RE: Hunting in New Mexico
If you're in Cloudcroft, you're smack-dab in the middle of some of the finest Merriam's turkey and elk hunting in the world. The Mescalero Apache Indian Reservation is 450,000 acres of wonderland....hunted there in '90 with 2 friends, and by 10AM had killed all 3 toms and got them all on tape. Not sure what it costs now, but then it was $100 for a 3-day hunt. I think it's twice that now, but well worth it. Heard 50+ birds each day. It was awesome.
If that many turkeys isn't something that interests you, there's also Lincoln NF above and below the reservation, and there's plenty of birds there too.
Gorgeous country, gobs and scads of turkeys, elk everywhere, and some of the finest eats possible down in Las Cruces...I can't wait to go back next spring!!