Due to circumstances in Sonora and in Mexico at the time, we decided to let our operations diminish. The ranch owners have great contacts with the Mexican police and military in the area and stay abreast of any real or potential problems related to drug or gang violence, are active members of the ANGADI community, reside on the US side in Laredo so they make the trip back and forth to the ranch on almost a daily basis during the off season, have excellent contacts / relationships on the US side, and can be depended on to let us know if they think it is not safe to make the trip to hunt. The city is part of the Zetas cartel territory, who have turned toactivities like extortion and carjacking in order to earn more money. To date we have never experienced anything remotely approaching a threatening or unsafe incident. This precautionary measure will not cause any problems for hunters. If you cant resist the temptation of a quick trip to Tijuana from San Diego, make sure to stick to the main tourist areas and dont wander off the beaten track. I shot doves or should say I shot over 3000 rounds of 20 ga. shells at doves in 4 days! bobwhite quail, hunting in mexico, hunting quail, john zent, John Zent's Gun Culture, traveler safety, upland bird hunting. Maybe Ill see you down there one Januaryor maybe not. "There are 9.5 million people in Mexico employed in the tourism industry," Lanczyner said. Anyway I felt safe traveling from Texas to the ranch thru customs with the ranch manager then. St. Joseph, Missouri. The current U.S. and Mexico land travel ban might end on June 22. When travelers want to leave Cancun and see a different spot in Mexico, they only need to travel for a few hours before they arrive at Mrida. So the answer to the security question is this time it definitely was safe to hunt in Mexico. Until they stop the illegal folks coming in the US- both adults and children, the entire US needs to boycot visiting, buying, or supporting anything and anyone in Mexico in what was once a great place to visit and hunt. Many other areas in the Northwestern Region of Mexico offer tremendous opportunities for hunting Mexico. Mexico is a popular hunting destination for both dove and waterfowl hunters due to its outstanding wing shooting. Millions of ducks and geese call the Laguna Madre area along with the Eastern Mexican coastline home, as well as millions of white-wing doves. Hunting in Mexico is a great experience thats surely one for the books. 21 day travel trip through Baja California. These guys have offered to show me pictures of mutilated bodies, decapitations and the like, but I have declined. Visitors in recent years have reported feeling safe, but with the new warnings for Sinaloa, you may want to visit another of Mexicos beautiful resort towns. You work with your outfitter in Mexico who works with the government to get the paperwork right. Acapulco is statistically theworst city in the country for violence, one thattourists should avoid until it is under control. When interviewing past clients of the lodge or outfit, use common sense questions. As the ranking of Mexico on global tourism destinations implies, Mexico is a safe place to travel to if you're a tourist. Officials said it's too soon to calculate how the 2020 hunting surge will affect their budgets, but for once it won't be bad news. The whole process of obtaining, on your own, the required permits and licenses is very time-consuming, frustrating, and discouraging for the average U.S. hunter. This place is full of gorgeous beaches that need to be seen in person since pictures do not do them justice. Youll have to wait until the TV show airs later this fall to see if I shot a Coues buck or not, and how big. Cartels go head to head here and clash with extreme repercussions for residents who arent part of any gangs. Family and friends had expressed much concerned for my safety in the days leading up to my departure for a quail hunt in the Mexican state of Yucatan, and naturally security was on my mind. After you watch that I'm guessing you will want to hunt North of the border. Rattlesnakes in Mexico are large enough to kill a person. Mexico has a high rate of violent crime, including murder, robbery, sexual assault, kidnapping, and so on. Local hunters welcome hunters to help keep the population down. Here are some of the safest places in Mexico. You work with your outfitter in Mexico who works with the government to get thepaperwork right. That is what Id go back there to hunt if I had the money ($10,000). Please include the full name and date of the person. Never hunted in Mexico but I know plenty of people who did. I felt a kinship with Mexicans working at the hunting camps, as well as other locals I met along the way. Anybody ever hunted deer in Mexico before? October 8, 2022 by Hernn Gonzales. Vehicles roared out of the darkness,two mounted with machine guns, and in a plume of dust blocked the road. Over the years, we harvested many 190-200+ class mule deer; 120-130+ class coues deer and 160-180+ class desert sheep. In fact, all of Mexico's popular tourist areas are relatively safe, so whether you're traveling for the beach or the culture, you can be assured you'll be welcomed and safe. There are great quality rifles with Leupold and Zeiss optics available at the ranch so it is not necessary to go thru the hassle of temporary importation of firearms. The recent unrest in Juarez is of some concern, if it continues