In the southwest corner of New Mexico, high up in the Gila National Forest, the home of many recordbook Elk and Mule deer, you will find the home hunting turf of L.J. Armstrong. L.J. is not just some country bumpkin who took up guiding in order to fill in time between jobs. L.J. has made his living solely from the professional guiding of hunters for forty years.

I had opportunity to meet with L.J. and his equally proficient guiding wife, Heidi at his camp in the Gila National Forest in September, 2000. L.J was guiding some of his regulars on a muzzle loader hunt for Mule Deer. He and Heidi made me more than welcome at camp. He took out time to tell me of his experience and his love for his work. We talked Elk, Mule Deer, and what it takes to make a good outfitter. He shared his experience and tips freely. But even as we talked you could tell he kept his senses attuned to the weather, and the wind. Heidi, a great compliment to L.J., a superior guide in her own right, is also a remarkable taxidermist.

His camp was situated high on a plateau in the Forest with a view that was nothing less than spectacular. L.J.’s camp was comprised of neatly arraigned wall tents with a large cook tent. 

Each tent was setup with cots and mattresses and everything a hunter would need except his, or her, personal gear. L.J.’s full time cook, awaiting the return of the hunters, continued to ply me with food. His only job, I think, was to fatten me up!

L.J. is a full service outfitter. He guides for Elk, Mule Deer, Coues Deer, Black Bear, and Cougar. If you are hungry to hunt one of these, L.J. is hungry to find one for you. But if you are really hot to hunt Cats or Bears, than L.J. may be the first and only outfitter you want to talk to. L.J. specializes in running down bear and cats with his own personal pack of hounds. He has been raising and training hounds for Cougar and Bears since he was twelve. His work with dogs and his skills as an outfitter have led the New Mexico's Big Game Houndsmen Association to vote him New Mexico’s Outfitter of the Year, and his veteran lion hounds have been voted lion dogs of the year for two years running.

I didn’t have the opportunity to hunt with L.J. this year, but I would sure be confident placing my hunting dream in his hands.

You can reach L.J. Armstrong Big Game Outfitters at, P.O. Box 84, Cliff, New Mexico 88028
(505) 535 – 4382. Or visit his website by clicking here L.J. Armstrong Big Game Outfitters - www.highcountryhunts.com