Looking into possibly hunting Mexico next year. I'm looking for advice from people whom have hunted or are hunting Mexico. The good and the bad. Trying to decide if getting a lease is worth it. I really want to but just making sure its safe and not to much of a head ache. Thanks

The one's that hunt it say they have no problems and is worth it. The rest of us are more concerned with our safety based on what we hear in the news.

The good = Cheaper than S Tx, same big buck genetics, more acreage per hunter most times, laid back atmosphere.

The bad = gun paperwork is a pain, US border guards are A holes most the time, I’m bad with Spanish haha

My only advice is to hunt with/thru and outfitter who can deal with all the paper work and who has the contacts already established in which ever state in Mexico you decide to hunt.
For safety reasons and getting thru their government rules & regs.
I hunted with All Seasons Guide Service, out of Victoria, TX. they handled everything and my mule deer hunt was fantastic.

These are the current travel advisories.

Travel in Mexico

Make sure you have a current Tetanus vaccination in case you get your throat slit open........I've been down there twice, and there's no way I'd go back. No deer in the world is worth wading through the corruption.

It would be a huge headache, I saw in the Houston Chronicle bandits stole guns, eyeglasses, boots and all the jewelry of several men dove hunting down there. Gonna have trouble at the border going in and out also I would think. Not to mention your insurance will be no good after you cross the river.

Ojocalienteoutfitters.com, contact Ernesto, One of the best hunting operations in Old Mexico.
DC

Not interested in outfitters. We are only looking to lease land. Thanks for replies so far. Looking for info mainly from people whom have actually had a lease or are currently leasing. Thanks again.

Go straight to your ranch from the border (convoy style if possible) and stay there until you go home. DO NOT stop anywhere and esp stay out of the lil towns. Never leave the ranch until you head home and you’ll be fine.

I hunted old Mexico for about 7 years. We were past the second checkpoint so had to register all vehicles. We started with an outfitter but transitioned into finding land ourselves. We did our own paperwork (gun license, auto registration, auto insurance). My best hunting memories are from those years. I never had a problem. I drove straight to the ranch and then straight back home. We always traveled during the day. Our paperwork was always perfect.

Two of my buddies still go down there but I bought a small place in TX because my sons were getting older and I needed to hunt with them. And in the back of my mind I always feared the "wrong place wrong time scenario".

For me it just wasn't worth the risk to continue (even though I never had a problem). I really miss it but the reality is that safety is an issue. The odds are that you won't have a problem as long as you have perfect paperwork, only travel to and from the ranch during daylight, and don't venture into town for any nightlife. But being in the wrong place at the wrong time could devastate your family for the rest of their lives.

I hunted Mexico several years. Enjoyed every minute of it. Never had any problems. I hear the horror stories, but never had a bad experience myself. From hunting down there over 10 years, I knew several people on several different ranches. Also no problems for them. Couple of suggestions. Don’t travel at night. Go straight to ranch and come straight back to border when you leave. Have all your provisions. No need to stop inside Mexico. GET AN OUTFITTER. He will find you a good ranch to hunt and will be very helpful checking guns in and out and necessary paperwork. I know innocent people have had bad experiences over there. I’m not naive. But also know that some of the people who get in trouble bring it on themselves. If you go whoring around at night or head to town to beer joints, your asking for trouble. Also make damn sure all your paperwork is in order. Double check and triple check that you don’t have a single bullet in your vehicle or pistol hidden somewhere. Good luck. Beautiful big country

I’m currently on a lease in Mexico and love everything about it. We cross in Eagle Pass and have never had a problem. Like others said it is best to travel in the day time. We stop at gas stations and feed stores on the way to the lease with no problems. My son just killed his first deer at my lease in Mexico. We have a great land owner and very good cowboys that help us out. I hire a guy to do all my paperwork for guns and tags. He makes crossing with guns a lot easier and he’s also a great guy. I would suggest getting on a lease with seasoned Mexico hunters before going out on your own. I would also recommend to keep it simple with your blinds and feeders until you find the Ranch you want to stay on for awhile. Once you do find the right Ranch then bring yourself down some tower blinds. You will probably get charged tax on the tower blinds once you do bring them into Mexico. If you have any questions feel free to call me. 830-570-1837 ask for Justin

Thanks for all the replies!

