Hollowman AFB NM...?

[genesis273]

My son is now based at Hollowman AFB, just arrived today. Looking on the world wide web, there doesn't seem to be a lot to do around there. I've visited him in TX, and enjoyed it. But is there anything to do in the area of Hollowman? Something my wife may enjoy, who does like the outdoors/hiking, etc.
Also, although I am addicted to elk hunting, are there any OTC hunting opportunities in south-cental NM that I possibly could take advantage of?
He called me today while driving from Sheppard to Hollowman, and couldn't get over the amount of snow geese and sandhill cranes he was seeing. Would that be a possible hunting opportunity? That may have been more on the TX side of his road trip.

 

[Speeddmn]

As an active duty Air Force guy, most of us in maintenance try to avoid all the bases in NM... None of them are very good, let him get his feet yet to the service and put in for Korea or a 365 to the sand box, then PCS to a worthwhile base!

What is his AFSC (job)? I am a fighter aircraft crew chief, now confined to office/desk work as I get closer to retirement! Also TX has a great Sandhill Crane limit if y'all ever go!! I think it's like 10 a day! haha

 

[HighDesertSage]

Cloudcroft or Ruidoso

 

[genesis273]

What is his AFSC (job)? I am a fighter aircraft crew chief, now confined to office/desk work as I get closer to retirement

Excuse my lack of the proper military term, but he'll be basically working on (A&P type work) on F-16's. He's really looking forward to being in long enough to get the chance to go overseas. But, you start at the bottom.

 

[genesis273]

Cloudcroft or Ruidoso

Both of those look like a places I'd love to spend some time at! My wife believes that he's in the desert. Even if that's the case, it doesn't look like a far drive to get to either one of these towns, which looks absolutely beautiful.

 

[LuketheDog]

I know a guy there, he rides dirt bikes but is not a hunter. Maybe there are some off-road 4x4/OHV trips you guys could do...

 

[C17loadclear]

I was born on the base believe it or not. My dad talked about great deer hunting up in the mountains which are not that far away. Of course that was many years ago...

I think that you make the best of where you are at and try to focus on the positives...Although it gets pretty toasty there in the summer...

I have a friend that lives there if your son has any specific questions I can put him in touch with him.

Tell him good luck and I think it is great that your son is serving this great nation.

 

[elkskinner]

Sent you a PM but your messages is over the quota. I think you have to delete some.

 

[genesis273]

Sent you a PM but your messages is over the quota. I think you have to delete some.

Try it now.

 

[HighDesertSage]

Both of those look like a places I'd love to spend some time at! My wife believes that he's in the desert. Even if that's the case, it doesn't look like a far drive to get to either one of these towns, which looks absolutely beautiful.

Cloudcroft is very close. Deer is pretty much a guaranteed draw up there. Elk is really tough, even for cow. LO vouchers for cow can be had for $600 is you shop around. I never drew a bull tag when I lived in Las Cruces.

 

[bobbydean]

Mescalero reservation is between Cloudcroft and Ruidoso. Buy a cow elk license and have fun. Great bulls on the reservation, but require guides and is cost prohibitive. The Inn of the Mountain Gods has great entertainment come in for concerts. Nice casino, great views, world class golf course, and decent food.

 

[Speeddmn]

Excuse my lack of the proper military term, but he'll be basically working on (A&P type work) on F-16's. He's really looking forward to being in long enough to get the chance to go overseas. But, you start at the bottom.

So A&P can be a cross of all sorts of different jobs in the Air force, to break it down a:

Crew Chief is the glorified gas station attendant, tire pressures, clean the bugs off it, gas it up, launch/recover the aircraft for flying, look it over for inspections etc.
Avionics/Electrician are the ones chasing wires, playing with the radar, troubleshooting coax cables and other geeky stuff.
Engines/Props are the guys working the motor, and that's about all
Weapons: well they load the fake bombs and missiles unless the flying schedule actually has 'lives' scheduled to be fired.

Granted all these jobs have very specific training and all are equally important, except weapons.... we don't need them to fly!

 

[Rsnk61]

I spent 3 years at Holloman and believe it or not was one of my favorite places I was ever stationed. Lots of history in the area Billy the Kid/Lincoln County wars. NASA museum first monkey in space is buried there. First atomic bomb detonation (Manhatten Project/Trinity). You also have Whitesands National Monument. Parked behind the fire department walk up the mountain harvested a deer. Never drew an elk tag so I can't say much about the hunting. However this was in the late 80s early 90s. As said above Cloudcroft/Ruidoso are very nice. You may be in the desert but not far from the forest. Small town but being from a small town I really liked the feeling.

