Elk tags in the high country, mule deer in the piñon-juniper and pronghorn on the eastern plains: New Mexico asks a lot from one rifle. Draw hunters can wait years for a good tag, so the rifle should fit whoever finally gets one, young hunter or grown.

Fierce Firearms makes the Mini Rogue line for youth, women and smaller-framed hunters. It carries a carbon fiber stock, a shorter length of pull and an adjustable comb, and the CT Mini Rogue XP weighs about 6 lb with a titanium action. For elk, look at 6.5 PRC, 7mm-08 Remington or 308 Winchester. For pronghorn and deer, 6.5 Creedmoor is hard to beat. A light rifle also makes a big difference on a climb above Taos or in the Sandias foothills.

Under the carbon stock sits Fierce's stainless steel dual-lug action with a 70-degree bolt throw and a spiral-fluted bolt. The trigger is a Bix'n Andy Dakota, adjustable, and the barrel is match grade and hand lapped.

308 Winchester is the classic all-round hunting round: proven on deer, hogs and black bear, with factory ammunition available everywhere. In a rifle this light, 308 recoil is noticeable for a small owner; a 6.5 Creedmoor or 7mm-08 is the gentler start.

This rifle has a 20 in barrel, 4+1 capacity, and weighs about 5.8 lb. Finish: Forest Carbon Fiber Camo.

Elk and pronghorn shots can come at longer range, and a rifle that does not fit makes them harder. With the right length of pull, a smaller shooter can get prone behind a bipod and stay there. Set the comb so the eye sees the whole scope picture with no shadow. A new hunter should learn on 6mm or 6.5 Creedmoor before carrying a 308 up the mountain.

The rifle ships to the New Mexico dealer you choose. New Mexico has a seven-day wait that is waived for concealed handgun license holders; everyone else picks up on day seven. Ammo and gear travel straight to your door. Price and stock are rechecked live as the order goes in.

Questions buyers ask: Is 6.5 Creedmoor enough for New Mexico elk? With good bullets and sensible range, many hunters use it. 6.5 PRC or 308 Winchester gives more margin. Do I have to wait seven days in New Mexico? Yes, unless you hold a New Mexico concealed handgun license, which waives the wait. What caliber is this Fierce rifle? 308 Winchester, 4+1 capacity.

Specifications come from Fierce Firearms' published data for part number ROGM308WIN20BF, UPC 853418908174.