GF got a great job in Las Cruces, so I guess that's where I'm going as of next summer. I never pictured myself in the southwest, but I am looking forward to it, as long as I can get a job. The rifle matches there seem AWESOME and I look forward to finally cultivating my LR shooting skills.
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Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
Welcome to New Mexico!
Lots of job opportunities in the Las Cruces/El Paso area.
You'll love the open country out here! We shoot long range all the time. Many cool things to do.
See you at some matches!
Welcome to New Mexico!
Lots of job opportunities in the Las Cruces/El Paso area.
You'll love the open country out here! We shoot long range all the time. Many cool things to do.
See you at some matches!
Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
Go due north to Raton. NRA Whittington Center, one of the finest shooting facilities in the world, and really nice folks run it. They have cabins you can rent really reasonably, and 64,000 acres of wilderness to prowl in.
Go due north to Raton. NRA Whittington Center, one of the finest shooting facilities in the world, and really nice folks run it. They have cabins you can rent really reasonably, and 64,000 acres of wilderness to prowl in.
Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
Welcome to NM - be sure to get some good sunscreen!
Welcome to NM - be sure to get some good sunscreen!
Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
I grew up in Missouri, went to undergrad about a half hour from Iowa, and in general have spent a fair bit of time in everywhere between St. Louis and Cincinnati. Now I am a bit west of where you are headed. The largest plus by comparison to where you are coming from is finding places to hunt (If you are into hunting). There is public land everywhere by comparison, just watch out for the Indian reservations. Some of them aren't too bad, but as a general rule I stay off of them. Some of them will give you a ticket just for being on their roads.
I grew up in Missouri, went to undergrad about a half hour from Iowa, and in general have spent a fair bit of time in everywhere between St. Louis and Cincinnati. Now I am a bit west of where you are headed. The largest plus by comparison to where you are coming from is finding places to hunt (If you are into hunting). There is public land everywhere by comparison, just watch out for the Indian reservations. Some of them aren't too bad, but as a general rule I stay off of them. Some of them will give you a ticket just for being on their roads.
Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
I know nothing about hunting, but I'd be willing to learn if I ever met people who could show me what was up. I would like to blast a few prairie dogs sometime, but I haven't ever found any land. Maybe that will change.
Biggest challenge now is finding a job there, after that, it's awn.
I know nothing about hunting, but I'd be willing to learn if I ever met people who could show me what was up. I would like to blast a few prairie dogs sometime, but I haven't ever found any land. Maybe that will change.
Biggest challenge now is finding a job there, after that, it's awn.
Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
You didn't ask my advice on starting out hunting, but I will give it and you can ignore it if you like. Many people are tempted to start on big game species, I do not advise it. It costs more to get into big game hunting, more money for the license, more time for scouting, less of a chance of success, ect. If I were you I would check the New Mexico regulations and see what licenses are require for small game, and varmints. I do not know if New Mexico is one of them, but some states do not require a license for jack rabbits and such. Either way, I think bunnies, squirrels, or upland game birds are a good way to get into hunting. If possible head out when the seasons overlap. Then just walk slowly through the desert/forest on national forest, state trust, or BLM land. This gives you a general idea of what it is like and worst case scenario you went hiking with a gun. I introduced an Italian (as in lived in Italy until 24 years old) buddy of mine to hunting this way. Before that he was against private gun ownership. I think he summed up my view of hunting better than I could. "I really like this, it is like hiking but with a purpose." If you are scouting for prairie dogs, figure out the general area they are in(conservation groups trying to protect them are a great place to find out the general area) then hop on mapquest or something similar. If you zoom in far enough you can see their little mounds. This could be an abandoned town, but if it is close by you can drive there to check it out.
In the state of Arizona (I am assuming the same in New Mexico) you can shoot on BLM and national forest land as long as you clean up your trash and are being safe about it. We can hunt on state trust but no target shoot. Here we can get land use maps from the BLM office that have areas marked as to whether they are BLM, state trust, national forest, national park, tribal lands, or private. Again this is based on Arizona, but NM is probably similar.
I know this doesn't help you with the job search, but I do not have any advice on that other than to say good luck.
The southwest is a fun area, I hope you enjoy it.
