This awesome Mexico outfitter’s deeds speak louder than his words. We know Mexico very well, have hunted it a number of times, and we know well that scams and poor outfitters abound. So we are constantly looking for truly top notch operations in that country. And this operation may well be the best there is in Mexico for giant Gould’s turkeys, huge Coues deer and trophy caliber elk. This is absolutely the finest Gould’s hunting in the world! And we do not say that lightly. They currently hold the #1, 3, 5, 6, 7, three at 9 & 10 and 6 at 13 & 14. The same can be said about the Coues deer which we think is some of the finest in Mexico. And their elk hunting is free range and they are very lightly hunted and solely by archers as no rifles allowed for elk! So lots of game seen and the key with bow is always the hope of multiple opportunities, as that often produces success. Check out this report from October of 2023 from a client:
“As for Elk if you are wanting a record book this not the place for you. However, if you are looking for an amazing place to bow hunt for elk with very good percentages of success and you are good with 275 to 350 then this is the place for you. The elk are not pressured at all since it is bow only and they are used to seeing people as it is a working cattle and timber ranch. This season they had a 50% success rate with bow which is amazing. This was my first bow hunt and we were the last group of the season and I was successful in harvesting a beautiful bull that was in the 300 inch range. I was the only one of the 4 that was successful but the others had opportunities and missed on more than one occasion due to getting buck fever as it was their first elk hunt. We also busted many Coues deer and I am planning on going back in 2025 for Coues as my calendar for 2024 is already full. I have personally hunted in 5 other locations in Mexico and I can honestly say this is the best place by far that I have hunted in Mexico. I can honestly say that I will most likely be going back this ranch at least once the owner and his wife are the most amazing hosts I have ever experienced hunting.” J.J. ( JJ took a 300 inch bull and a huge Goulds turkey. )
You will be hunting on approximately 57,000 private acres in the central portion of Mexico, about 3 hours northeast of Mazatlan. Here you will find a different Mexico. Here there are large mountains, impressive canyons, a lot of pine and oak woods, and numerous lakes, dams and brooks. Senderos have been cut for the deer as well. This is much different country from desert areas you may have hunted around Hermosillo or in the northern Sierras. This is an area of woodlands, lots of moisture, lots of food, and reduced visibility compared to the featureless desert areas. And all the woodlands make for great security cover, and abundant feed.
Add to that an owner deeply committed to improving the habitat by adding food plots, by cutting senderos, and by very careful management, and you have an incredible place in Mexico.
Here too is a much more upscale facility. Built originally to be a very modern resort, with 6 luxury bedrooms, baths en-suite, two living and dining rooms, a games room, fishing ponds, horses and much more – it has also become a world-class hunting place.
GOULDS HUNTING: (season Dates April 1 – May 21).
Here are a few quotes from guests:
“The turkey hunting is the best I’ve seen for any sub-species anywhere in North America. The guides are professional and flexible and the birds respond to calling very, very well. The birds also measure up and there are lots of them. I saw over 150 birds in 3 days. The ranch owners are committed to long term habitat improvement and the maintenance of quality Gould’s turkey habitat.” Wally M, wildlife biologist.
“Having hunted much of the world with many outfitters, I can say without equivocation that this operation takes second seat to no one, all the while staying very reasonably priced if not actually below one’s cost expectations. Accommodations were ideal, with spacious rooms, individual baths and daily room service. The food was incredible, with every drink you could imagine teamed with a variety of meals that spoke of the local culture and flavor. The hunting was exceptional! Birds were plentiful with superb quality! My guide was an excellent judge of trophy quality, guessing spur and beard lengths to within a fraction of an inch. In addition to turkey, we saw numerous other types of wildlife.” Tom G.
“I have just returned from hunting for the Gould’s turkey. The ranch has a fantastic lodge, great support staff and an abundant amount of huge Gould’s turkeys. I have been on over two hundred guided hunts throughout the world and I rank this operation second to none. Everything about it is first class. I highly recommend you use them for your Gould’s and Coues deer hunts.They have many hunters that come back many times with their wives and friends and combine the hunt as a mini vacation. They provide horseback riding, fishing and the atmosphere and scenery is beautiful. They have their own air landing strip and if you prefer to fly in, will line up a charter for you.
A few years ago they shot the world record Gould’s turkey there. If you check the record book, you will find that this place dominates the top 20 – they have about twelve birds in the top 20 record book.” Gil G.
We could give you a dozen similar stories, but you get the picture. Superb living, excellent food, tons of big turkeys, some superb Coues deer, and a great place for family and for dreams. A truly unique experience you will not find elsewhere in Mexico. We are proud to represent them.
COUES DEER ( January 18 to February 10)
While the turkey hunting is very well proven and established, the Coues hunting here is still in its infancy. We frankly think that is a very GOOD thing! As you can see from the photos, the top end potential here is clearly world class. These deer have superb security cover, tons of food and have been largely under-hunted. The heavy timber here promotes age, which makes the hunting a bit harder, but that also means older, mature trophies.
We cannot stress strongly enough that all the conditions needed to produce huge Coues are present with this operation. We think it is only a matter of time until this operation starts dropping big bucks into the record books. It may also prove a wonderful place for archers looking to tag a huge Coues. The extra cover should be very beneficial to archers.
“After hunting turkey here in 2018 and seeing the incredible coues deer mounts in the lodge I had to come back and hunt them. I took an incredible buck from one of the platform stands on day 2. I’ve hunted almost everywhere in the world. If I ever hunt coues deer again it will no doubt be with them.”—Gary F
NOTE THE VARIETY OF TERRAIN!