Depends. Are you zeta or gulf cartel?

I hunted mexico for 30 yrs I hunted from guerro to eagle pass several ranches on the pipline,never had any issues, its great like going back in time 50 yrs. The reason I quit was my hunting bud died so I just left, intended to go back but never did. I will say this its gotten to be a pain to get back it can take 2 hrs or more to cross the border now. we crossed our guns and left them in knack boxes till end of season,drove during daylight and always followed another car even if going slow. Its easier to hunt the frontier , meaning not going thru the 2nd ckpoints costs more but one less hassle, take every thing you need and don't leave the ranch, above all treat the people like a friend and they will help you when you need it. people always say im going to Africa, I always thought well I can walk back to texas if I have to. try it you will like it

Been going for years. No problems. Travel during the day and go to the ranch. Dont go partying in town. We are 20 mins from the Columbia bridge. Our owner handles the gun permits and paperwork. Find an established lease to learn the ropes. No biggie checkin in guns just takes time. Easy bringing back horns meat except also takes time to do. Capes on the other hand are a pain. 99% of the us border guards are cool. Its that 1% thats a pain in the rear, lol.
Big ranches that are affordable so less hunters per acre.

My buddy got on a lease outside 20 miles outside Nuevo Laredo and has asked me to come down on some hunts with him this coming season. My wife is up in the air about me going considering all the news about the area.

It seems as if we don't draw attention to ourselves and head straight to the ranch we should have no problems. He said they typically use the World Trade Bridge which connects to a loop on the outskirts of town that you have less trouble with crossing.

Would anyone hesitate to take their dogs down for dove/duck/quail hunts while down there?

Be sure and leave $60K -----$100K in cash available with your wife if she needs to pay the cartel to get you home.

Be sure to appoint one family member to serve as the point of contact with hostage-takers, media, U.S. and host country government agencies, and Members of Congress if you are taken hostage or detained.

Establish a proof of life protocol with your loved ones, so that if you are taken hostage, your loved ones can know specific questions (and answers) to ask the hostage-takers to be sure that you are alive (and to rule out a hoax)

Leave DNA samples with your medical provider in case it is necessary for your family to access them.

I am sure it will all be just fine!!!!!!!!!

Yes, you will be just fine!

I’m gonna admit that a paragraph of instructions to basically keep your head down, only travel during the day, don’t go out at night, don’t leave the ranch - followed by “But everything is fine” doesn’t give much comfort.

Bottom line is-----everything is fine and dandy until it isn't. By then, it will probably be too late.

I have asked this question multiple times. I get that Mexico has some risk. But so does anywhere you live in Texas. Dude was setting bombs off at peoples front doors last month.

I try to be logical - IF there were multiple Texas hunters being robbed/killed in Mexico over the past recent years would that not be all over the news?

Hypothetical - You or your boss or your family member goes to Mexico to hunt and is retained or killed - would that not be all over every news station??? Of course it would.

Not saying it has not happened - if you leave the ranch and go running around Boys Town then yeah you can run into problems - but if it were a recent and regular occurrence we would all read about it in every newspaper and on every TV channel.

I think your risk of being hurt is greater driving on Interstae 35 than it is in Mexico -

The risk is real and has increased greatly since the cartels came to power. One reason it’s not on every news station all the time is because it is so common - thus only the mass killings get much media attention. The State Dept. doesn’t issue those travel advisories lightly. It’s simply not worth it to me. YMMV.

How many of those numbers were hunters vs. just individuals down there looking for "fun" and found what they were looking for? I still ain't going down there anytime real soon.

I couldn't justify it to shoot a deer. My brother and I went to Acuna once, back in 89'. Headed up the hill to the "Sportsman". Only gringos in the place. I was wearing a pair of bluejean shorts I had cut off with a razor blade. Cut 'em a little short, when I sat down my sack would squirt out the side. Saw two boys get in a knife fight at the bar. I could go on, and on. Had dinner at ma' Crosbys. Fun stuff back then. Now it's a no go for me.

