Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire 2018 SW New Mexico Camp and Shoot

The Southwest Summer Campfire gathering this year is scheduled for August 3rd through 5th at Armijo Springs Campground, approximately 24 miles south of the town of Quemado, in western New Mexico. More detailed planning and preparation will be posted in this thread during the next several weeks. It is likely that gathering of foodstuffs and preparation of meals will be a shared enterprise for the first time in several years. Kent's work schedule probably will have him and his trailer elsewhere this year. If you plan to attend, please think about how you might be able to help with this.

As you may know, the region has experienced the driest winter and spring in recent memory. The landscape is quite crispy, forest fires are roaring, and forest restrictions or closures are in effect at this time. Consequently, the hoped-for summer rains will determine the final location. If needed moisture does not come in a timely manner, there may be very limiting restrictions at our intended camp site, and we may need to change locations.

For this reason, driving directions will be posted later when we have a better idea about the status of current Forest Service campground restrictions and closures. In the meantime, please pray for rain and let us know if you are planning to join us this year.

Hoping to see many of our old friends and some new faces!



Rick, can you please make this a "sticky"?

Up.

ttt

I hope to make it with at least one kid. The father-in-law is in poor health and the wife is afraid of the outdoors. But I should make it.

Should we make a list of what food we each should bring?

Thanks for getting the party plans started, Ben.

This sounds great, and we will have to pray for enough moisture to allow "normal" conditions. We got about an hour of a hail storm here today, followed by a bit of rain, which was welcome relief from the heat and drought. Went from 80+ to 40 degrees in about 20 minutes. Hallelujah! We lost most of our fruit, which was about to shrivel up and blow away anyhow. The power went down early, so we celebrated the moisture with a candle light dinner - - venison, corn on the cob and salad. Outdoor (covered) grilling at its finest.

It sounds like we will have to anticipate the possibility of a change in venue, maybe at the last minute. What might be an alternate site? Meals could be potluck if enough volunteers will sign up and bring extra for the singletons and/or those who come longer distances. We will bring the Tiltin' Hilton for sleeping, but it is not equipped with a generator. We do have two extra bunks in the trailer for anyone who needs a bit of protection from the weather.

So, if you are planning to come, sign up early (you can give regrets later) and let everyone know your intentions. Bring what you can share for grub and we can likely fix up a buffet line. Think about a bit of shooting and how you want the friendly competition to look; that could be vetoed by Forest weather and such, but we can all hope for the best. Does Dennis have some ideas? Black powder rifles and belly guns at 50 yards, sub-22 centerfires at 200 yds, rimfires at 100 yds with irons? Let's hear from folks with their preferences.

We're planning on attending - "if the creek don't rise"

Very good to know that Tracy & kid, Jim/Nikki and Mark/Joy will be coming - and whom else?

Once we know who-all and have an estimated number, someone will organize the volunteer food production. A little help from each corner seems to get it done in style.

We will post the shooting contest plans as far ahead as possible - we can't go without that big fun - but, camp location can affect that planning a bunch. Let's pray for rain so that Armijo Springs will work out.

If someone knows how to get it done, it would be mighty helpful if this thread were to become a STICKY.

I pray the monsoons will start early for y'all up there!

Barring something unseen happening in the future, I will be there. miles

I am happy to report that latest New Mexico weather projections say the monsoon season will start this weekend, three weeks earlier than usual.

Thanks to Ben for the head's up, especially about the dry conditions possibly affecting our plans.

My family is on notice that we have booked that time to attend.

This time, we will be complete with big tent and new-old (1999 vintage) cargo trailer. We were quite comfortable last year in the tent, even with rain every day, but I am more prepared now with lanterns and a Big Buddy heater, just in case.

Norm

Am planning on being there were ever there is. Rio7

Wife and I are planning on attending.

Things are looking up here! I am planning on this year for sure!!!! Really looking forward to see all my old friends and making new ones!!

Thank you Ben for putting the message out!

Bob

That's great Bob!

Up

It's on my calendar, too!

Ed

On my calendar

I should be able to make it this year barring any crazy work stuff. Not sure if it will just be me or if one of the girls wants to come along.

Kevin wrote me recently that he and his daughter Julia (the one with bow and arrows last year) plan to attend too.

Any more kids or teens coming?

Norm

My oldest will be 14 by then and may come along.