Varmint Vacation

A few years ago, I packed up my worldly belongings, said goodbye to family and friends and left the land of my birth, the lush foothills of South Carolina. My destination--somewhere in the Rocky Mountain West. I wasn't sure of the exact location at the time of my departure, but eventually settled in New Mexico. There were two underlying reasons for my exodus: a dream and a passion.

The dream was to go alone in the black timber and take a record-class bull elk. The passion was varmint hunting. The dream very nearly came to fruition last year with a huge 7x7 bull standing broadside in the fading light of a mountain meadow. Though I could see him clearly, the duplex reticle of my scope crisp against his gray coat, it was 10 minutes past legal shooting hours. So, the dream remains.

The passion, however, is another story. For the Rockies are truly a varmint hunter's paradise. From the craggy peaks to the low desert, no region of the country can compare for variety and sheer numbers of shootable vermin. This is no secret. But what many people, particularly in the East, don't realize is just how inexpensive and accessible this hunting is. As the saying goes: Half the battle is in getting there.

On a recent visit back to South Carolina, an old friend went on at length about how he always wanted to take a trip out west to shoot prairie dogs and maybe call up some coyotes. "I've taken the family to Yellowstone a coupl'a times," he said, "and I drive out to visit my daughter in California every other summer. But I've never really had the chance to do any huntin' out there."

THIS ISN'T ELK HUNTING
Nonresident licenses are affordable, there is plenty of public land--your land--you don't need a great deal in the way of equipment, and once you're in the right area a varmint hunt requires about as much planning as a trip to the movies. It's as simple as making an overnight stop in a likely area, and while the wife and kids are sleeping-in or playing in the motel pool, you can be out hunting.

This is not to imply that you can step out of your car and find great hunting anywhere. The populations of the various species classified as varmints fluctuate considerably. Jackrabbit numbers go through a natural cycle with populations peaking every six to nine years. Prairie dogs also go through highs and lows, due mostly to their susceptibility to plague. These fluctuations in turn affect predators such as coyotes, which depend on these prey species for their sustenance. As a result, at any given time there will be areas of the West with booming populations and other areas lacking huntable numbers. The nice thing is, you can do some effective scouting from the family car. You can watch for the animals along the highway; be especially observant of the dead ones along the pavement--road kill. If high numbers of a particular critter adorn the asphalt, it's a safe bet a lot more of them are out there in the brush. If you've thought ahead and have a good map that shows where public land is,

IT'S TIME TO GO HUNTING.
Of course, if you're the type that likes to plan his trip a little more carefully, you may want more precise information. I would never tell you exactly where I saw that monster elk anymore than I would send you to my favorite fishing hole. But, after hunting them extensively from Montana to New Mexico, there is one thing I know about varmints--there are plenty to go around. So, the following is a list of "hot spots" where at least one of the popular varmint species is currently thriving. The locations were selected not only for the good hunting, but because of their accessibility from major east/west vacation routes.

SONORAN DESERT, SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO
Black-tailed jackrabbit, coyote
Many travelers, hurtling down Interstate 10 across southern New Mexico, look out at the arid landscape and think nothing much could survive in this hostile place. They couldn't be more wrong. In fact, there are few places in the country where an early morning walk can produce as many sightings of as vast an array of animal and bird life. Antelope, desert mule deer, javelina, coyotes, jackrabbits, badgers, ground squirrels, horned toads, rattlesnakes, golden eagles--all these and more are commonly encountered here.

Due to a couple years of good rain, one species in particular, the black-tailed jackrabbit, is currently approaching a high cycle. Just pull off the interstate onto a side road in the early morning or late evening and you'll see what I mean. In some places it's hard to drive without running them over.

Jackrabbit hunting has turned many a nimrod into a crack shot. Dodging through the brush at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, they offer a crash course in marksmanship that can't be duplicated at any firing range.

Due to the high population of jacks and other prey species in the area, you'll also find plenty of coyotes. A good way to locate them is to drive out to the hills at daybreak and listen for their howls. Also, look for tracks in the sandy washes. Though there are plenty around, don't expect them to be pushovers. This is cattle country, and the ranchers keep them on their toes.

The best area is any of the public land along the interstate between Deming and Lordsburg. Both of these little towns offer economical lodging or, if you're camping, there are several nice state parks around Deming. If you want to park your RV right in the middle of some great hunting and don't mind a scarcity of urban comforts, check out the campground at the Trails West Travel Center on the interstate 20 miles west of Deming.