In our discussions with the owner, he is opening up new food plots, cutting senderos and shooting lanes, and setting out many trail cameras. So we expect the success rates here to jump dramatically from the current 50% or so up toward to 80% and hopefully even better. And with 55,000 almost virgin acres to hunt, this place has enormous potential for giant Coues. Hunting is in January and February. Peak rut starts around late January and runs well into February/March. They have rifles available to use, including .243 and .270, for those who prefer not to deal with flying or importing firearms.
So, whether you are a dyed-in-the-wool Coues hunter looking for a slammer or a first timer AND WOULD ENJOY A TOUCH OF LUXURY, we absolutely feel you need to try this operation. We think these early years will prove to be some of the best years to hunt this operation, since so far it is relatively unknown for its Coues.
We further believe a number of high book deer are likely to be taken. Go soon! We hope to put a hosted trip together here in the near future, so if interested talk to us about that.
We also like their pricing, which works very well in the present scenario. You pay a base fee (and believe us, the deluxe lodging, meals and amenities are worth that base price and more!) and then, if you wound or kill, you pay the trophy fee of $1,725. The outfitter does this to discourage taking smaller bucks just for the sake of harvesting one because you’ve paid for it. So you go, enjoy the entire experience, hopefully kill a great buck, but if not you still had a deluxe vacation, and you put your $1,725 trophy fee back in your wallet! Either way, we predict you will call us and will want to return again and again.
We believe besides the world class trophy hunting there may be no better place to take your non-hunting spouse or kids. These hunts are designed expressly for the discerning hunter who understands the cost of a first class experience in what is inarguably an exceptional area for turkey, coues deer, and elk.
FREE RANGE ELK HUNTS: (2024 Season September 25 to October 16)
Mexico once had some big bulls, but they were all killed off. This ranch brought them back starting in 2008, using the best stock they could find from Indian reservations in the southwestern U.S. By 2016 the herd had grown large enough to allow limited hunting. These elk are FREE RANGE, and they have 57,000 acres to run wild on. There is some cattle fencing, but nothing to restrict the elk. They can go where they want. They started with rifle hunting and averaged a staggering 375” average on bulls. Recently though as the herd increased most bulls taken will be between 270 and 320, with a chance for larger. In the last couple years, they have decided that all elk hunting will be bow only! Crossbows are allowed. Our clients are reporting plenty of bulls, and they are very lightly hunted, so multiple opportunities to harvest are the norm. In addition, the outfitter has an experienced expeditor who will process and crate capes and antlers. He will personally transport them to Laredo, Texas. From there he can ship them anywhere in the U.S.
Lodging and Services
1. Luxury rooms
2. Delicious meals
3. Open bar with local and imported drinks
4. Snacks
5. Daily cleaning of rooms
6. Wireless internet
7. Laundry
8. Satellite TV
9. Transportation within the ranch
Activities:
1. Horseback riding
2. Biking
3. Picnics
4. Fishing
5. Wild animal and bird watching
6. Billiards
7. Table tennis
8. Archery
9. Skeet shooting, with extra cost for discs and shells used
10. Flora and fauna photographing
11. Sightseeing
A couple other goodies to be aware of:
1. Price includes your tags and all permits.
2. Open bar for all drinks (very unusual)!
3. Your own guide.
4. Free airport pickup and return.
5. They have several rifles in the 270 caliber to use for free if you wish to avoid transporting yours.
6. Free prep of your deer head so you can take it home with you.
7. Children under 16 enjoy a 25% discount.
2024 PRICING (subject to change without notice until deposit received; all prices in USD)
TURKEY
$4,450 for 3 days and 4 nights. Second bird is $1,000. Third bird is $1,100.
Non-hunting observers $1,325. Hunters under 16 get a 25% discount.
Specials: They allow non-hunting guests to hunt for themselves once all paid hunters within a group have harvested a turkey. The cost is $350 per outing, either morning or afternoon, successful or not. Cost for first bird is $1,025. Second bird $1,150
Price includes use of their shotguns, careful skinning of trophy, all tags and licenses, your guide, first class lodging and meals, open bar, and round-trip transport from the airport.
COUES DEER
5 Days $7,000if you kill or wound.
Extra days $335/day (we highly suggest doing this for a big trophy – we think 7 days is best for any serious trophy hunter!)
Second Deer $4,000 (also something to seriously consider)
Observer $1,450
Price includes guiding, tags and permits, food, lodging, and open bar.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ELK (Very limited availability)
5 Days $14,750. For this caliber of elk, we think this is a steal!
Harvesting an extra elk: $11,500
Observer $1,450
OTHER HUNTS: Duck hunting: $175 per day. Javelina and predator hunts (bobcats, lynx, coyotes, etc) are $125. Going out with specific intention to hunt them, whether successful or not, is considered a hunt and charged accordingly.
GETTING THERE
Hunters fly into Durango’s international airports and are picked up by the outfitter and driven to the ranch in comfortable vehicles. American Airlines has daily flights from Dallas, TX to Durango, Mexico. The ride takes under 2 hours. If you prefer, the ranch has its own private air strip, a 15 minute flight at a cost of $380+ taxes split between however many passengers are on board.
ALERT IF FLYING AMERICAN AIRLINES:
A passenger who presents a firearm to be checked to an international destination must be in possession of all required import documentation for their international destination city and any international transit points. It is the responsibility of the passenger to acquire the required documentation from the applicable government entity prior to travel (usually a consulate or embassy). Firearms will not be accepted for transport if international import requirements have not been met.
(NOTE: We at Hunt Nation will work with the outfitter to obtain your gun permits and hunting contracts. You must acquire your U.S. Customs Form 4457 yourself, by bringing your firearm to their offices pre-departure. It is not difficult, just inconvenient.
CHECK EARLY ON YOUR AIRLINE’S RULES FOR GUN, AMMO, AND TROPHY TRANSPORT.
