a front quarter of the elk.We got back to our camp late that evening and slept in the next morning. Cody put a tape on the bull’s rack, and the final score was 358 6/8". I can’t explain how fortunate I feel to have the opportunity to have taken such a magnificent elk on public ground. Hunting has enriched my life in so many ways by making new friends and the many experiences and memories with family and friends.
That afternoon, we got under the shade of several small trees to get out of the heat of the sun. At around 4 p.m., we split up again and began glassing. The elk were totally silent until around 5 p.m. when a bull bugled several times approximately 800 yards back in the direction of the truck.At around 5:30 p.m., Cody arrived back at my location and we decided to hunt our way back to the truck’s location. Just as we started back, the bull bugled again around 600 yards in the direction we were headed. We worked our way in the elk’s direction, and as we came within 340 yards, Cody spotted the bull and quickly said he was a shooter and to get ready. I dropped to the ground and used my
Double Diamond walking sticks with a twist tie as a makeshift tripod. I quickly put a round in my 28 Nosler and settled the crosshairs on the bull’s shoulder. The sun was directly behind the bull, making it difficult to see through the sun’s glare. As the bull turned 180 degrees and was bugling, I put a round behind his shoulder. His entire body straightened, and he locked his legs. Cody said to shoot him again, and I put three more rounds behind the bull’s shoulder. I racked the final round, and as I squeezed the trigger, the bull pitched forward. My bullets went between the elk rack, striking the ground behind him into the hillside.
Ten minutes later, we were standing over the magnificent bull elk. My largest bull elk prior to this hunt was a 300" bull. This elk dwarfed all my previous bull elk. I asked Cody if he thought the bull would go over 330". Cody looked at me and said he didn’t want to guess the score, but it was greater than 330". As we began caping and quartering the bull, the sun was dropping fast and we finished bagging the quarters with our headlamps on. Cody texted another guide, and over one hour later, the other G3 guide arrived with his two antelope hunters to help pack the meat and horns off the mountain. Grateful for the help, I gave the antelope hunters a front quarter of the elk.We got back to our camp late that evening and slept in the next morning. Cody put a tape on the bull’s rack, and the final score was 358 6/8". I can’t explain how fortunate I feel to have the opportunity to have taken such a magnificent elk on public ground. Hunting has enriched my life in so many ways by making new friends and the many experiences and memories with family and friends.
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