Ironic, because the next day I would head off to hunt in Mexico myself. For different perspectives, come back next week for the third and final installment in this series. I had some great companions (picture above, left to right: Jesus, Miguel, me and Roger Cook, an Arizona hunter whod come down to help me out and translate. Calling can also be effective at times. If youre one of those brave travellers who want to experience all the fuss about Mexicos most gang-infested state, please do yourself a favour and visit the much safer Mazatln area. No more. We had a grueling 5-hour drive out to the remote ranchlands where Id hunt, and 2 hours in it got dark. If you keep a single weapon or bullet, you could face up to five years in prison in Mexico. Mexico can be a pretty wild and entertaining place, but there are some spots where people can go to calm their minds and relax a bit. It is a crime to enter Mexico with a firearm or even just one round of ammunition. The capital Chihuahua can be equally charming and dangerous, and there are some visitors who feel strongly that it's one not to be missed, while others are more comfortable in the ordained tourist cities. Or are you looking forward to hunting wild boars? The U.S. State Department has advised anyone living in Mexico to return to the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advises Americans to not travel internationally during this time. Good luck if you ever go, it really is a unique and fun place to hunt once in your life. During the spring conservation order, you can hunt with outfitters from Arkansas to Saskatchewan. BD, Rule Numero Uno para Senior Miguel Hanback. Dont take anything for granted, ask the most basic questions you can think of. Even if you speak perfect Spanish, you are better off arranging the license and permits through a U.S. broker or a licensed Mexican Outfitter, which specializes in the State that you are hunting. 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. I ran the gauntlet at the Cancun airport, a madhouse in early March, tourists gone wild. With the proper hunting permit, additional shells may be purchased in Mexico through various licensed sporting goods dealers. It is possible to hunt doves in Mexico, thanks to rancho Mescalero, an American-owned and operated property located close to dove feeding areas. According to smartertravel.com, this part of Mexico is a UNESCO World Heritage location, which may or may not play a role in keeping this place safe. The Canadians were complete jerks at the border going up and then the Americans decided to completely rip our truck apart on the way home because they received a tip that some American hunters were trying to sneak drugs back across the border. Last week an old friend called to tell me about his hunting season. In the State of Coahuila, the area which is prime for trophy white-tail deer is the area just northwest of Nuevo Laredo and north along the Rio Grande River, not more than 25 miles inland, until just north of the city of Piedras Negras. We have several dove species on our property, including the White-Wing Dove, which is the most popular and sought-after dove sub-species in North America. The thought of Mexico conjures up images of white sand beaches, colonial cities, and palm fronds swaying in tropical breezes. According to internationalcitizens.com, this is one of many safe places for a person to be when they are in Mexico. As the ranking of Mexico on global tourism destinations implies, Mexico is a safe place to travel to if you're a tourist. That is what Id go back there to hunt if I had the money ($10,000). Most sightseeing locations within the city are relatively safe, however its the surrounding area and getting to and from the city that is dangerous. Use common sense questions when interviewing past clients of the lodge or outfit. You couldnt pay me a million dollars to go down there, said another police officer. Location. Do some research on what kind of hunting is available in Mexico and compare your options. Mexico is well-known for its massive desert mule deer, but it is also an excellent hunting destination for desert bighorn sheep, white-tailed deer, cockroaches, mountain lions, and white-lipped and collared peccaries. On the return trip to the US, the owner who also manages the property drives ahead of us to the US point of entry and leaves us once we reach the Agricultural Inspection area. Your Hunting License agent can advise you on this requirement. Mexico has emerged as a preferred destination for both bighorn sheep and huge desert mule deer. Most hunting nowadays is done on private ranches, where the game is managed by professional gamekeepers and where guides follow age-old traditions of scientific game management. This requirement will be discussed with you by your Hunting License Agent. The ranch owners are very proud of the