 

[fulldraw]

So A&P can be a cross of all sorts of different jobs in the Air force, to break it down a:

Crew Chief is the glorified gas station attendant, tire pressures, clean the bugs off it, gas it up, launch/recover the aircraft for flying, look it over for inspections etc.
Avionics/Electrician are the ones chasing wires, playing with the radar, troubleshooting coax cables and other geeky stuff.
Engines/Props are the guys working the motor, and that's about all
Weapons: well they load the fake bombs and missiles unless the flying schedule actually has 'lives' scheduled to be fired.

Granted all these jobs have very specific training and all are equally important, except weapons.... we don't need them to fly!

Glorified gas station attendant ? My, times must have really changed since I was a F-4 crew chief in SEA during the Viet Nam war. I too was stationed at Hill AFB during my enlistment and really enjoyed my time in Utah I just wish I would have done more hunting.

 

[sbhooper]

Holloman (not Hollow-man) is at the foot of some great mountains with lots of good game. I lived in Alamogordo for over 10 years and had a blast. I think the deer is all draw, now, but I haven't checked in years. I think a permit for the area is fairly easy to draw, though. My favorite was mz deer.

There are lots of elk there, but the permit is hard to get. The Mescalero cow elk hunt was some of the most fun hunting that I ever did.

If you like mountain carp, you can get some of that fishing up around Ruidoso.

From there, you can drive to many nice areas in New Mexico, from desert to mountains. You are 90 miles from El Paso, if you feel the need for a bit bigger city.

As far as a place to live, Alamogordo is one of the better places in New Mexico, in my opinion. They have a little crime and generally is a pretty conservative area for the most part. I still have a few friends around there and could live there again with no problem.





You

 

[bobbydean]

Add one suggestion. There are some big Barbary on the Alamogordo side of the mountain. Very hard hunt, but big. You would on some terrible inclines. I would pass, but great trophy. May be OTC and not draw. Not sure.

 

[NM34R]

I PCS'd to Holloman AFB in 2006 and retired in 2011. We stayed here because the great weather and the mountains. I love the mountains and my wife hates the cold. Perfect!

Great area for the right type of person. If you prefer shopping, bars or water sports you are the wrong type of person. If you like the outdoors and mountains minus the feet of snow you are the right type. Our playground is the high desert along with desert and alpine mountains. Along with hunting there is a couple hundred miles of hiking, biking, and atv/motorcycle trails. If you like water sports there are lakes about 2-3 hours away.

Hunting is mainly by draw. I started hunting in 2013 and I have drawn 1 Oryx, 2 cow elk and 3 deer tags. If you aren't drawn there is always turkey, coyote, quail and dove. Some say there are hogs but I haven't seen them.

If you need more info PM me.

Rod

 

[sbhooper]

I PCS'd to Holloman AFB in 2006 and retired in 2011. We stayed here because the great weather and the mountains. I love the mountains and my wife hates the cold. Perfect!

Great area for the right type of person. If you prefer shopping, bars or water sports you are the wrong type of person. If you like the outdoors and mountains minus the feet of snow you are the right type. Our playground is the high desert along with desert and alpine mountains. Along with hunting there is a couple hundred miles of hiking, biking, and atv/motorcycle trails. If you like water sports there are lakes about 2-3 hours away.

Hunting is mainly by draw. I started hunting in 2013 and I have drawn 1 Oryx, 2 cow elk and 3 deer tags. If you aren't drawn there is always turkey, coyote, quail and dove. Some say there are hogs but I haven't seen them.

If you need more info PM me.

Rod

Well put. Yes, there are hogs. I killed one with a muzzle loader after a bow hunter buddy told me he had seen a Texan with a couple that they had killed. I did not know that they were there. I shot it on a thick ridge in oak brush, while I was deer hunting. It was a great-eating bonus critter to the hunt. I also used to know a guy that figured them out and killed several off the top end of West Side Road. He lives, or lived in Bug Scuffle Ranch I believe.

I killed three Oryx in the years that I lived there, as well as a bunch of deer and few elk. Great country.

The flats out south of Alamogordo have an endless supply of coyotes, thanks to all of the bombing ranges that are off limits.