You didn't ask my advice on starting out hunting, but I will give it and you can ignore it if you like. Many people are tempted to start on big game species, I do not advise it. It costs more to get into big game hunting, more money for the license, more time for scouting, less of a chance of success, ect. If I were you I would check the New Mexico regulations and see what licenses are require for small game, and varmints. I do not know if New Mexico is one of them, but some states do not require a license for jack rabbits and such. Either way, I think bunnies, squirrels, or upland game birds are a good way to get into hunting. If possible head out when the seasons overlap. Then just walk slowly through the desert/forest on national forest, state trust, or BLM land. This gives you a general idea of what it is like and worst case scenario you went hiking with a gun. I introduced an Italian (as in lived in Italy until 24 years old) buddy of mine to hunting this way. Before that he was against private gun ownership. I think he summed up my view of hunting better than I could. "I really like this, it is like hiking but with a purpose." If you are scouting for prairie dogs, figure out the general area they are in(conservation groups trying to protect them are a great place to find out the general area) then hop on mapquest or something similar. If you zoom in far enough you can see their little mounds. This could be an abandoned town, but if it is close by you can drive there to check it out.
In the state of Arizona (I am assuming the same in New Mexico) you can shoot on BLM and national forest land as long as you clean up your trash and are being safe about it. We can hunt on state trust but no target shoot. Here we can get land use maps from the BLM office that have areas marked as to whether they are BLM, state trust, national forest, national park, tribal lands, or private. Again this is based on Arizona, but NM is probably similar.
I know this doesn't help you with the job search, but I do not have any advice on that other than to say good luck.
The southwest is a fun area, I hope you enjoy it.
Re: So I'm moving to New Mexico
Thanks so much for your advice. I have been on this site a long time even though I am primarily a pistol shooter, and now that I'm moving to where rifle ranges are everywhere, I will be shooting my rifles a LOT more. I do get them out of the safe a few times a year, but I am looking forward to giving them a workout ASAP.
Job search is going well. I'm hoping for the best.
Thanks so much for your advice. I have been on this site a long time even though I am primarily a pistol shooter, and now that I'm moving to where rifle ranges are everywhere, I will be shooting my rifles a LOT more. I do get them out of the safe a few times a year, but I am looking forward to giving them a workout ASAP.
Job search is going well. I'm hoping for the best.
Update on this thread:
I'm moving to Las Cruces in about 2 weeks. I landed a job there. I shoot a lot of USPSA and plan on continuing to do that, but would like to do some more precision rifle if there are matches (or just people to go out into the desert). Let me know by PM or in this thread if you live near LC and want to do some shooting.
I'm moving to Las Cruces in about 2 weeks. I landed a job there. I shoot a lot of USPSA and plan on continuing to do that, but would like to do some more precision rifle if there are matches (or just people to go out into the desert). Let me know by PM or in this thread if you live near LC and want to do some shooting.
Living in Cruces, you'll get all the practice shooting you'll ever need just hanging out in your neighborhood. I grew up (first 22 yrs in ABQ) and it's a shit-hole state but it is very gun friendly. Your best bet for fun is to get a boat and hit up the Butte (unless it's all dried up now?). In my time, it was a huge lake with a lot of really cool little islands all over the place.
Get a Honda Fit or Jetta TDi wagon. You'll figure out why right away 
Lots of GREAT shooting out our way, but you gotta put in some windshield time based on where you'll be.
Lots of GREAT shooting out our way, but you gotta put in some windshield time based on where you'll be.
Elephant Butte has still got water but nowhere near what it did years ago and is pretty low. Cruces is not a bad town overall aside from it being college town. They do have a pretty decent range, some good restaraunts, and some great coyote hunting.
Man, I remember when Elephant Butte was full. What a beautiful place then. Last time I was there it was a 1/4 mile walk to the water. Sad.
Get a Honda Fit or Jetta TDi wagon. You'll figure out why right away
Probably won't be driving a Honda or VW anything anytime soon, but I do know why you suggested it.
Where's all the cool matches? Pistol matches are pretty easy to find, as USPSA and IDPA are pretty much everywhere, but it's harder to find rifle matches since there are so many different kinds.