and escalates. Its Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range is certainly remarkable, but unless you know your surroundings, it might be best to avoid. There is a high risk of kidnapping and extortion. Once a shining beacon of neon nightclubs and echoing music for residents of El Paso, Texas, which shares a border with Juarez, its tourism has been entirely stubbed out. In general, arranging a license and permit through a U.S. broker or a licensed Mexican Outfitter is a better option if you speak fluent Spanish. She loves to crochet, and she enjoys creating projects from recycled materials. Awesome wing shooting is best during late summer and early fall. Located on Mexicos Gulf side and bordering part of Texas, the state is ranked as dangerous as war-torn countries. Your Hunting License agent can advise you on this requirement. Ironic, because the next day I would head off to hunt in Mexico myself. Acapulcos fall from grace is one of the most devastating in Mexico. Because of the vastness of the unpopulated areas, liberal game limits, extended seasons, affordable rates, ample amounts of rainfall, the convergence of major northern flyways, non-existent hunting pressure, a mild winter climate, and an abundance of grains, Mexico is becoming one of the worlds most attractive hunting destinations. Most people get into trouble for this single reason. My brother and I got these a few years ago on a ranch that belongs to a friend of a friend of a friend on DIY hunt near Caborca Sonora. It is illegal in Mexico to own or carry a gun in two different situations. Proof of U.S. Ihad to think about all thatlast January, when out of the blue I got the opportunity to hunt Coues in Sonora again. It is mostly known for its beautiful beaches, water sports, and thriving nightlife scene. Durango city, the capital of its namesake state, is much safer than the surrounding countryside, like most of the country. While there are plenty of resorts in Mexico that are totally safe for people to go to, some travelers might not want to go to the resorts. Of course they found nothing and sent us on our way. Mexico City is not a totally safe destination, but travelers who practice safety precautions are unlikely to encounter problems. A list of Licensed Outfitters can be requested from any Mexican Consulate in the State you are going to hunt. The second Baja California Sur city on this list, La Paz is, at first glance, a good-looking seaside city like Los Cabos, which makes the rising illicit activity rate a sobering statistic in the previously calm state. When hunting in Mexico for the first time, dont be afraid to get into the field. A gun license is required in order to carry a firearm, with many exceptions, such as police, army, navy, and special sports participants. The hacienda was charming and comfortable, and the very authentic and gourmet Mexican food was the best Id ever eaten (the Carne Asada was to die for). This is especially applicable for Sonora, where new cases of the novel coronavirus continue to grow in the state, along with the rate of violent crimes. I'm hunting in Texas just north of the border and that was enough for me. Adequate time should be invested in contacting Tourist Bureau offices for names of recommended outfitters in the area. I also killed a 158 whitetail that weighed about 115 pounds at 5 years of age small body big antlers when he laid at my feet I rough scored him over 170 as I was not used to such small bodies combed with large racks. Among those, drug-related crimes and cartel activity top the list. Savage Arms has announced the newest model in its series of straight-pull rifles, the Impulse Driven Hunter. Would you ever go now or say to hell with it, just isntworth it? From the 1970s through the 1990s, Mexico was a deer hunters paradise: Cheap to travel there, lease land, stay in a hacienda on a ranch for a few weeks each January (when the weather is perfect and the bucks rut) and shoot big deer. At customs, a nice senorita surrounded by soldiers in fatigues and holding what looked to be full-auto rifles opened my rifle case, checked the papers and found a discrepancy. The thought of Mexico conjures up images of white sand beaches, colonial cities, and palm fronds swaying in tropical breezes. In addition to the SEMARNAP hunting permit, foreign hunters need a consulate certificate, special visa, and military gun permit. A gun license is required in order to carry a firearm, with many exceptions, such as police, army, navy, and special sports participants. 1,979. Call me a sissy, but I enjoy breathing. Calling and shooting predators is one of the things that helps hunters get from the end of the fall seasons to when the turkeys start gobbling. Mexico is perhaps best known for its huge desert mule deer, but it is also an excellent destination for desert bighorn sheep, white . USD is the payment method for your gun permit. For different perspectives, come back next week for the third and final installment in this series. It was famously the honeymoon destination forJFK and his bride, Jackie. From the jungles of the Yucatan to the desert mountains of Sonora, Mexico is inhabited by a diverse variety of game species, many of which are in high demand by trophy hunters. 36 trips start at $400 and last up to four days, with the most expensive trip departing from Guadalajara, Mexico, with 24 animals 737mi away. Dont be stupid. Ciudad Obregn lies south of Arizona in the Sonoran Desert where the land contrasts fertile hills and cactus flats. 