property, their staff and the quality of the hunting experience at Los Apaches. Adequate time should be invested in contacting Tourist Bureau offices for names of recommended outfitters in the area. That was the question I kept getting from family and friends in the run up to the hunt. The state of Coahuila and Nuevo Leon, bordering Southwest Texas, these two Mexican States are primarily noted for their huge White-Tail Deer. People living in Mexico City enjoy a high standard of living and are secure in their surroundings because the city borders are not separated by a distinct geographical area. Bottles & 12-oz. !No salir de los Estados Unidos para ir a cazar ciervos mi amigo!! Dont even try to smuggle unlicensed guns or ammo into Mexico. Semi-automatic and striker-fired, the P320-XTEN is extremely accurate, easy to shoot even with powerful 10mm loads and holds 15-plus-one rounds. Travel warnings for Mexico are published by the United States Department of State on a regular basis. Not too comforting, but not too bad, the world is a dangerous place. For some reason, in 20 years of Hunting Mexico, I have never seen a small rattlesnake. However, there are certain areas that require a special permit in order to hunt. Bordered in part by Colima and Guerrero, this state, like many others, takes in the overflow ofillicit activity from other areas. Several factors have led to the popularity of Mexico, as the next Hunters Paradise of North America. My friend filled me in on how hed collected 11 of the 14 different species available thereMexicos upper west coastincluding all three teal, pintails, mallards, mottled ducks, wigeon, Pacific brant and more. Just don't end up in the wrong neighborhood. Despite my lack of immediate plans, I hope to visit Mexico one day. Tourists are warned to avoid all travel through Mexicos poorest state as cartel presence is rampant. 21 day travel trip through Baja California. References: time.com, travel.state.gov, businessinsider.com. To enter Mexico with a gun you get a permit from the Secretary of National Defense. Criminals are very good at targeting tourists, and especially for petty theft like pickpocketing. Trips to Los Cabos should be taken at the travellers own discretion. Did I mention my friend is a retired state police investigator from New Jersey who cuffed some really bad guys from organized crime in the course of his long career? Its position on the U.S. border also contributes to the danger in the area as cartels strategically use border states to smuggle drugs. There are some slammer mule deer bucks in Sonora right now, 180 inches to 200-plus,some with magical 30-inch-wide racks. It is possible to purchase 12 and 20 caliber bullets, as well as a variety of 12-gauge and 10-gauge shotguns. It takes place in broad daylight, even in resort areas, and innocents can get in the way of rival gangs. In January 2018, the US ordered a level 4 travel warning for the states Sinaloa, Colima, Michoacan, Guerrero, and Tamaulipas due to the danger posed to visitors. In this article. The delay at the airport cost us. Its a scary reminder that this is happening just minutes from Texas. And the situation has spilled over to 2020 as crime has exceeded 2019 records in Sonora, Mexico. According to quora.com, some people want to know whether or not Tulum is a safe part of Mexico. 6 Sayulita Is A Great Place For People Who Love Nature. Overall, the answer to the question of whether it is safe to hunt in Mexico in 2021 is that it depends on the individual situation. Oh my This is a complicated question: I'll start with: * Was it safe to travel to Santa FE, Texas en 2018? If youre going hunting in Mexico, you should plan ahead of time for a permit. However, there are some general considerations that can be made. 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. The state of Tamaulipas, primarily known for its awesome wing shooting, this Mexican State, is a virtual hunters paradise when it comes to bird hunting. The U.S. State Department has elevated travel advisories due to crime in several Mexican states popular with tourists. It is an awesome place. In my case, its because Ive enjoyed several exceptional hunts in Mexico, times when the game was plentiful, trophy quality super and the pursuit exciting. And you know meIm suspicious about everyone.". They sure seem earnest and good-natured, just like folks you meet hunting anywhere. Edited: 9 years ago Mexico is an ideal destination for sporting tourism due to its friendly Mexican hospitality and mild, warm climate. These places also have some really tasty, authentic Mexican food. Do carry your passport, hunting license, and gun permit at all times. All of the other cities on our list are also safe, in our opinion, if you put in the effort and use common sense. Remember rule #3: Do NOT travel anywhere in Mexico at night. One would think