Me and 2 buddies are looking to go on a public land mule deer hunt this coming year. Possibly elk but most likely mule deer. We want to go at the beginning of the hunting season during the week to increase our chances. Does anyone know any good places? Doesnt have to be the biggest bucks, just good chance of shooting a decent one. Or a place we can find some info on top public hunting lands.

If you don't have any preference points built up you probably aren't going hunting. The good places we used to go in Colorado take at least 3 years to build up enough points.

Go to Montana

up

I'm pretty sure you can buy OTC for mule deer, we went to gunnison a cpl years ago and know that a cpl ppl drew and a cpl paid for OTC tags. They had a blast hunting, I had a good time scouting.

you dont have to have preference points in NM. Out of state hunters have a better chance at drawing tags in most units because they are drawn from a seperate pool than residents. There is great information on the NM game and fish website. IK hunted in unit 42 this year and had a great hunt. My father shot a big 6x6 elk and I missed my opportunity. We saw a good amount of game and had a great hunt. The best unit to hunt mule deer is unit 2 late season the better hunting also for mulies

There's more than 30 million acres of public lands open to hunting in New Mexico, with a comparable amount of private land also available. While most folks are after deer, antelope and elk, there's also lots of dove, quail and pheasant, and,in New Mexico, some unusual species for the more adventurous hunters.

The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish publishes the annual Proclamation of Big Game and Furbearer Seasons in late January or early February with specifics for hunters. They also provide useful hunting information through their website. The license year runs from April 1 to March 31. The Proclamation contains a mail-in license form, although licenses can also be purchased over-the-counter at many vendors around the state. The Proclamation also contains an Access Courtesy Card to be used for obtaining written permission to hunt on private land from private landowners. The Game and Fish Department also publishes four other proclamations during the year:

* New Mexico Recreation and Heritage Guide
* Big Game Units of New Mexico
* Smal Game Seasons
* Waterfowl Seasons

Hunting is also allowed on certain tribal lands:

* Jicarilla Apache Department of Game and Fish: 505-759-3255
* Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife: 928-871-6451
* Zuni Game and Fish Department: 505-782-5851

All outfitters and guides operating in New Mexico must be registered with the Department of Game and Fish. They are also required by state law to have legally signed contracts with all clients for all services they offer. Nonresidents must also have signed contracts with registered outfitters before applying for special hunts. Nonresidents requesting big-game hunting materials from the Department can also request to have lists of registered outfitters mailed to them.

well the nm fish and wildlife site said: 78% of the tags will go to residents, up to 12% will go to non residents using outfitters, and lastly up to 10% will be given to non residents w no outfitter. I WOULD BE THAT 10% but i am going to take the chance.I will prolly apply for a few states.