Mexico has some of the best hunting on earth, and every hunter should experience what it’s like at least once. Every day, we have the opportunity to speak with clients about hunting all over the world. When the topic of Mexico is brought to the table as a viable option, it never ceases to amaze me how many people are hearing it for the first time. It’s easy for me to talk about because I’ve become enamored with Mexico for more reasons than one. The friendly Mexican hospitality, liberal game limits, extended seasons, low hunting pressure, vastness of the unpopulated areas, abundance of feed, quality of game, authentic Mexican food, afternoon siestas, glassing sessions from the beautiful plateaus and mesas, high- rack excursions through the valley floors, and the mild and generally warm climate are just a few of the many reasons. And let’s not forget affordable rates for world- class animals along with the legitimate “chance-of-a-lifetime” around any corner.
Whether you want to hunt small game or big game, wingshoot, predator hunt, or fish, Mexico has more than its fair share of it all. Stretching almost 2,500 miles from the U.S. border down to Cancun and on to the Caribbean Sea, it’s the third-largest country in North America, and for most of us, it’s right next door. From the desert mountains of Sonora to the rugged Sierras of Chihuahua and then on to the highlands of Coahuila down to the jungles of the Yucatan, Mexico has become a “go-to” hunting destination among Americans, Europeans, and Mexicans alike. There is an abundance of trophy game species, many of which are sought after by big game and small game trophy hunters across the map. Only being a day trip away in most cases, it’s a destination that’s very hard to beat, and this “diamond in the rough” is gaining more and more ground as each year passes by.
A guided or unguided hunting trip in Mexico can be a unique and rewarding experience that offers a combination of adventure, cultural exploration, and expert guidance. It can be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that combines the thrill of the hunt with the opportunity to explore a new country and way of hunting. Many hunting areas in Mexico are located in rural areas where you can interact with local communities and learn about their way of life.
There are several reasons why hunting in Mexico becomes an annual trip for hunters year in and year out, and it’s not just the quality of the game. Some of the reasons include:
· A wide variety of game species – Mexico is home to a wide variety of game species, including mule deer, Coues deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, and many others. This allows hunters to have a diverse range of hunting experiences and pursue different types of animals.
· Beautiful landscapes – Mexico is a country with a diverse range of landscapes, including mountains, forests, grasslands, and deserts. These landscapes provide a beautiful backdrop for hunting and can make for an enjoyable and memorable experience.
· Cultural experiences – Hunting in Mexico can provide an opportunity to experience the country’s culture and traditions. Hunting lodges and outfitters often offer a range of cultural activities and experiences for their guests, such as traditional meals, cultural demonstrations, and more.
· Affordable prices – Hunting in Mexico can be more affordable than in other countries, particularly for international hunters. This can make it an attractive destination for those looking to pursue their hunting passion without breaking the bank.
One of the more popular species to hunt in Mexico is mule deer, and once December arrives, the majority of the hunting seasons north of the border are closed. While hunting deer in Mexico during the months of December, January, and February, the rut is either just getting started, is in full- swing, or there’s still some great post-rut hunting opportunities. We book clients who trek across the Mexican border every year to extend their fall hunting season to hunt the magical time of the mule deer rut and to hunt with, of all weapons, a rifle! Most of our clients are pursuing the famed desert- dwelling “Sonoran mule deer’’ with the hopes of running into that buck of ten lifetimes. While Mexico is a place where this happens every year for multiple hunters and it can definitely put those odds in your favor, by no means is it a guarantee. It’s important to go into the hunt with realistic expectations. It’s still hunting, so you need your fair share of luck and you most definitely need to select the right outfitter and/or location.
The majority of hunting is done on private ranches where they’re managed by professional outfitters and the management programs focus on trophy class/older age class bucks or game. The tags/game are owned by the landowners, outfitters/ lessees, or the government. The harvest quotas are set according to the principles of wildlife management established by the divisions of wildlife in each respective state, and in the past, many of the native species of Mexico were over-hunted. Thankfully, due to game management by all involved, most species in Mexico are thriving like never before. Many bucks and rams die of old age, and opportunities for world-class hunting are truly attainable. These types of opportunities are what keeps hunters going back year after year, including myself and multiple members of the Huntin’ Fool team.