crime would be high because of that, but this is actually a very safe spot in Mexico. I do not exaggerate. Unfortunately, this isn't quite the case. Read on for his take on this Thai-inspired fusion dish. Do you want to hunt deer? Kirstie has been writing for various websites since 2016, and she studied journalism and psychology at Jones County Junior College and The University Of Southern Mississippi. Cartels go head to head here and clash with extreme repercussions for residents who arent part of any gangs. The tension developing in Colima is likely caused by the cartel nearby in Sinaloa, which introduced organisedillicit activity and money laundering into many other nearby states, claiming territory across Latin America. Cities in Baja California Sur have seen a spike inbad behaviour last year, which is expected to increase again in the coming months. Call me one of the real dumb gringos I guess. Never been to Mexico, never want to go. 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. RELATED:Here Are The Safest Foods To Indulge In While In Mexico. The border corridor where hunting takes place is dangerous, but outfitters who stay with their clients during the hunt and stay straight to camp avoid direct contact with the locals. Chances are youd end up in a Mexican jail like U.S. Marine Sgt. Do watch where you walk. Families dont want to travel with their children and tourists dont want to leave their hotels at night. So the answer to the security question is this time it definitely was safe to hunt in Mexico. Note, I said did. Farther west, Americans crossedat Nogales, Arizona or flew into Hermosillo to hunt the state of Sonora for giant desert mule deer, and Coues whitetails in the mountains. He loved the hotel where they stayed, and felt . Who is organizing the hunt? Proof of U.S. Illegally bringing firearms or ammunition into Mexico is strictly prohibited by the Mexican Federal Law. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to avoid all travel to Mexico as the . Mexico also offers fantastic sport fishing on both the Pacific side and the Caribbean coast. 2023 Tour By Mexico. My friend filled me in on how he'd collected 11 of the 14 different species available thereMexico's upper west coastincluding all three teal, pintails, mallards, mottled ducks, wigeon, Pacific brant and more. Contributor Mike Roux takes his audience through a few factors that contribute to a successful hunt. I used to go all the time, at least twice a year to big game fish out of Cabo San Lucus, Puerta Vallarta, and Acapulco (fantastic sailfishing). To enter Mexico with a gun youget a permit from the Secretary of National Defense. If yours is low, Barbara Crown advised against going. If theres one city to avoid at all costs, its Cuidad Juarez. So to take it from the top, we do not have to worry about Rule 1 regarding bringing in rifles. A wide array of trophy game animals, as well as birds, may be legally harvested in certain areas of Mexico. Its an interesting city in that it relies on its resorts and attractions as part of its local economy, but its location within one of Mexicos most dangerous states is a major concern for many tourists. I hunted there 20 years ago and loved it, and I killed a good Coues buck. Located in the state of Oaxaca, the city is home to some stunning resorts that sit amongst nine different bays. Like in most of Mexico, cartels wont pose a threat to foreigners here, however as a tourist, youd be more of a target for theft. There are parts of the countryside that should be avoided due to somedodgy activity, especially highways in the northwest corner of the state, as listed on the State Departments website. State of Sinaloa, northeast, west, and northwest of El Fuerte, respectively, are Presa Huites, Presa Miguel Hidalgo, and Presa Josefa Ortiz de Domingues. Messages. Travelers who want to experience an array of adventure, partying, and history, should definitely visit Puerto Vallarta, says Global Guide. In fact it was more than that. There are a lot of very popular places for people to travel to all around the world, and one of them is Mexico. Its no secret that Mexico is best known for its massive desert mule deer, but it also has an excellent range for desert bighorn sheep, white-tail deer, Coues deer, mountain lions, and white-lipped and collared peccary. According to Time Magazine, The United States State Department has issued a level 2 travel advisory for Mexico overall, which recommends international tourists be more cautious while traveling. They are present during your hunt, dine and socialize with you. Ihad to think about all thatlast January, when out of the blue I got the opportunity to hunt Coues in Sonora again. Passport) if not, your voters registration card accompanied by a photocopy of your drivers license will suffice. 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