NJ to NM

[WhiteOak]

Hello all,

I am currently in the process of moving from NJ to NM. I grew up in nj and came back here after being stationed in Texas... It didn't take long to regret that move.

We are moving to the portales area were my wife's family is from and ready for a new adventure. I will not make it for any big game this year but am hoping to be there by quail season. I know there are guys on here from NJ and nm and I am hoping I can pick some peoples brains here and also to help anyone out if they have questions about hunting NJ, I hunt primarily public land in South jersey for whitetail and waterfowl.

I will be new to draw hunts and also new to opportunities to hunt elk, antelope, and really western game in general. Roksilde seems like a wealth of knowledge and I have much to learn.

If anyone is familiar with Roosevelt county nm what kind of big game opportunities exist there? I am looking forward to varmint, waterfowl, and inland game. And big game out that way?

 

[seldomseensmith]

Welcome to NM!!

 

[tlowell02]

PM inbound

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I grew up in NM, graduated from UNM and worked there for a long time but I dont live there now. Im in NM for another week or so before going home, I sort of have a love/hate relationship with NM.

 

[seldomseensmith]

I grew up in NM, graduated from UNM and worked there for a long time but I dont live there now. Im in NM for another week or so before going home, I sort of have a love/hate relationship with NM.

I think the love hate thing is one of the things that keeps this state so great. But I know what you mean. I am in love with hunting here. I wouldn't trade the NM high country for anything.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I think the love hate thing is one of the things that keeps this state so great. But I know what you mean. I am in love with hunting here. I wouldn't trade the NM high country for anything.

Yeah I love elk hunting in NM, I used to do quite a bit of audad hunting here and my dad even hunted sheep in NM but in the end I traded it for Alaska.

 

[seldomseensmith]

Yeah I love elk hunting in NM, I used to do quite a bit of audad hunting here and my dad even hunted sheep in NM but in the end I traded it for Alaska.

Wow that's great. I met my wife up there years ago. We are starting to plan a trip up to Alaska for next summer. Very excited to take my boys there. Truly a magical place.

 

[WhiteOak]

Yeah that is a lot of people's sentiment from what I gather. Which seems odd because right across the state line in texas everyone seems to have absolute pride in the State we have family aunts uncles cousins and such in tx to and to be honest I would have rather moved there but her family is in NM. She tried NJ for me so I guess i will have to suck it up and learn to hunt western game in NM then.
Growing up a half our from Philly I didn't really experience the country until I was stationed in tx, my roommate lived in West Texas and we went every chance we could. I fell for the place and regretted moving back to NJ. Can't wait to get back out there. If I may ask what are some of the thing yall don't like about NM.

 

[seldomseensmith]

Texans.
(Come on, I had to)

 

[thinhorn_AK]

There's good hunting and backpacking, fly fishing skiing and all sorts of outdoor stuff to do in New Mexico and the weather is generally really good, cost of living seems pretty low and there's some good universities in the state.

It just seems like there's more gang bangers than there were 5-10 years ago and Albuquerque just seems to be in general decay compared to what it was 5-10 years ago. My wife came to NM for the first time recently and commented on how people just seemed dirty and rude and this is after she spent a few months in Phoenix (Mesa) and Fairbanks AK.

I mean there was a Walmart shopping cart in the alley behind the house I own in Albuquerque the other day, that seemed sort of ghetto. I grew up in the northern part of the state which was nicer and up in the mountains which was great.

Oh, my wife also asked my why so many young girls are pregnant in New Mexico lol.

 

[WhiteOak]

Too funny, my wife has mentioned the you g girls being pregnant too, and I do t know what's up with the shoppi g cart thing I live down the street from a grocery store here and I see people pushing shopping carts home all the time even with 1 or two bags in it weird shit man. As far as people being rude it doesn't get much worse than up here in the northeast where everyone already just seems so have a negative disposition to everyone they haven't grow. Up with. Saying hi to a stranger throws people off so bad I think it's funny as hell. I don't have any experience with abq but she has family there and I've heard about the decline her aunt bought a new house about 10 yrs ago and apparently now the neighborhood is quite seedy. around portales everyone has time to aknowlege the people around them and that's refreshing. I've been going green chile up here for the last 3 years and can't wait for the food down there.

Thanks for the honesty I don't really desire to spend much time in the cities I've had enough of that shit for a lifetime. Ok I'm about to go drive across a 8 lane bridge and take an hr to drive less than 30 miles to philly... Just a few more months now.

I'm glad you can still appreciate the outdoors in new mexico. I am ready to explore

 

[seldomseensmith]

As far as hunting advice i would tell you to take the time to learn the NM Draw system inside and out. Learn to use the draw odds and harvest reports. A lot of hunters in this state apply for the same tags year in year out and without going into details I will say that there are some gem units that don't get hunted hard.

 

[WhiteOak]

Thanks for the advice, I have much to learn about the draw and they seem a bit different for each species. I'm thinking my home office is going to end up looking like a detective board with maps, pins, equations, dates. It it will make the hunt a year round process.

It will also force me to use all weapons as I don't want to apply for 2 species for the same dates and using now muzzle loaded and rifle will stretch the odds a bit.

What are y'alls opinions on 4th choice hunts, will you almost always draw, are they worth it. I take pride in going to places I think most others won't venture to but I also have no experience hunting that country.