WTF?

You sure you weren’t meaning to go to the Dallas Cowboys?

No kidding. That is reason enough not to go down there!!

Seems like it was the sportsman. It was a blast. Met a cowboy from Midland who was there for valium. Partied with him all night. Ended up at the Corona bar with some American chicks. Fun times. I was a chick magnet with my daisy dukes on. I think they were just checking out my junk. Hahaha

A buddy of mine just got back from a ram hunt in Old Mexico and he has not problems what so ever.

Just like mentioned above I want to know a breakdown of these kidnappings. Heck people get kidnapped on our own home soil more than we want to know.

I wonder what Acuna is like these days?

It’s not the same. I was down there last summer getting some dental work done. Crosby’s is closed. Corona club is a dump now. I went in and had one beer. We walked around for a while and didn’t see any other gringos. Mex army on every street corner with an AK and big dogs.

Didn’t go to Boys Town but heard the prices were back down to what they were when I was in high school.

they make the gringos wear pants...

If I won a desert sheep hunt I would probably go. After all, it’s a desert sheep. Not for a deer.

The problem is the border and western states up north are where the deer are. Which just happens to be where the bad guys are in control.

I’m gonna pretend I didn’t see all that “shorts and sack” stuff up there.

Tell us what is was like in the old days! lol

After a couple of "Mexican martinis",(everclear margaritas) at ma' Crosbys, you didn't even need pants.

So if it is so common that if hunters were getting killed or jailed on a regular basis that would not be in the news? Not starting an arguement- just trying to apply some real life logic here - I guarantee you if I was killed or jailed in Mexico my family would be contacting every news outlet there is - and I suspect so would most others - and the numbers above include ALL tourist - the percentage of those who are hunters is most likely very small. I suspect most of those "kidnapped" are college spring break kids arrested for drugs - happens a lot. And compared to the number of kidnappings and murders in Texas? Again driving down IH 35 through Austin is more of a risk IMO

Again not saying it is totally risk free - I just think the whole thing is overblown to be more than what it really is

If you talk, they kill you...

Remember when this happened? Crazy story but scares the crap out of me.

http://archive.gosanangelo.com/news/fbi-...358504441.html/

12 years ago - certainly could happen again today but if was happening often there would be multiple news stories like this one

www.borderlandbeat.com

Read some of these reports and see if you feel safer in Mexico. Truly enjoy hunting but all it takes is one bad hombre and your family could be without you for the rest of their lives .

My wife's cousin was at one of those fishing lake resorts down there. Been going for many years. This was about 12 years ago. After fishing they all get in a bus to go back to the lodge. Surprise, gunmen stop them on road and rob everyone. He kept his money in a pouch under his pants so just gave them a $100 he kept in his pocket. He figured the bus driver was possibly in on it even though he was hit with the gun butt. He started going to Argentina after that.

With all the excellent hunting on this side of the border, why cross into Mexico? It just does not seem worth the risk for a deer.

My problems with Mexico are multiple.

As a country, they screw over America by facilitating millions of illegal border crossings.

They don't allow me to carry a firearm in their country.

I've known a few guys that went to jail, it is capricious & rough.

The MSM has a vested interest in not reporting facts concerning Mexico.

YMMV.

Would have to disagree with you on the same risk as I35. When has anyone been stopped on 35 by armed bandits that robbed them at gun point?

When did a group of armed bandits invade your home and kidnap you for ransom? Or your neighbors? Or your neighbors neighbors'?

A Mexican friend of mine took his mom & dad down there a few years ago to see "the homeland". South of Acuña a few hours, they were pulled over by 2 pickup loads of banditos, & left on the side of the road with nothing.

You couldn't pay me enough to visit that [censored].

I'm with Sam Houston. We should invade Mexico & impose democracy & rule of law on that 3rd World "country".