20 Places In Mexico Foreigners Should Never Set Foot In, Tamaulipas- Dangerously Close To The United States, Michoacn - High Levels OfSketchy Activity Just Outside Mexico City, Guerrero - A State's Long Battle With illicit activity, Mazatln - Loved By Tourists, Overrun ByDanger, Reynosa -There's More Than One Reason You Don't Want To Go Here, Acapulco - Once Hollywood's Greatest, now something entirely different, Tepic - Take Your Chances In This Charming City, Obregn - Supplementary Law Enforcement Isn't Always A Good Thing, Morelos - Mexico's Lush State Interspersed WithDodgy Organisations, La Paz -Where Only The Boardwalk Is Safe, Torren - A Somber Reminder Of The Craftiness OfBad Guys, Jurez - A Struggling City Lying In The Shadow Of The United States, Victoria - Victim Of Turf Wars Between Cartels. There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on a number of factors, including what part of Mexico you are planning to hunt in and what type of game you are hoping to hunt. Because of the ample food, moderate winter temperatures, the convergence of major northern flyways, non-existent hunting pressure, and ample water, this area is teeming with hundreds of millions of birds. While I enjoyed my time hunting inSonora would I go back? Me no go south of the border, either, Amigo! These areas include national parks, reserves, and protected areas. I resolved to tackle the risk head-on before surrendering the freedom to live my life the way I choose. If yours is low, Barbara Crown advised against going. to address all the Situations there- our illustrious leadership obviously can not. Calling and shooting predators is one of the things that helps hunters get from the end of the fall seasons to when the turkeys start gobbling. I make the drive from Houston to Los Apaches in roughly 6-7 hours. Who is organizing the hunt? A signature was in the wrong place from the little Spanish I could gather. Each gun can only contain 100 rounds of ammo. There have been incidents in the past where hunters have been attacked or even killed, so its important to be prepared and to know what youre getting into. The Mexican government has licensed sport hunting as part of its program to encourage wildlife management, according to SEMARNAP (Secretariat of the Environment, Natural Resources, and Fisheries). Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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NAFTA has resulted in increased awareness of the hunting opportunities and resources available to hunters on both sides of the border, in the United States and in Canada. According to internationalcitizens.com, this is one of many safe places for a person to be when they are in Mexico. A permit is required only once per person. Oh my This is a complicated question: I'll start with: * Was it safe to travel to Santa FE, Texas en 2018? Tijuana may seem like a quick getaway from California, located just south of San Diego and a convenient spot for border hopping for those looking to experience two very different cultures. Feb 7, 2019. What wasnt tough were the lodging, the fresh seafood and friendliness we enjoyed in a nearby fishing village that managed to be both laidback and lively, and where no one treated us like tourists. I did see several mule deer in the lower elevations(the Coues stay high and the muleys low), including 2 bucks that would go 170 or so. European settlers brought their hunting traditions to Mexico five hundred years ago. I hunted there 20 years ago and loved it, and I killed a good Coues buck. !No salir de los Estados Unidos para ir a cazar ciervos mi amigo!! Most sightseeing locations within the city are relatively safe, however its the surrounding area and getting to and from the city that is dangerous. This place is full of stunning things for people to see, and they do not need to worry much about getting into any risky situations, according to lonelyplanet.com. And the weather is always pretty nice when its full-on winter back home, not to mention appealing scenery and food thats among my favorite. The situation in Mexico is constantly evolving, so its hard to give a definitive answer to the question of whether it is safe to hunt there in 2021. The Mexican prison system is full of stupid Americans, who wish they had been smarter. Globally, it ranks at number 19 in the list of countries with the highest . People who go there can check out museums, as well as ancient ruins. For your upcoming hunting trip to Mexico, follow these tips: Before you pack your bags and prepare your gear, its important to determine what you want to do when you hunt. In fact it was more than that. With all the news of drug-cartel terrorism, including the murders of public officials, along with kidnappings of private citizens and foreign visitors, it was a fair question. Once I arrived at the ranch and was out in the sunny desert chasing deer,I felt safe and comfortable, but never let your guard down. Normally, the main tourist thoroughfares are safe, so long as you keep near the Malecn, and on another note, youre safest drinking bottled water and making sure your food is prepared fresh, as with all of Mexico. A high risk of kidnapping and extortion Houston to Los Apaches in 6-7! Shooting is best during late summer and early fall approaching a threatening or unsafe.... 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