In the heart of Southwest New Mexico, home of some of the Nations biggest record elk, you will find the hunting home of Carlton and Nettie Armstrong of Southwest New Mexico Trophy Hunters (SWNMTO). Located high in the Gila National forest, near the town of Quemado, SWNMTO base hunting cabin is situated in a wide valley with beautiful vistas all the way around. 

We met with Carlton and Nettie in the fall of 2000 at their base camp at 8500 feet in elevation. This hunting cabin is something you have to see to believe. Built by the outfitting couple from material on their ranch, and decorated with dropped antlers from elk and deer, game skins and furs, and numerous mounts of elk, lion, and deer, one would struggle to leave the beauty of the cabin to stumble into the field to hunt. Nettie and Carlton spend many hours of post season scouting their hunting areas, and picking up the dropped antlers, which Nettie turns into works of art.

Like all of New Mexico, draws are necessary to pull a tag for elk. Drawing a tag through outfitters provides a marginally better chance than drawing a tag without an outfitter.

The Armstrong's do cater to primitive weapons, including bowhunters in primitive Areas of 15A and 15B. They also have access to Area 12, which is all private land. They guide for elk, mule deer, cougar, ibex, turkey and antelope.

SWNMTO has been in business for eleven years. They provide six-day elk hunts for up to eight hunters with a guide/hunter ratio of one to two. They employ up to seven guides with an average experience level of eight years. The elk hunts occur at elevations from 7500 to 8500 feet, and according to Carlton, "is not too strenuous". In 1999 they took twelve bowhunters out and six came home with Pope and Young bulls, the largest of which measured 372. The average racks hunted fall between 340 and 360.

In Area 12, they guide for up to eight hunters, four rifle and four bows for mule deer. And combination elk/mule deer hunts are available with addition fees for the deer.

Antelope hunts are available in mid-August for six hunters. SWNMTO also provide seven day mountain lion hunts.

Since meeting with them last fall, they have let us know that even though the antler growth was down due to drought this last year, that they had a successful fall season, and are looking forward to the 2001 hunt.

If you would like to contact Carlton and Nettie Armstrong of Southwest New Mexico Trophy Hunters, you can call them at 505-773-4729.