I’ll never hunt Mexico. I love deer hunting but I also realize a deer is not much more than a goat with better headgear

We have a place.on the border backs up to the Rio, Im glad alot of poeple.dont want to go over their, last year i counted 13 bucks 8 pts or larger on one sitting.were lucky we have a great ranch owner and the military is stationed right next to us we give them deer and they eat them. We just mind our business and stay at the ranch and dont look for trouble, we get alot.of walkers that steal our feeder batterys which is annoying but that happens on this side of the border just as much.

source:yahoo

Well, you don't say where you'll be living. I have been hunting in Mexico many times as I'm fortunate to have a number of friends there that are ranchers and own large areas of land.

I guess JD has only been to northern Mexico (no trees!) and yes the northern half of the country looks like west Texas and New Mexico, large open chapparel country (brush) with some mountains every 100 miles or so. When you get to the mountains and southern areas and some coastal areas there are very dense forest eventually becoming rain forest in the south.

Now, you won't find a lot of laws but you officially need a license or a guide.

Be careful, a lot of guide services offer 'guaranteed' kills and what that turns out to be is "high-fence" land with animals trapped in a few acres. I don't know how you feel, but "hunting" a Mulie that's in a confined area and fed bales of alfalfa is about as much fun as shooting someone's cow. That's ranching, not hunting.

Even if your intent is to hunt solo it may serve you well to find a guide in the area that can set you up with the contacts and paperwork you will need and to find you some range or private land where you can find what you seek. Guides are pretty affordable and it's worth it to pay for his services your first time out.

Now, going into remote regions of Mexico is not without some risk. There are still bandits in some remote areas and they will fleece gringos of their belongings if given the opportunity. Also, roads are generally very rough off main highways and you need a high clearance vehicle in a lot of places.

I was shocked to find on one visit to a large ranch near Guadalajara, our mounted hunt party was interrupted by the ranch owner being told there were some men living in an old abandoned mine area on his property. He insisted that I escort his other guests back to the hacienda. He and his rancheros showed up a few hours later with two corpses on the back of a mule. When the constable showed up a few hours later to claim the bodies, he profusely thanked the ranch owner for his 'service', filled out his paperwork and drove off with a side of fresh beef and a few bottles of tequila. This is how trespassing on private land is dealt with in some places. Know where you are!

I've had nothing but good experiences hunting and fishing Mexico. I know I know a bad one can happen anytime. Well guess what its not very safe in the USA either. People are getting murdered everyday in the USA. Hell you can't even go to church without a chance of being shot or killed. I for one will not live my life in fear.

Yes, life is dangerous. However, here in America, I can lawfully carry a firearm & defend myself. Try that in Mexico & see what happens. I'll take my chances here, & defend myself, instead of relying on some corrupt Mexican peasant.

After an in depth discussion with a Mexican employee and her husband who travel back home regularly I have decided not to make the trip. They said while most likely nothing would happen they do personally know of some people who have been robbed and trucks stolen in the area immediately surrounding where I would have been hunting near Nuevo Laredo. They said if I do decide to go down to travel in the mornings and never be anywhere alone. They also recommended I not drive my truck down as it will draw attention being so new...its only a 2014.

So take it for what it's worth, which isn't much, but I will pass this year on hunting Mexico. My friend still joined the lease down there so if he takes any big deer will post them to show the group how much I missed out on.

Choosing not to put yourself in a defenseless position is good common sense and has nothing to do with fear.

X2

I live in Laredo and would not go into Mexico at all. I can hunt fine on my little patch of land here in Texas.

Support Texas outfitters and ranchers. They are fellow Texans who have a living to make just as well.

I would have no problem supporting Texas outfitters and ranchers. Only problem is they have priced out the commen folk. So I made the decision 10 years ago to hunt places I can afford and enjoy. The amount of land you get per man compared to Texas isn’t even close. All of this is why I choose to hunt Mexico over Texas.

A lot of people live in fear. You can die anywhere. Just be careful and smart in your travels. Don't go whoring, drinking, getting stupid or involve yourself in the drug business.

I agree totally. People can do stupid stuff no matter where they are - (walk on 6th street in Austin after midnight on a weekend). When I read the local papers there is a list every day of people getting run over, killed, and the like.

There are bad places in Mexico I would never go - but the same goes for some places in the USA.

I wouldn't mind going to Mexico to go hunt. There are worse places in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio and I have been to them.