I NEED HELP

I'm going to be stationed in New Mexico near Alamogordo and I've been an avid hunter my entire life, but hunting in the west is different from the hardwoods of the south. I've never been mule deer or elk hunting. I have no clue what I can buy OTC and what I can't. I'll be there just in time for turkey season and I'm planning on scouting up near cloudcroft and Ruidiso. Anyone have any tips for turkey hunting up there or any species near Alamogordo. Any knowledge would be appreciated, thanks.

I'm in the same boat. I am stationed at Holloman. So Hello all, I'm hoping someone here will take the time to help me out on how to increase my odds in filling the freezer this year. My family and I recently pcs'd here in November '16 and I haven't been able to hunt last two years due to military deployments. I'm originally from ga, own a lease there.

Currently, We are living on white sands missile range and would like to hunt elk, deer, and a oryx. I am still trying to figure of how to increase my chances of drawing any of these, I'm not a trophy hunter; I just love the hunt and to fill the freezer for my family. To me it's the feeling inside when sit down to eat with the family and know you provided this meat through work and patience.

If anybody is willing to provide insight on how to increase my chances on where and when to hunt I would be extremely grateful! I can hunt bow, muzzle loader, and rifle; also not scared of rough areas. Prefer to hunt around cloudcroft, ruidoso, or anywhere in southeast region I suppose. Sorry for lengthy post.

That is a fun area you are moving to. You should have no problem finding turkeys in the areas you are planing on looking. lots of elk as well. Just spend some time in the woods and you will quickly get a feel for the areas and the animals in them.

Military members who served in Iraq or Afghanistan or just being military can increase your odds for drawing some orxy hunts, so you will want to look into those hunts. In general you have to draw a tag to hunt deer or elk. Applications for draw hunts are due in a few weeks so don't miss applying for hunts.

Here are a few links that will help you get started.

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/home/publications/

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/hunting/maps/big-game-unit-maps-pdfs/

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/dow...pplication-draw/2016-Drawing-Odds-Summary.pdf

http://www.wildlife.state.nm.us/hunting/harvest-reporting-information/

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