In Mexico, mule deer hunting is typically done in the northern and central parts of the country where the animals are more common. Mule deer hunting season usually runs from November to January, although the specific dates can vary depending on the region. Hunters typically use a combination of spot and stalk and stand hunting techniques to pursue mule deer. It is important to be familiar with local hunting regulations and to obtain all necessary licenses and permits before embarking on a mule deer hunting trip.
Deer hunting is what most people want to talk about when considering Mexico, but over time, it has also become a preferred destination for Coues deer, Desert bighorn sheep, aoudad, Rocky Mountain elk, and Carmen Mtn. whitetail deer. It’s also the only place in North America where the elusive Brocket deer can be hunted. In addition to those species, Mexico also offers three subspecies of whitetail deer, white-lipped peccary, Ocellated turkey, and other jungle fowl. Although we haven’t tapped into as much as we will in the future, Mexico is also a favored waterfowl, upland game, and white- winged dove shooting venue.
When it comes to hunting seasons in Mexico, not all game animals have a season, and some can be hunted year- round, such as aoudad. However, for those that do have seasons, such as mule deer, whitetail deer, Coues deer, Carmen Mtn. whitetail, Gould’s turkey, and Desert bighorn sheep, they run from November through February in the mountainous Central and Northern zones and February through May in the jungle regions. The Gould’s turkey is obviously a spring hunt.
A few of the main questions that surface upon booking in Mexico are travel and safety. It’s important to know that we work with reputable outfitters who have been doing it a long time and understand what it takes to run a successful operation from start to finish. We don’t book for just any outfitter, and that policy is the same for Mexico. We are very selective about who we choose to work with. The ranches our outfitters hunt are outside of the dangerous areas of Mexico, and they know what it takes to eliminate travel and safety issues to ensure a smooth, safe, and successful hunt. Our outfitters are either Mexican residents who have been running their family operations for generations, or they are American outfitters who are operating in Mexico and either operate on their own by way of leasing the ranches from the owners or they’re partnered up with Mexican landowners and/or outfitters.
Both types of outfitters have become very experienced with what it takes to do it right, including all of Mexico’s import and export procedures for both weapons and trophies. They have created relationships with local authorities and personnel as well.
If it’s an American-run operation, most outfitters are bilingual to some degree or they employ individuals who are bilingual, thus making the language barrier a non- issue. Hunters fly into a major international airport either in Mexico or on the U.S. side of the border and then commute by vehicle. Some locations, depending on where you live, allow for the hunter to drive to the border and meet the outfitter to then cross the border and drive with the outfitter to the hunting destination. Outfitters use safe travel corridors to all the ranches and typically travel across small border towns where appointments have been made to ensure a smooth border crossing.
It’s also worth noting that hunting in Mexico, as with any activity, will vary in terms of quality and enjoyment. Factors such as the quality of the hunting experience, the professionalism of the outfitter, and the overall safety of the trip will all play a role in determining whether a hunting trip in Mexico is great or not. These are the variables that we work at filtering to ensure that each of our clients is heading south of the border to hunt with outfitters we can stand behind and endorse. When hunting with a guide or outfitter, you can expect expert guidance and assistance throughout your trip. Your outfitter will be knowledgeable about the local hunting conditions, animal behavior, and hunting regulations, and they will provide expert guidance to help you have a successful and enjoyable hunting experience. Our outfitters understand the importance of safety, and they are trained in safety practices and procedures. Their job is to ensure that you have a safe and enjoyable hunting experience, and those that we represent do a good job.
For those of you who are used to traveling outside of the United States and have no problem hunting without an outfitter, we have some amazing self-guided opportunities. They are organized, safe, and very successful. Typically, they are drastically reduced in price, which allows lower hunting budgets to achieve trophy class animals at a fraction of the cost. They require groups of four or more, and everything is provided other than personal hunting gear. If this is in your wheelhouse, you should definitely contact us for more details.
Our Mexico hunts are typically booked a year or more in advance, so don’t procrastinate to ensure the best times and spots. If any of the species that Mexico has to offer are on your hit list, give us a call and let’s talk more about the options that we have available with our Mexico Endorsed Outfitters.
Old Mexico is a place that every hunter should at least get one opportunity to experience. It would truly be unfortunate to miss out on hunting one of the best places on earth due to a lack of knowledge and/or understanding.
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